iPhone 12 Legally Required to Come with Earpods in France

[Deactivated] on 22/10/2020 - 14:16
Last edited 22/10/2020 - 14:23

Initially I expected this to be about including necessary components with the iPhone, charger, headphones etc. Interestingly its about health concerns. At least they have 5G now but no USB C. There was some controversy as they made the argument they didn't need to include the wall adaptor charger, and only recent iPhone 11 owners actually have a compatible charger for the USB C Cable included, effectively adding $30-$60 to the pucrhase price.

https://9to5mac.com/2020/10/21/iphone-12-with-earpods/?fbcli…

Background
The Cupertino company made the decision to omit EarPods from this year’s iPhones, claiming that it is more environmentally friendly – but is actually illegal to do this in France.

The reason? It’s considered potentially harmful for the brain to absorb radio-frequency energy, and phones emit more of this when they are being used for phone calls. There is considerable debate about the impact of this, but most countries err on the side of caution by setting a legal limit on the radio-frequency power output.

iPhones use the proximity sensor to detect when the phone is being held against the head and reduce RF power to comply with the legal limits.

However, France goes further, arguing that users should be encouraged to use headphones to keep the phone away from the side of their head. For this reason, it requires smartphones to be sold with headphones – or, in legaleze, ‘an accessory making it possible to limit the exposure of the head to radioelectric emissions during communications.’

Poll Options

  • 356
    They should be forced to include earpods and charger
  • 64
    They should be forced to include charger only
  • 3
    They should be forced to include earpods only
  • 131
    They shouldn't be forced to include any accesories
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Comments

  • Pro-crastinator on 22/10/2020 - 23:46

    Environmental concern - then why are you still including an Apple sticker?

    …and are the retail boxes made from recycled materials/paper?

  • HeWhoKnows on 23/10/2020 - 08:57
    +2

    Pointless poll
    Where is this going to get you?

    Pls dont waste our time with such time wasting material

  • OzHunterNSW on 23/10/2020 - 11:08

    Apple is treating the common poor sod as a complete idiot…. who in their right mind would believe their marketing ploy in "saving the planet" by providing you with less service. If they were so concerned, then why not reduce the screen size. This Aust Govt should grow balls and demand Apple supply AirPods as well. Failing to do so is forcing my bay to place the radiation emitting device closer to their developing brain.

    • buckethat on 25/10/2020 - 14:30

      AirPods?? What's the logic behind forcing them to include AirPods?

      I would get the argument for the regular earbud but AirPods?? You're trying to avoid radiation emitting device by putting another radiation emitting device into your ear? What is the logic here.

  • dufflover on 23/10/2020 - 18:03

    I'm more worried about (as usual) other companies copying Apple whether they be good ideas or not, and soon Android manufacturers will stop including chargers too. Under the same lame guise too.

  • Dack Smith on 23/10/2020 - 18:41
    -4

    For the price they charge, Apple should be obligated to provide a good USB cable, a good charger, a set of AirPods and whatever else used to come with iPhones.

    BS about saving environment

    BS about reducing waste

    Apple needs to grow up and understand that people want to pay extra for quality but not be ripped off.

    I hope Android phones don’t copy this crappy trend

    If people didn’t buy iPhone 12 this year perhaps they will rethink this in future

    • buckethat on 25/10/2020 - 14:35

      Any business is only obligated to provide goods and services that it advertise or promise. Don't get me wrong, I like to buy cheap stuff too, but seeing people saying this company needs to provide this and that is a little ridiculous. It's not like they're lying to you about what comes in the box. You know what you're getting, you either buy it or you dont.

  • cloudy on 23/10/2020 - 19:57
    +1

    They should give consumers choice. I understand many people have spares around and don’t want it for many reasons, so let them choose to buy it without charger and earphones. But also have an option with both. Set price accordingly.

  • Deals For Days on 23/10/2020 - 20:22

    Frankly I'd be more enthusiastic for incoming EU law stopping apple selling their BS proprietary lightning connector. Harms consumers and the environment so they can make a few extra bucks on licensing on top of their already fat margins - no thanks.

    • buckethat on 25/10/2020 - 14:37

      I wonder if that would set a precedent for other proprietary products from in other industry.

  • Mario1234 on 23/10/2020 - 22:39
    +2

    The problem is with the charger, they said everyone already has one lying around and its benefiting the environment, but the cable they supplied is lightning to usb-c. The chargers they've been selling for years have been lightning to usb-a. None of the new cables will work with most of the chargers people have, so majority will still be buying one from apple or a 3rd party anyway. The only people with compatible chargers are those who bought the iphone 11/Pro. Removing the headphones on the other hand is reasonable

    • Hybroid on 23/10/2020 - 22:41
      -3

      It stands to reason that if the presumption is you already have a wall plug charger then you already have a Lightning to USB-A cable to go with it (or dozens of them like some of us).

      However, fewer people have Lightning to USB-C cables though and it makes sense to include that since they're becoming standard in other gadgets, laptops, their own Macbooks etc.

      It does make sense.

      • Mario1234 on 23/10/2020 - 22:44
        +1

        Not really, most people go through cables quickly. Also the point they focused the most on is how this change helps the environment, if you're saying people already have cables that work with the old chargers they have at home, how is including this extra cable that isn't compatible with the vast majority of charging blocks users already have going to help the environment. Most people getting this phone will have to get a new charging block.

        • Hybroid on 23/10/2020 - 22:46

          You can use the USB-C cable directly on any new computer, many of which increasingly no longer come with USB-A ports. Also PS5, powerbanks, even cars nowadays etc. It's future-proofing.

          It's an environmental thing. It's definitely a greed thing. But including USB-C rather than USB-A makes sense.

          • Mario1234 on 23/10/2020 - 22:49

            @Hybroid: Besides macbooks most computers still have usb-a. Computers also wont output as much as a wall charger and most people dont have charging ports that can function when the computer is off. PS5 not out yet even if it was who is going to charge their phone regularly on it, for the majority if a powerbank has usb-c it has usb-a. Its future proofing too early, they should have included the block this year and gotten rid of it next year.

  • kaleidoscope on 24/10/2020 - 00:13

    In my personal experience, i did not bother even opening or taking out the charger / cable or the headset from my last couple of phones and ipad, simply because I had previous accessories lying around. They only become a perk when you want to sell 2nd hand. Also if someone really needs to get hold of them, they're readily available from apple as well as third parties and doesn't cost a fortune.

  • El Grande on 24/10/2020 - 01:40
    +1

    I am using the earpods that came with my 6S back in the day as I type this. I have had 2 Samsungs since that phone and both the AKG headphones that came with them broke within 6-8 months. I use the chargers that came with my phones. I was seriously considering going back to the iPhone as my reason for moving away was the annoying process of copying movies/music on the iPhone. Netflix and Spotify have fixed that for me and with VR being killed by Samsung there is no reason other than expandable storage to stick with android. The charger not being included has made me angry. I don't know why is it so hard to include one with a new phone. Chargers keep getting faster so it's not like the old ones are still usable. I might still get a 12 Pro Max (If a good deal comes on here) but I'm not happy about apple decision and will be buying aftermarket options like blitzwolf.

  • icomeforthecomments on 24/10/2020 - 01:42
    +1

    I would completely support Apple if the iPhone price was lower due to these exclusions but of course they weren't.

  • SgtBatten on 24/10/2020 - 07:47
    +1

    It's odd but Australia and France are the only countries where the google pixel 4a and some others include earbuds.

  • MementoMori on 24/10/2020 - 10:11

    Wish they forced them to put a standard headphone jack in them as well

    • whooah1979 on 24/10/2020 - 10:23

      The 3.5 mm phone jack is 70 years old and not water-resistant.

      • KBZ on 24/10/2020 - 10:26

        What? My Note 9 has a 3.5mm jack and is IP68

        • whooah1979 on 24/10/2020 - 10:47

          It may have an IP68 rating, but it comes with limitations.

          https://www.samsung.com/ph/support/mobile-devices/is-samsung…

          The IP (Ingress Protection) rating is an international standard that shows you the level of ingress protection of your device. With IP68, the S9/S9+ are resistant in fresh water to a maximum of depth of 1.5 metres for up to 30 minutes and are protected from dust—all without the need for extra cases or covers.

          Do not immerse the device in water deeper than 1.5 metres for more than 30 minutes.
          • Do not expose the device to water moving with force, such as water running from a tap, ocean waves or waterfalls.

          The original phone connectors from the 1950s were never designed to be water-resistant.

          • KBZ on 24/10/2020 - 10:53

            @whooah1979: Still water resistant*.

            Even the iPhone 12 is rated IP68 without a jack. (albeit with a higher depth 6m).

            • whooah1979 on 24/10/2020 - 10:56

              @KBZ: Have you tied to leave your Note 9 in a bucket of water for 30 min or gone for a 10 min swim at the beach? Water-resistant doesn't mean getting the screen or the buttons wet. Submerge the whole device in water for the full 30 min if you believe that the jack is water-resistant.

  • BinnyC on 24/10/2020 - 11:27

    They should have reduced the price of Iphone to compensate for no charger and headphones.

    With fast chargers from 15w to 65w nowdays and phones supporting them with every new phone upgrade, consumers will end up buying them anyways and that is the whole strategy to increase their profits and minimise costs.

    Or replace old Iphone chargers with new ones for free that would be more environment friedly and keeping their loyal customers happy.

    • Munki on 24/10/2020 - 22:04

      hahahahahah reduce price of an Apple product. LOL Good one.

  • [Deactivated] on 24/10/2020 - 13:31

    I wonder how much the pro or top iPhone will cost in 5-10 years

    • johnno07 on 24/10/2020 - 14:16

      It won't come with a screen because it's more environmentally friendly that way.

      • AdosHouse on 24/10/2020 - 17:09

        Or the rest of the phone.

  • geoffs87 on 24/10/2020 - 22:34
    +1

    Surprised by the poll here… I have so many spare chargers and headphones lying around… eventually will end up in landfill. I think it’s best they not include the cost of providing them in the box, and allow you to purchase that which you choose.

    Charger is an iffy one - because you can’t use phone without (but if you need one, just buy it)

    Headphones is an easy one - does your laptop come with headphones? No. Did your Nokia 3310 come with headphones? I don’t think so? Why does your iPhone need to? Anyway, I reckon today a tiny proportion of people use the cruddy EarPods, so why not do away and let you source the headphones you prefer to use.

    Move on, nothing here but drama mountains from molehills.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 25/10/2020 - 07:24

    Bit of a grubby move on apples part - i say, typing from an iPhone 12 pro.

    Dont mind using my own power brick…cept I don't have any in the micro usb 3 style. Can't even use my laptop or pc usb3 ports lmao.

    Towards the end of my iPhone 7 plus life time the speaker was crapping out so I depended on my bundled earphones- which actually were pretty good for an included set.

    • MrFunSocks on 25/10/2020 - 17:12

      Micro USB 3? You mean type C?

  • echizen on 25/10/2020 - 10:10

    Apple can do whatever they want. But to remove things yet not reduce pricing is just pure greed and not environmental as they claim. Typical US company that screws consumers under the pretense of being "responsible".

    • buckethat on 25/10/2020 - 14:46

      Not sure how it has anything with being a US company. An Aussie company would do the same if they could. The bottom line is what matters, environmental is just the marketing spiel and side benefit of it.

  • AussieDeals on 25/10/2020 - 14:35

    Absolute penny pinching by Apple regarding the charger, I use the additional chargers I get with a new phone every few years to add charging areas to rooms around the house without a computer. Saves me wasting time going to a store to buy another charger or buying a new one from ebay/amazon with its associated multilayer plastic landfill packaging.

    My previous iPhones all came with one of those slow 5W chargers but this new 20W fast charger would be very useful and should have been included. Ah well don't need to upgrade anyway (though when it comes time those cheapskates probably won't even give you a USB-C lightning cable, or it might not have a port of any kind knowing the way is Apple heading)

    • buckethat on 25/10/2020 - 15:02

      I think the scale of money we're talking about is a little more than just penny pinching when you consider the whole picture.

      They're saving on the manufacturing cost of the chargers themselves, and more importantly, the retail boxes of the new iPhones are now about 50% smaller in volume compared to the previous version, this has huge implication on manufacturing of the boxes themselves, to storage cost, freight cost and many other things I'm sure.

      This is probably a few dollars saved at most per unit, but miltiply this by more than 200million units (number of iPhone sold worldwide in 2018) and of course the increase sales of Apple's own chargers and thirdparty offering at the Apple stores and we're talking anywhere from hundreds of millions of dollars to billions in cost reduction and revenue, which directly translate to higher profit margin.

      Just to put this into perspective.. in FY2019, Woolies profit was up 56% to $2.7bn AUD. Apple taking out their chargers alone could equate to 50% of Woolie's whole yearly profit.

      I'm not arguing about whether what they're doing is right or wrong though, thats up to each individual to decide.

  • MrFunSocks on 25/10/2020 - 17:11

    As far as I can remember it’s also a legal requirement here. The pixel series stopped including headphones everywhere else years ago but we still got them.

    Not sure if that changed in the last year, but would be good to know if it did or if Apple just went “(profanity) it, we’ll save more money than the fines”.

    I think both the no charger and no headphones things are massively overblown. Who here literally does not have a single phone charging brick in their possession? Who here doesn’t have Bluetooth headphones?

    You can buy lightning cables for literally $2 at Kmart. You can buy a 3.5mm to lightning adapter for $5 at Kmart or jb hifi. These are non issues, but 2020 seems to be the year that everyone decided to get outraged about every little thing even if it affects no one.

  • [Deactivated] on 25/10/2020 - 18:18

    Would you be entitled to return the iPhone 12 to apple if you didn't have a charger? Unable to charge or use the phone

  • utsc on 25/10/2020 - 20:16

    If anyone is really interested in Saving the Environment people should be encouraged to use their current phones much longer and encouraged to upgrade their phone every 3 years.

    If a charger and earpodr makes such a difference then immagine the benefit os charger, earpods and the phone itself.

  • Pro-crastinator on 02/11/2020 - 01:38

    If apple were serious about the environment, then they should only release a new model every 2nd year - and make battery and screen replacement closer to cost price, so people can repair and continue to use their current phone rather than upgrading.

    It's been studied and shown that people feel genuine disappointment with their current equipment when new models come out - for people where this feeling is strong enough, they will unnecessarily upgrade.

    No one is going to buy the same phone they have 12 months later (if the update cycle is every second year).

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