What’s in the box?
Apple isn’t interested in giving out freebies anymore it seems.
According to a reliable source, as reported by macRumors, Apple is most likely excluding the standard EarPods and charger from the newest iteration of iPhone although a Lightning cable will still be included. Reasoning behind this change is apparently due to increased production costs associated with adding 5G technology into the new model, though it is noted that the production costs of the charger and EarPods is minimal at best. Still, this would provide Apple an opportunity to make up their lost margins in each box, while increasing a potential market for new chargers and headphones.
It’s also likely Apple knows its users–who often stay and work within the Apple ecosystem–will already have numerous sets of chargers and headphones at home, gambling that they won’t miss receiving a new set with each new purchase. Apple will be able to make an environmental claim of reducing plastic waste, too, which should help it to meet the goals of its sustainability plan.
Also of note is the rumored discontinuing of 5W and 18W USB chargers, in favor of a 20W variant that will support faster charging through USB-C. The iPhone 12 is speculated to be announced in September 2020.
Top image: Apple.