Apple is under fire in Brazil after selling iPhones without chargers. According to Engadget, Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security also ordered Apple to pay a fine of R$12,275,500 ($2.38 million or 12.28 million Brazilian reals) when it continued to market iPhones without chargers.
The authorities have also canceled the company’s registration with Anatel, the FCC’s counterpart in Brazil. As a result, distribution of iPhones is halted across the country. The decision to ban iPhone sales was made just one day before the “Far Out event”. iPhone 14 fans have been eagerly anticipating this event for a long time.
The next-generation handset will likely omit any charging accessories, just as Apple did before.
Even though Apple has already ceased selling the iPhone in Brazil, they still offer it on their website, according to Folha de S. Paulo, a Brazilian publication.
It was further reported that the company wants to appeal the decision in hopes of reestablishing contact with its Brazilian customers. In an interview with Reuters, the company shared that they “have already won several court rulings in Brazil on this matter, and we are confident that our customers are aware of the various options for charging and connecting their devices”.
Apple is only one of the technology firms that aim to promote green technology in the future. As part of its efforts to reduce its environmental impact, Apple excludes accessories for iPhones.
According to Senacon, Brazil’s consumer protection agency, the absence of a charging brick makes the iPhone “incomplete” and forces customers to buy it as an added item.
This issue should be addressed in another way if Apple wants to get rid of the iPhone lightning port. The Brazilian government urges the company to use USB-C charging connectors on all its electronic products. Once implemented, USB-C charging could become the universal connector for all smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Consumers can expect more convenience with the shift to USB-C ports, according to Brazil.
It was not Apple’s first time selling smartphones without chargers. Chinese students sued Apple in October 2021 for excluding chargers from an iPhone 12 Pro Max. According to the complainants, the company was doing that silently to promote its MagSafe wireless charger to consumers.