New 5G smartphone may not include a charger in the box
If you’re planning on buying the next iPhone — you know, the one that likely will be the first to connect to 5G networks — you may be surprised at what’s inside the box.
Actually, make that what’s not in the box.
According to often-reliable tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple likely will not include a charger or headphones with the upcoming iPhone 12 models. The main reason, supposedly, is to cut costs as the components required for 5G are more expensive.
Reaction to Kuo’s note among the technorati ranged from resignation to outrage to snickering by Android partisans ... that is, until last week, when rumors leaked that Samsung would continue its pattern of copying what Apple does by also not including a charger in some of its next-generation smartphones starting next year.
I can certainly understand not bundling earbuds (AirPods, in Apple’s case) with new smartphones. With the increased adoption of Bluetooth wireless earbuds, and the fact that a lot of folks just prefer using own headsets, that part hasn’t really been a must-include for a while.
A charger is a different case. It’s essential because smartphones won’t work if their batteries don’t have juice.
But the fact is that, if you’ve been buying and using smartphones for any length of time, you probably already have a lot of chargers in your home. Do you really need another one?
I use mostly wireless charging for my iPhone, and have charging stands in key locations. In addition, I’ve installed USB-equipped wall outlets in four spots. Even then, I’ve got at least 12 Apple iPhone chargers from various handsets my wife and I have used over the years. I believe I may still have the original charging cube from my first iPhone, the 3G. It’s yellowed over time, as white plastic will do.
Oh, and then there are the three iPad chargers we own, along with some third-party chargers. Frankly, not only would I not miss a charger missing from my next iPhone’s box, I’d welcome it. For me it’s an issue of waste. I don’t need another plastic cube in my life; many of the ones I have will need to be recycled.
But if you’ve only got the old, small-cube, 5-watt iPhone chargers, you’ll likely have to drop some coin for a new one. All modern smartphones have bigger batteries than the devices that were around when the first models appeared in 2007, and they now support much faster charging. Even Samsung’s included chargers with its flagship Galaxy phones aren’t as fast as the devices can charge.
In fact, with the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max models last year, Apple included a bigger, 18-watt charger — but even that doesn’t match up with the phones’ capabilities. Tests done by Inviolabs, which makes third-party chargers, show that the iPhones could charge at 22 watts, given a faster adapter.
If you’re buying an iPhone 12 and will need a charger, take it as an opportunity to up your game. Even if you don’t plan on getting a new smartphone in the next cycle, you’d do well to upgrade beyond what came with your current phone. Some recommendations:
Get a powerful, third-party charger. Along with the no-charger note from Kuo is a supply-chain rumor that Apple is developing a 20-watt charger, which might be sold separately. But I’d suggest staying away and getting a thirdparty charger with even more wattage. Some reliable brand names are Anker, Aukey and RAVPower. They’re also typically less expensive than Apple’s own. The 18-watt charger from Apple costs $29, and it only has one connection. Anker makes a 30-watt chargers with USB-C and USB-A connections that sells for just $22 on Amazon.
Get a charger with different connections. The aforementioned Anker charger has two different connection types, which means not only can you charge more than one device at a time, but also hardware with different types of connections — say, an Android phone alongside an iPhone. There are chargers that come with many ports, some all USB-C, some all USB-A, or a mix. And these don’t cost that much more. Anker makes
a 60-watt charger with four USB-A ports and one USB-C that can charge a MacBook Air notebook that sells on Amazon for $33.
Explore wireless charging. If you have not checked out wireless charging, now’s a good time. I run into a lot of modern smartphone users who have devices that can work with charging stands or pads, which use magnets to deliver an inductive charge, who have never done this. You’ll need to buy a pad or stand as well as the charging adapter to plug into it. (I prefer the stand because it holds your phone upright so you can see it.) Then, you simply place your phone on it and it begins to charge. It’s not as fast as using a cable, but it’s certainly more convenient. Decent ones start under $20 but look for models that support fast charging.