Back in 2020, Apple decided that including the charging brick inside the box was not a "sensible decision" anymore. Shortly after that, every major smartphone brand followed suit, from Samsung to Xiaomi; everyone decided that consumers don't require a charger with their latest smartphone purchase. Now, looks like there is another victim on the block and it is a pretty serious one.
Sony says goodbye to the USB charging cable with its latest smartphone
The Sony Xperia 10 VII went official in the global markets last month. While we are eagerly waiting to test and review the smartphone ourselves, a Reddit user posted an unboxing image of the phone, which made us sit back and think.
According to r/Brick_Fish, the latest smartphone from Sony has managed to not only remove the charger from the box, but it now does not even include the customary USB-C cable, which the user expected, just like all of us.
This shift has made us think about the future of smartphones in general and the overall "unboxing experience" in particular. Compared to just a few years back where unboxing a new smartphone meant being treated with a joyous experience, today, it has left a shallow feeling inside.
New smartphones, which charge a premium price tag from customers, have somehow managed to subtract the "premium" from the product package. If we talk about the Xperia 10 VII, it can cost upwards of 450 euros (approximately Rs 47,000). Yet, the brand thinks it is right to charge that much and just deliver a new smartphone "for the sake of it".
The obvious question is here is "why the cable?". Well, the charger is already gone and the information booklets are important for brands to print their "terms of conditions". However, the USB-C cable is still an "extra" which obviously you have in abundance already, right?
So, to combat "e-waste" and to save you from the trouble of "managing multiple cables", Sony has most likely taken this decision. And not just Sony. Even the newly launched AirPods Pro 3 come without a charging cable in the box.
Also, removing one single cable from thousands of units across the globe will not only allow brands to save major dollars, but will also let them charge you separately for them, "for a nominal fee".
Here's why this decision is a concerning one
Now look, while it must be true that consumers have a lot of charging cables with them, the truth is not every USB cable is the same. The ones that brands provide within the box are high quality and certified to a certain standard. So, these remove the risks of compatibility issues, short circuits, data corruption and more.
So, in case you decide to opt for a separate charging cable, it might not meet up to those quality and durability standards. These cables can increase the risk of smartphone damage and also might not be able to achieve the highest charging speeds.
Just like the charger, the cable could disappear soon, making smartphone unboxing even more hollow. Even though this time it's not Apple leading by example, a decision like this from a brand like Sony will surely help other tech brands take it as the "new norm".
As a consumer, all we can do is get educated about the different types of charging cables, ensure that we are using the right cable for our device and eventually, learn to accept it.
