| Category: Computers & Mobile: Apple |
As usual, Apple's unveiling of its next wave of iPhones got a lot of attention. But some carping arose about a few things not included in the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro smartphones box: earphones and a charging adapter.
The iPhone 12 Pro (starting at $999) and iPhone 12 ($799), both available for preorder Friday (to ship out Oct. 23), will not come with wired EarPod headphones or the charging adapter (the little square), which links a device's Lighting input and a USB power adapter. The same goes for the iPhone 12 Mini and Pro Max models, which go up for preorder Nov. 6, and launch Nov. 13.
Apple says it is removing those accessories to lessen iPhone packaging, reduce carbon emissions, and cut back on the mining and use of materials used to make these items.
"Customers already have over 700 million lightning headphones and many customers have moved to a wireless experience with AirPods beats or other wireless headphones," said Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president for environment policy and social initiatives, during Tuesday's iPhone unveiling presentation.
"There are also over 2 billion Apple power adapters out in the world and that's not counting the billions of third party adapters," she added. "So we are removing these items from the iPhone box which reduces carbon emissions and avoids the mining and use of precious materials."
iPhones will come with a new Lightning power cable that connects to any USB-C power adapter. That could mean buyers of new iPhones may need to get a new charger, too. (Those run about $20-$40.) However, many already use wireless smartphone chargers and USB-C adapters for other devices including Android smartphones and headphones.
But that didn't stop folks from calling foul on Twitter, where online response about the move was reminiscent of Apple's removal of the standard headphone jack from the iPhone 7 in 2016.
"Please confirm there will be a phone in the box," quipped one tweet. While another tweeted the video meme of President Barack Obama lifting his hands up as if saying, "What?"
The term "USB C" began trending. The USB-C standard emerged six years ago as a faster conduit for charging and moving data than traditional USB, which has been used for more than 20 years.
There were more commenters on Apple's decision, with several posts joking that iPhone 13 won't have a phone in the box.
"Why would we sell you a car with tires you probably have a tone of those laying around from all your other cars," joked another tweet.
Apple's removal of the power adapter and EarPods from iPhone boxes aids in carbon emission reductions and allows for more efficient shipping as 70% more boxes fit on a pallet, Jackson said.
"Taken all together the changes we have made for iPhone 12 cut over 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually," she added. "It's like removing 450,000 cars from the road per year."
The company's offices, data centers and retail stores are already carbon-neutral and run on 100% renewable energy, she said. By 2030, Apple plans to have a net zero climate impact across its entire business including manufacturing.
~ Via USA Today |
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