The boxes our new phones come in are very different from what they were several years ago. There’s a new, growing trend that will see them become even more empty.
The USB-C charging cable may be going the way of the wall charger, as manufacturers continue efforts to curb e-waste, and cut costs.
While this won’t please everyone, I wonder if the more people think about it, the less they’ll end up caring. I know I won’t miss getting yet another USB-C cable.
Which brands are doing this?
Goodbye USB-C cables
I noticed the Xiaomi 15T Pro’s box was very thin and light when it arrived, and found that when I opened it, it contained only the phone, regulatory papers, and a silicone case. A charger and USB-C cable weren’t inside the box.
Since then, a post on Reddit caught my eye. A Redditor purchased the Sony Xperia 10 VII, a new phone released in early September, only to find that the box was also empty aside from the phone and the usual warranty cards.
It followed other reports that the Apple AirPods Pro 3, which also arrived in September, does not include a USB-C charging cable either.
This isn’t a new development for Apple’s earbuds, with no cable included with the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4 either.
What’s going on?
Environmental efforts
Not every manufacturer is removing the USB-C cable from its boxes. The Google Pixel 10 series comes with a USB-C, so do the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7, and Apple includes a cable with the iPhone 17 series.
However, almost all manufacturers have stopped bundling a wall charger with phones. Samsung explains why it has done this:
Samsung smartphones come with a USB Type-C data cable, but they do not come with earphones or a charger plug in the box because we want to minimize the impact our products have on the environment.
Samsung believes the removal of earphones and charger plugs from our in-box device packaging can help address the growing e-waste problem and unnecessary duplication of these items.
Although it doesn’t explicitly mention USB-C cables or chargers, Sony is halfway through its ambitious, extensive Road to Zero environmental plan, which this year includes using 100% plastic-free packaging and reducing the amount of virgin plastic used in each new product by 10%.
Android Police has contacted Xiaomi for comment on the 15T Pro not including a cable. We will update here when we hear back, as it’s possible our version of the phone is a specific press sample package and different from the retail version.
Manufacturers are also complying with rules set out by the European Union in its Common Charger directive, which, aside from a requirement to adopt USB-C as the standard charging method, consumers must be given the option to buy a device without a charger in the box.
Why not bundling a USB-C cable can be a pain
Terminology minefield
Most will agree that there are positive environmental benefits that come with not including a charger and reducing the amount of packaging associated with our new phones.
There’s even a special pictogram made for the boxes to show us if there’s a charger in the box or not, so we know what we’re getting.
However, there’s no such pictogram for the USB-C cable yet, and it’s not included in the wording of the EU directive.
Most of us have a wall charger and USB-C cable of some description, meaning we’re unlikely to not be able to charge a new device, but is not including a USB-C cable more of an issue than not including a charger?
Not really, but it does exacerbate an existing problem.
Like wall chargers, not all USB-C cables are born alike. Not every cable will be capable of delivering the power some devices require to maximize charging speed, and may not be able to handle high-speed data transfer, or any at all.
I’ve made the mistake of grabbing an old USB-A to USB-C cable at the last minute, only to find it doesn’t work with Android Auto, for example.
It means we may have to buy a new USB-C cable, potentially along with a charger, to make the most of our new devices and navigate the often confusing world of USB and charging terminology to find the right ones.
A Redditor responding to the post about the Sony phone not coming with a USB-C cable also suggests it may lead to more people buying substandard, low-cost charging cables, which don’t last, resulting in more e-waste anyway.
Shrewd buying decisions
I won’t miss it
It’s becoming more likely that getting a USB-C cable with our phones will become a thing of the past.
Whether as part of an ongoing environmental effort, a way to cut costs and reduce packaging, or to push us into buying official chargers and cables sold separately, there are few convincing reasons left for manufacturers to keep putting a USB-C cable in the box.
I’m fine with this. Due to my job, I have more than enough USB-C cables and wall chargers to keep me going, and as readers of Android Police, I bet you’ve got quite a collection too.
We’re a decade into Android phones having a USB-C port, and a charger/cable combo was standard for many of them, meaning it’ll be rare to find someone who hasn’t got one in regular use.
If not including a cable in the box means less e-waste and less packaging, I’m also on board.
What if you need a new charger and cable? The availability of good-quality chargers and USB-C cables from third-party brands like Anker and Belkin, along with branded chargers and cables from Samsung, OnePlus, Apple, and others, means it’s fairly easy to buy a whole set that will last you a while.
A sensible purchase means the kit should remain usable for a few years, too, minimizing the investment.
But the main reason I don’t mind is that very few new phones come with a charging block in the box in the first place, so how many people will really miss a USB-C cable?
If you already have a charger, it’s highly likely you’ll have a USB cable, and vice versa. It’s becoming more likely that getting a USB-C cable with our phones will become a thing of the past, and I don’t think I’m going to miss them.
