iPhone 12 might be first EVER to have no charger or headphones in the box – to ‘make it cheaper’
APPLE'S next iPhone may be the first to come without headphones and a charger in the box.
The white "EarPods" and power adapter have been bundled with every Apple mobile since the original iPhone, but they'll allegedly be sold separately for the release of the iPhone 12, which is expected in September.
Those picking up the mobile may instead have to fork out for each gizmo separately, setting them back just under £60 / $60 in total.
The shock news comes from trusted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who regularly leaks the California firm's plans long before they're public.
In a letter to investors last week, Kuo suggested Apple is ditching the accessories so it can keep the price of the iPhone 12 down.
It's thought the California company wants to ship the mobile at a similar price to the iPhone 11, which sold for £729 / $699.
Many iPhone users already have a handful of chargers and headphones lying around, so many won't miss the in-box gadgets.
It's also hoped the move will slim down the packaging for the iPhone 12 to dampen the gadget's environmental impact.
However, some have argued that forcing users to buy accessories separately negates any reduction of plastic waste.
Speaking on the rumoured plans, one tech analyst suggested the move is likely aimed at boosting sales of the AirPods, Apple's wireless earphones.
"It would be fair to say that most folks own a pair of headphones so cutting this will help reduce waste as part of Apple's focus on the environment," Paolo Pescatore, of PP Foresight, told The Sun.
"This seems logical as it Apple will want to drive demand for its own Airpods.
"In terms of charging, the future is wireless as providers can do away with ports and cables to drive down electronic waste even further."
The move to ditch the EarPods shouldn't come as a complete surprise.
Their death certificate was arguably signed the moment Apple binned the iPhone's headphone jack in 2017.
Apple has made a big push in recent years to get people using its wireless AirPods, instead.
Rumours suggest the company plans to eliminate the iPhone's charging port in 2021, meaning the EarPods' days are numbered one way or another.
What is the iPhone 12?
Apple is expected to launch at least three new iPhone models in September – and maybe even four.
Given that last year's trio was named 'iPhone 11', it seems safe to assume we'll get the iPhone 12 this year.
It's likely we'll see something along the lines of an iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
All eyes are on Apple for a spectacular line-up too.
iPhone tricks to try today
Here are some of the best...
- Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily
- Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs
- Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete
- Convert currency quickly – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen (or swipe left to right on an iPhone X or later model), then tap in the bar and type a currency (like $200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency
- Check if you're due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you're down to 80% capacity. If you're below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple
- Move apps around faster – Hold an app until it starts wiggling, then (while still holding) tap other apps, causing them to stack so you can move them around easier
The 2019 roster of iPhone models wasn't hugely different from the previous year.
But now industry insiders are expecting Apple to launch its first 5G iPhone model.
Rival phone makers have also charged ahead with all-screen front designs – and Apple could follow suit.
Sadly, Apple is keeping the final design and specs of its next smartphone top secret.
But reliable leaks will start emerging in the weeks running up to the launch, and that might be in the very near future.
In other news, this impressive iPhone 12 concept video could show off Apple's secret design ahead of time.
Apple recently released a new "cheap" version of its iPhone SE.
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And, the iPhone 12 could be the thinnest ever thanks to new screen technology.
Are you excited for the new iPhone? Let us know in the comments!
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