This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
As the world grapples with the issue of e-waste, Samsung has announced plans to stop including chargers with some of its upcoming smartphones, starting in 2021. This move, which follows in the footsteps of Apple, has raised eyebrows and sparked debate over the true motives behind this decision.
According to SamMobile, Samsung's upcoming flagship, the Galaxy Note 20, is set to be launched on August 5th, and it is unclear whether this device will ship with a charger. However, given the announcement of this change for 2021, consumers can rest easy for now.
The decision to stop including chargers is reportedly driven by environmental concerns. The argument is that many people already have chargers lying around and never use the ones included in the box, contributing to e-waste. For those who don't have chargers, the idea is that they can buy them separately while purchasing the phone. However, several issues with this approach have been raised:
- How much more money will companies make by not including chargers and then selling them independently? Is this a genuine environmental campaign or a ploy to increase profits?
- Charging technologies are different, and fast chargers are becoming increasingly common. Consumers may buy a phone specifically for its fast charger, and excluding it from the box may be a drawback.
- Using third-party chargers can be harmful to a device's battery life, potentially leading to more e-waste than including the charger in the first place.
With over 50% of Android phones now shipping with USB Type-C, the standard for phones has shifted. However, this does not necessarily mean that any Type-C charger is trustworthy. The trend of not including chargers may ultimately benefit third-party companies, which can sell more chargers and make more money.
