Apple has removed the power adapters from the box of their iPhones. Brave or stingy move? Probably time will be in charge of passing sentence on both sides. It has generated controversy, and not only now that it has been confirmed but when it began to be rumored. Precisely in those times when this was a simple rumor, others arose that suggested that Samsung, the same one that now mocks, could do the same. We analyze it.
The antecedent of the headphone jack
Finding a high-end phone with the classic 3.5 mm headphone jack is nowadays not an impossible task, but it is complicated if you look at the main brands. Samsung and Apple, regardless of whether or not they offer the best hardware, are the top two companies in sales in recent years. It is not surprising that for this reason we have seen a fiery rivalry between users of both brands and even by one of the companies. And yes, we only mention one here and it is in reference to the South Korean.
Samsung began to carry out a series of somewhat aggressive advertising spots against Apple four years ago. In them he made fun of various aspects of the new iPhone, having the characteristic ‘notch’ and the absence of a headphone jack at the center of his mockery. Apple never responded to such provocations, probably because it is not their style, but also with some patience guessing that time would put the Korean brand in its place. And that moment came in August 2019, when the new Samsung Galaxy Note 10 (surprise) without 3.5 mm jack were presented. After this (surprise again) the company deleted the videos in which it laughed at Apple.
The movement to eliminate this connector may be more or less pleasant, but it could not be classified as something absurd either. Apple, like they did the rest afterwards, decided to eliminate it in order to give a greater battery to their devices, guarantee better water resistance and, incidentally, promote a new wireless world with headphones like AirPods. In any case, there was always the alternative of using wired EarPods with a Lightning connection.
The 2021 Galaxy could follow the path of the iPhone 12
This summer has been one of the busiest when it comes to rumors of the new iPhone 12. In fact, we were able to almost fully know what the Californians finally presented to us last Tuesday. Among the amount of information that emerged, it was highlighted that Apple would stop including headphones and power adapter in its phones, something that has effectively ended up being true. At the same time, other information emerged, such as ETnews, in which it was indicated that Samsung would follow in their footsteps.
There is nothing confirmed in this part, since this would be for 2021, but it draws attention at least if we consider that last week the South Korean company launched some tweets in clear mockery of the new iPhone for these absences. It would be curious if a few months later they did the same and were portrayed as they were with the videos mentioned above. We do not believe that there should not be a certain rivalry, even in a humorous tone, but it is true that not looking at your own navel sometimes makes you look ridiculous. Will Apple laugh when this happens? Surely not, but if they did they would make good use of the saying that he who laughs last laughs best.
A cause, environmental?
We are not going to be hypocritical and deny that this move represents a considerable cost saving for Apple. The adapter and headphones may not be the most expensive thing about a device like the iPhone, but no matter how small the savings, if we multiply it by millions of units, it becomes considerable. And while Apple has made considerable improvements to their phones, they may not quite square the accounts and it gives us something to think about that there has been no discount for eliminating these accessories. Not even buying them separately there is a discount, which could certainly be reprehensible.
Apple was not wrong when, in Lisa Jackson’s speech on the roof of Apple Park, it indicated the amount of waste generated by the millions of chargers and headphones around the world. In fact, a good part of consumers have plenty of accessories in their homes, although we must not forget that not all of them. The environment worries (or should) big companies like Apple, so the justification for this move may be beyond doubt. However, there are more contradictory details such as not having eliminated the charging adapter in equipment such as the iPad Air 4 or having chosen to introduce a Lightning to USB-C cable instead of USB, which is probably the most widely extended standard in the classic way. Apple chargers.
In any case we will wait attentive to possible news about this and if Apple finally realizes its error in the forms and decides to implement a discount on the accessories not included. We will also look carefully if brands like the aforementioned Samsung go to this extreme and, in that case, make their decision more popular with the public.