Kuo: Apple won’t include earbuds or charger in iPhone 12 box

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said that the iPhone 12 won’t come with a power adapter or EarPods in the box, in a note obtained by MacRumors.

Apple will instead release a 20W power adapter, available as a separate purchase, and will stop producing the 5W and 18W adapters that we’ve seen for the past few years. The 20W version will be very similar to the 18W, with USB-C and Fast Charging (shown in leaked images).

The move will reduce the iPhone’s packaging significantly and keep the costs of production as low as possible. Kuo claims that product costs have increased due to the use of 5G capabilities in all iPhone 12 models. By taking out EarPods, Apple is attempting to boost sales of the already-popular AirPods.

A Lightning to USB-C cable will likely still be included in the box. The current generation of iPad, iPad Air and mini will still include a 12W power adapter, but new models later this year may also ditch that.

Kuo says Apple will stop shipping the 2020 iPhone SE with a 5W power adapter later this year. It currently ships with this included in the box, so the accessory will come at an additional cost for consumers.