Apple drops huge hint that new iPhone 12 WON’T have a charger in the box
APPLE has dropped a major hint that the next iPhone may be the first to come without a charger in the box.
The firm’s white wall plug has been bundled with every iPhone since 2007, but recent rumours have suggested it’ll be sold separately for the release of the iPhone 12, believed to be launching next month.
The US firm heavily implied it was moving in this direction on Tuesday amid the unveiling of two new smartwatches during an online event.
Apple revealed it was removing the USB adapter (that’s the bit that plugs into your mains socket) it would usually include in the box with the timepieces.
Citing environmental reasons, the firm said the decision was part of its commitment to reducing packaging and waste.
“Sometimes, it’s not what we make, but what we don’t make that counts,” Apple’s Lisa Jackson said in a recording from the firm’s headquarters in California.
“We know that customers have been accumulating USB power adapters, and that producing millions of unneeded adapters consumes resources and adds to our carbon footprint.
“So this year, we are removing the USB power adapter from Apple Watch.”
The move makes the Apple Watch SE and Series 6, out Friday, the first Apple Watches to come without a plug in the box.
The gizmos will still come with a charging cable, but customers without an adapter will have to buy one separately.
for USB adapters on its website.
The move will fuel the rumours that Apple also plans to ditch the charger from the box of the iPhone 12.
Whispers of the move emerged in June from trusted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who regularly leaks the firm’s plans long before they’re public.
In a letter to investors, Kuo suggested Apple is ditching the accessory so it can keep the price of the iPhone 12 down.
It’s thought the company wants to ship the mobile at a similar price to the iPhone 11, which hit shelves last year for £729 / $699.
Many iPhone users already have a handful of chargers and headphones lying around, so most won’t miss the in-box gadgets.
It’s also hoped the move will slim down the packaging for the iPhone 12 to dampen the gadget’s environmental impact, Kuo said.
However, some have argued that forcing users to buy accessories separately – requiring separate packaging – negates any reduction of waste.
Apple is expected to launch at least three new iPhone models in October – and maybe even four.
Given that last year’s trio was named “iPhone 11”, it seems safe to assume we’ll get the iPhone 12 this year.
It’s likely we’ll see something along the lines of an iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Apple hasn’t confirmed when it will release its new mobile or discussed what will come in the box, so take all rumours with a pinch of salt for now.
The Sun has reached out to Apple for comment.
iPhone tricks to try today
Here are some of the best...
- Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily
- Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs
- Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete
- Convert currency quickly – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen (or swipe left to right on an iPhone X or later model), then tap in the bar and type a currency (like $200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency
- Check if you’re due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you’re down to 80% capacity. If you’re below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple
- Move apps around faster – Hold an app until it starts wiggling, then (while still holding) tap other apps, causing them to stack so you can move them around easier
In other news, this impressive iPhone 12 concept video could show off Apple’s secret design ahead of time.
Apple recently released a new “cheap” version of its iPhone SE.
The iPhone 12 could be the thinnest ever thanks to new screen technology.
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