In 2020, Apple made headlines for a bold move: It stopped including chargers in new iPhones. The company claims it’s better for the environment to stop the practice, since most people already own a charger. However, rumor has it that the move actually saved Apple billions of dollars. Since then, other companies, including Samsung, have followed suit.
However, Brazil is very unhappy that there is no iPhone charger in the box. The country previously fined Apple $2 million for the change. Now, the Cupertino company must pay a specific person $5,000 Brazilian Real (about $1,082).The news came thanks to a judge ruling on the man’s lawsuit against Apple (via Mike Rumors).
Here’s what the judge had to say:
According to Article 39 of the Consumer Code (CDC), “bundling” is an abusive and prohibited practice in Brazil, so separate sales of mobile phones and chargers are not allowed. As a result, Apple was sentenced after separately selling iPhone models and chargers to a consumer in the city of Goiania.
Apple must compensate consumers 5,000 reais for the “bundling” of the company’s devices, according to results published by Judge Vanderlei Caires Pinheiro of the Sixth Civil Court of Goiania.
“Timing” refers to the practice of forcing consumers to buy two products in order for one to be fully functional. In this case, the judge held that the necessity of buying a charger after purchasing a new iPhone is a parity sale. Granted, Apple argues that most people already own a charger, but that doesn’t sway the judge.
No iPhone charger in the box: Is there a legal precedent now?
A big question facing this case is how it could change future smartphone launches in Brazil. The country has fined Apple for not including iPhone chargers. Now, the case appears to set a precedent where any iPhone owner can sue Apple directly for damages.
See also: How to choose the right charger
Obviously, if Apple needs to include a charger in the iPhone, so will other companies. For what it’s worth, Samsung does include a charger with its phones when it sells in Brazil, although it doesn’t do so in other countries.
Also, Apple does include chargers and even earbuds in the new iPhones it sells in France. This is because French law prohibits the sale of smartphones without either of these items. Apple might use a similar strategy in Brazil to avoid all these legal issues.
