Google to drop chargers from future smartphones

Like Apple, Google will soon be excluding power adapters from the accessories included with new devices. — Woman photo created by rawpixel.com - www.freepik.com

Another smartphone manufacturer, this time Google, is phasing out chargers from the accessories included with its smartphones.

The Verge reported that the company reasoned that most consumers already have a USB-C charging brick, thus it was unnecessary to ship phones with a new one.

It said the Pixel 5A will likely be the last model to ship with a charger.

Apple was one of the first manufacturers to drop included chargers, starting with its iPhone 12 models. Android smartphones soon followed suit, with Samsung and Xiaomi announcing the change for its 2021 models.

It was reported that the decision was primarily driven by environmental concerns by limiting the number of unused chargers collected by users and making packaging lighter and smaller.

Omitting chargers also saves on production costs for companies, but those savings may not be passed on to consumers, as those who find themselves in need of chargers for their new devices would end up paying more out of pocket.

In the case of Apple, its website shows that a new 20W USB-C power adapter is priced at RM99, a 30W USB-C power adaptor goes for RM189 while a 61W USB-C power adapter retails at RM319.