Main points
- Smartphones are now often sold without chargers, due to environmental reasons and the spread of the USB-C standard.
- Eliminating chargers allows for reduced packaging size and logistics costs, but critics point to a possible increase in waste due to separate purchases of chargers.
Manufacturers have removed charging: what is behind this decision / Apple
Modern smartphones are increasingly being sold without chargers in the box. Manufacturers explain this by environmental concerns and the universality of new standards, but not everyone agrees with such arguments.
Previously, smartphones came with a full set of accessories – from headphones to charging blocks. Today, the situation has changed: most brands leave only the cable in the box. One of the main reasons, manufacturers say, is environmental protection. This is reported by BGR .
Why did companies abandon bundled chargers?
Retailers estimate that eliminating charging blocks significantly reduces packaging. Boxes become approximately 50% more compact, which allows you to transport up to 70% more devices on one pallet. This reduces logistics costs and reduces waste. In addition, users are less likely to throw away old chargers, which reduces the amount of electronic waste.
However, economics also play a role. Smaller packaging and the absence of a charger reduce the costs of manufacturing and transporting each smartphone.
As Uniqbe writes, an important role in this change is played by the spread of the USB-C standard. New smartphones are equipped with cables of this type that support Power Delivery technology. It allows you to automatically select the voltage for different devices, so one charging unit can be used for smartphones, consoles and other equipment. This makes separate charging less necessary.
However, critics question the environmental arguments . They point out that most users still buy chargers separately. This means additional packaging, separate shipping and increased resource consumption. The same goes for headphones, which are also no longer included in the package.
As a result, although manufacturers claim to reduce environmental impact , the overall effect may not be as clear-cut as it seems at first glance.