This archive report was first published on 19 August 2021.
Published on August 19, 2021, Google has confirmed that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, set to release later this year, will be the first phones in their lineup to not include a wall charger.
This move is in line with Apple's decision to ditch the wall charger for the iPhone 12 lineup, citing environmental impact as the primary reason. Apple also removed earbuds and the charging brick from the 2020 Apple Watch.
According to Apple, the reduction in carbon emissions from not including the wall charger is equivalent to cutting 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions each year, or removing 450,000 cars from the road annually.
Google, on the other hand, has stated that people already have a USB-C charging brick, which is true, as they have included 18W USB-C PD chargers with their phones since the Nexus 6P and 5X.
However, critics argue that this move is a zero-sum game, as the greenhouse emissions of producing and shipping the accessories chargers will only be shifted to third-party manufacturers.
One thing is certain: this move will likely encourage smaller companies to also stop manufacturing handset accessories, leaving consumers to pay higher prices for phones without the added extras.
