Apple may not include a power adapter and earphones in the box with the new iPhone 12, set to be released later this year, according to a respected leaker.
The tech giant, which usually includes an adapter and a pair of its wired EarPods in the box of every iPhone, will sell them separately due to increased production costs related to components that support 5G.
This change will reportedly apply to the firm’s four new iPhone 12 models, set to be released in October this year at the very earliest, as well as the new budget iPhone SE, which was released earlier this year.
iPhone 12 may not even support wired headphones, which would push customers towards Apple’s wireless Bluetooth AirPods, which start at £160.
The claims come from renowned Apple product predictor and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, as detailed in a research note obtained by MacRumors.
Apple will tout the environmental benefits of letting customers decide if they want to buy their own earphones or power adaptor, which could reduce e-waste.
Apple will no longer include the EarPods (far left) or power adaptor (far right) with its upcoming iPhone 12 models, which are due later this year. Pictured here is Apple’s breakdown of ‘what’s in the box with the iPhone 11, released last year
But the billion-dollar tech firm reportedly wants to eliminate some of the manufacturing costs associated with making its new iPhone line-up support 5G.
The lack of adaptor and wired earphones will also allow for slimmer and therefore more eco-friendly packaging, which will also cut shipping expenses.
Despite taking these two accessories out of the equation, Apple will not be cutting the cost of the iPhone.
The four iPhone 12 models will in fact be similar in price to the current £729 iPhone 11, which comes with EarPods and a 5W USB power adapter.
The decision not to include wired EarPods in the box of the iPhone 12 will also help turn consumers towards its £250 AirPods Pro (left) and AirPods (right), which range from £160 to £200
‘Kuo believes that iPhone 12 production costs will significantly increase due to 5G support,’ MacRumors reports.
‘But he expects Apple to sell the new models at a comparable price to its iPhone 11 lineup, and removing the EarPods and power adapter from the box is one way to reduce costs.’
This would make the Lightning to USB cable the only accessory included with the actual phone.
Apple will release a new 20W power adapter as an optional accessory and end production of its existing 5W and 18W power adapters later this year, the report adds.
Apple’s iPhone 12 could be completely wireless, meaning users will not receive a free pair of earbuds and be forced to purchase the firm’s $159 AirPods
Irritatingly for iPhone buyers, the two iPads that Apple is set to release in the next year – one 10.8-inch model and an 8.5-inch iPad mini – will include the 20W charger in the box, Kuo said.
As for the earphones, the company will continue to offer its wired EarPods and its more expensive Bluetooth wireless AirPods, which start at £160, and AirPods Pro, which cost £250 and feature additional noise cancellation technology and water resistance.
Kuo has already said that iPhone 12 could be completely wireless, meaning users will forced to purchase the firm’s $159 AirPods.
Apple currently sells power adaptors on its site separately – starting at £29 for 18W – as well as its EarPods, which also sell for £29.
However, the latter may not be much use for iPhone 12 buyers if it turns out the new model doesn’t support wired earphones.
Apple’s decision, if true, will make the second-generation iPhone SE, released earlier this year, the last of its smartphones to have been packed with the full set of accessories.
However, Apple will stop including the power adapter with the second-generation iPhone SE later this year, Kuo said.
The second-generation iPhone SE, released this April, includes EarPods, Lightning to USB Cable and a 5W USB power adapter in the box
The hotly anticipated ‘budget’ iPhone SE is an update of the original model of the same name, released in 2016.
The £429 device, released this April, already includes EarPods, Lightning to USB Cable and a 5W USB power adapter.
Kuo also noted that Apple is not expected to release new models of AirPods or AirPods Pro until 2021, 9to5Mac reports.
Apple is set to release four new iPhone 12 models later this year, according to The Wall Street Journal, all of which are expected to support 5G, the next generation connectivity standard.
These include the standard 5.4 inch iPhone 12 model, the 6.1 inch iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Max, and lastly, the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max.
An alleged leak of the models suggest they will have squared-off edges – reminiscent of the iPhone 5 from 2012.
Alleged 3D render of the iPhone 12 and its notable flat edge – a feature last seen with the iPhone 5
Metal moulds of phones are typically produced by third-party case makers to design cases for future phone releases, which are based on leaked dimensions and specs
The photos, which come courtesy of Twitter user @Jin_Store, an Australia-based reseller of Apple products, show metal iPhone dummies and virtual renderings of the supposed device.
The dummies are supposedly used by iPhone accessory manufacturers to help get the shapes and sizes of their products right.
iPhone 12 is also expected to be delayed from Apple’s usual September launch date due to the coronavirus pandemic and resulting factory shut-downs earlier in the year.
A supplier to Apple revealed that the tech giant’s upcoming iPhone will be delayed from its usual September launch, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
US hardware manufacturer Broadcom, which develops chips for the iPhone and other Apple mobile devices, spoke of a ‘major product cycle delay’ earlier this month.
While Apple wasn’t named explicitly, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan referred to a ‘large North American mobile phone’ client during his company’s earnings call.
iPHONE 12 RUMOURS
Respected leaker Jon Prosser revealed schematics of a drastically reduced camera ‘notch’ on the front, expected for the iPhone 12
A pair of leaked schematics suggest that Apple’s upcoming iPhone 12 will fall just short of eliminating a camera ‘notch’ on the phone’s display.
The pictures, posted on Twitter by frequent phone leaker Jon Prosser, show what appear to be official Apple schematics for its next flagship iPhone – specifically a drastically reduced ‘notch’ that stores the device’s front-facing camera components.
According to the schematics the microphone will be moved to the top of the device’s display in order to compress the size of the camera notch.
Citing ‘people familiar with the plans,’ the report notes that Apple is set to release four new smartphones this year, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The devices will come in three different sizes, one will be 5.4 inches, two at 6.1 inches and another model is 6.7 inches – some of the handsets will support 5G.
Apple’s iPhone 12 could also be completely wireless, meaning users will not receive a free pair of earbuds and be forced to purchase the firm’s $159 AirPods.
The news was revealed by well-known Apple product predictor Ming-Chi Kuo, who believes the tech giant may offer promotions or discounts on the AirPods this holiday season.
Kuo also noted that Apple is not expected to release new models of AirPods or AirPods Pro until 2021, 9to5Mac reports.