It seems incredible, but in 2022 it is still being discussed that the iPhone will be sold without a charger in the box. Brazilian Judge Vanderlei Caires Pinheiro ordered that Manzana pay compensation to a customer who complained about this situation, after purchasing an iPhone 11 in March 2021 and finding that it did not have a wall adapter included. In addition, he considered that those from Cupertino have addressed a practice that is “illegal and abusive.”
The financial compensation is 5,000 reaisjust under $1,100, as disclosed in an official document of the Judiciary. According to the judge’s conclusions, the charger is an “essential part” for the normal operation of the iPhone; and also assured that the US firm is violating local consumer protection laws.
At the moment, Apple has not spoken publicly about this judicial setback, but the truth is that it sets a precedent that may not be pleasant. After all, this could open the door for more dissatisfied customers to request financial compensation from the company run by Tim Cook.
Another interesting detail of what was exposed by Judge Caires Pinheiro is that he dismissed the main argument used by those from Cupertino to no longer include a charger in a box with each new iPhone: the protection of the Environment. “The assertion that such a measure seeks to reduce the environmental impact Has no sensebecause the defendant continues to manufacture such an essential accessory, only now it sells it separately,” he said.
The controversy over the iPhone charger is not new in Brazil
Apple announced in October 2020 that the iPhone 12 would not include a charger in the box. This measure was later extended to previous models that were still in production -such as the iPhone 11, XR and SE-, and was maintained with the launch of the iPhone 13 in 2021. And the strategy will continue to be replicated in the future, of course.
It is true that, at the time, the decision earned the Californian firm a few initial ridicules, but companies such as Samsung and Google have followed the same steps. Therefore, beyond the business and the environmental issue, today it is impossible for those from Cupertino to retrace their steps.
But Brazil has been troublesome territory for Apple ever since it decided to stop including a charger with every new iPhone. the american company received a fine $2 million for selling the iPhone 12 without a wall adapter; and the agency in charge of consumer protection laws planned to do the same after the launch of the iPhone 13.
In the most recent case faced by those from Cupertino for this matter, Apple must not only pay the 5,000 reais in compensation for “damages” ordered by Judge Caires Pinheiro. is also required to free delivery of a compatible charger with the iPhone model purchased within a maximum period of 10 days; if they do not comply, they would add a daily fine of 100 reais, up to a maximum of 10,000 reais.
The magistrate’s ruling was issued on April 12, so if it hasn’t already complied, Apple is within the deadline to obey it.