Apple is asking customers if they use the USB charger in their iPhone box

By Joe Wituschek
published

iPhone 11 on top of box
iPhone 11 on top of box (Image credit: Apple)

What you need to know

  • Apple is surveying customers ahead of the iPhone 12 launch.
  • One of the questions asks what customers do with the charger in the box.
  • Recent rumors suggest that Apple may ship the iPhone 12 without a charger.

A recent rumor claimed that the iPhone 12 may ship without headphones or a charger in the box. The rumor, which has launched the Apple community into a debate about corporate greed and environmental impact, has continued to gain steam from other sources who say that the iPhone 12 may in fact be the first iPhone to ship without the usual accessories in the box.

Now, it appears that the company is sending some existing iPhone customers a survey in which they ask about the charger in the box. Reported by 9to5Mac, some customers have been getting an email survey that, in addition to other questions about its products, asks customers what they do with the charger that currently comes in the box with an iPhone.

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Some of the options that customers can choose for one of the questions are as follows:

  • I sold or traded it with my iPhone
  • I lost it
  • I gave it to a family member or friend
  • I still use it at home
  • I still use it outside (at work, school, or other places)
  • I still have it, but I don't use it

Apple is rumored to be omitting the charger and EarPods from the iPhone 12, a move that would dramatically reduce the size of the box. This, paired with the potential decrease of unused chargers and headphones, would result in increased shipping efficiency and a reduction of e-waste. It would also, however, pose an issue for customers who don't currently have an iPhone charger and need one to come with the phone. If Apple is planning on making such a move with the iPhone 12, it is sure to explain the reasoning and options for customers when they announce the device in the fall.

Joe Wituschek
Joe Wituschek
Contributor

Joe Wituschek is a Contributor at iMore. With over ten years in the technology industry, one of them being at Apple, Joe now covers the company for the website. In addition to covering breaking news, Joe also writes editorials and reviews for a range of products. He fell in love with Apple products when he got an iPod nano for Christmas almost twenty years ago. Despite being considered a "heavy" user, he has always preferred the consumer-focused products like the MacBook Air, iPad mini, and iPhone 13 mini. He will fight to the death to keep a mini iPhone in the lineup. In his free time, Joe enjoys video games, movies, photography, running, and basically everything outdoors.

5 Comments
  • I am on the side of not needing a new charger in the box. That out of the way, I would suggest Apple can no longer suggest that you should only charge your device with an Apple charger. With all the scrutiny they are under these days, saying your warranty is in jeopardy if you don't use one of our chargers, after they don't supply one, wouldn't be prudent.
  • Not sure how they would know if you were using another charger, plus aren't the MFi chargers supposed to be Apple-approved? Also Apple's own charging cables are made out of a terrible material that frays very easily, causing them to break much faster than other cables
  • Not sure how they'd know, but they do ask at the store or on line, if you show up with a battery issue.
  • Apple may be planning to ditch the charging port altogether. It's about time wireless charging become mainstream.
    What with all these chargers and cables laying around the home.
    Will be popular with the enviromentalist and anyone that cares for the habitat.
  • There have been a lot of rumors to that effect. Two significant issues. Recovery. How do you restore an iPhone or iPad that is totally f'd up over the air, when you can't even get it connected wirelessly. Been there and had to connect physically to a Mac. (iTunes in Windows wouldn't even do it.) Second, Car Play. Wireless Car Play is not ubiquitous by any means. All of a sudden that feature breaks for perhaps 80% of people that have it and use it. Oh, and Android Auto still works ;)