When Apple announced that the iPhone 12, whatever the model, would be sold without a charger , soon numerous media, firms and users criticized the brand. However, as is often the case with those in Cupertino, soon other brands, including some that criticized it, took a similar decision.
Today there are a good number of mobile phone manufacturers who choose to sell their smartphones without a power adapter inside. What is the reason for this decision? Is there something beyond cost reduction for companies? And, most importantly … What mobile is sold in Spain without a charger ?
Why is it trending?
The first smartphone maker to make this decision was Apple, soon followed by the Chinese brand Xiaomi. But, what is the reason for this fashion that users like so little?
The decision, according to the firms themselves, is motivated mainly by environmental concerns. Loyal customers of a brand can reuse their old charger with their newer phones, while new users will still be able to purchase the chargers just like any other accessory. The goal is to limit the number of unused chargers that accumulate in homes.
On paper, it could also be a way to save money if brands were able to subtract the cost of the charger from the price of the phone, but this has not been the case. The disappearance of the loader from the box of the great top of the range of the year has not been accompanied by price reductions and, for now, the only ones who earn some money with this decision are the manufacturers, who also save “packaging” costs by making packaging lighter, cheaper to ship, while limiting your carbon footprint with less waste production.
The truth is that, with nearly two billion phones sold worldwide each year, such a decision could have positive consequences on the environment if each manufacturer does the same, despite being a strategy undervalued by customers.
All brands that sell mobiles without a charger
Apple, as usual, was the first to create this measure … Are you sure?
Just as it was one of the first manufacturers to remove the headphone minijack from its phones, it chose not to include the charger in the box of its new 2020 iPhones, following the idea launched by Motorola years ago. It was soon followed by Samsung and the odd brand.
Motorola was the first
Many think that Apple is always the first in many things but it was not really the first brand to remove the minijack from its phones (Sony did before) nor was it the first to sell a phone without a charger.
This “honor” belongs to Motorola, a brand that launched the original Moto G almost 10 years ago with just a USB cable in the box, yes, for less than $ 200.
Apple, the second to throw the stone
The brand that was an inflection in the market is Apple, which argued its commitment to the environment to not only launch its new iPhone 12 line for sale without a charger , but also by removing it from all the smartphones that the American firm sells in our country. .
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone SE 2020
- iPhone 11
- iPhone XR
Samsung phones without charger
Following its main competitor, Samsung launched its 2021 range tops without a power adapter , but the new foldables presented last week also do not carry it, despite costing much more than 1000 euros.
- Samsung Galaxy S21
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy Fold3
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3
In addition, the brand is already studying the possibility that other smartphones in its catalog are also sold without this important accessory in the box:
We have realized that more and more Galaxy mobile users are reusing accessories they already have and making sustainable decisions in their daily lives to promote better recycling habits. To support our Galaxy community on this journey, we are transitioning in which we will remove the plug from the charger and headphones on our latest line of Galaxy smartphones.
We believe that phasing out the charger and headphone plugs from our device box can help address sustainable consumption issues and remove any pressure consumers may feel to continually receive unnecessary accessories like a new charger with new phones.
Nokia phones without power adapter
Nokia has renewed its family of mobiles in 2021 with smartphones of all kinds and, precisely the most expensive, are those that do not have a plug to charge the device. If you buy one, you will need to use a charger from another smartphone or buy a new one. The brand highlights its effort to reduce electronic waste and also indicates that if you buy one in its store, the proceeds will be donated to environmental causes.
- Nokia X10
- Nokia X20
- Nokia XR20
Xiaomi comes into play
As we have said at the beginning of these lines, Xiaomi soon imitated Appel’s strategy, but with a trick. The brand gave users the choice of whether to buy the Xiaomi Mi 11 with or without a charger, as a way to check how correct or not this decision is.
According to the revenue data published by Xiaomi, the company managed to accumulate sales of 350,000 units on the first day of marketing the phone. Of all of them, only 20,000 users chose to buy the version without a charger, that is, less than 10%.
What do I do if my mobile doesn’t have a charger?
If your mobile does not have a charger , nothing happens, you can always buy one, but first it is appropriate that you check the type of fast charge that it boasts in its technical sheet, because if your mobile supports, for example, 45W charging and shopping an adapter that only works at 25W, you’re losing speed along the way.
Surely you have at home an old charger that is compatible with another mobile and, if you do not mind losing that extra speed, you can use it without major problem but on a personal basis we recommend buying the official brand. You can find it in the official store of your mobile brand or in any other technology store such as Amazon, where you will find them, surely, more discounted.
