Apple no longer adds power adapters to its smartphones. Of course, what the company hyperactively advertises as a big step for environmental and climate protection saves the manufacturer a lot of money in the first place. Eliminating the power supply allows smaller packages to be used, reducing the cost of the packaging material itself, but also allows more devices to be transported in a smaller space. With millions of copies, this is certainly noticeable in logistics. In Brazil, the government was skeptical of Apple’s argument from the outset – and therefore gives the Cupertino manufacturer a penalty.

Apple is expected to pay the equivalent of about 2.3 million euros. In addition, the iPhones threaten with a sales stop, or the latter has already been decided. This has been announced by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice. However, Apple has the option to appeal the decision and has already confirmed that it plans to do so. In 2021, Apple had already been fined a similar hefty fine in Brazil – the equivalent of around 2 million euros. Incidentally, Samsung was also the target of similar tactics there, but managed to pull itself out of the affair by subsequently supplying chargers to Brazilian customers.

Brazil’s Justice Ministry warns that if Apple continues to sell smartphones without chargers, the company could be classified as a repeat offender. Even higher penalties would then be possible. Why is Brazil so against going without chargers? Well, there they debunk Apple’s argument that this would help the environment. Apple would have very different options if this was serious intent: for example, implementing USB-C instead of Lightning as a much more common interface. By providing an “incomplete product”, Apple is forcing customers to buy additional chargers themselves. Because a charger is a prerequisite for using the smartphone. It may therefore not simply be removed from the scope of delivery.

Especially since Apple doesn’t pass on its own cost savings, which are achieved by omitting the included chargers, to the customers. The latter experience a clear limitation here, which also applies if they z. B. want to resell their device. At least that is the view of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security in Brazil. But several government consumer protection agencies had already argued in a similar way.

It will be interesting to see how it goes for Apple in Brazil. Because you can be pretty sure: the new Apple iPhone 14 also doesn’t come with a charger.

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