This year's new iPhones may not have as much in the box as you are used to. According to well-connected analyst Ming-chi Kuo, Apple plans to discontinue delivery of a power adapter and EarPods with 2020 models and even remove the power adapter from the packaging of the new iPhone SE later this year. Kuo's research report has been reported by AppleInsider, MacRumors, and 9to5Mac.
According to Kuo, Apple is trying to offset the cost increases associated with upgrading the iPhone range to 5G. Smaller packaging would be more environmentally friendly and would also reduce shipping costs because more phones could fit in a single shipment. (It doesn't hurt to encourage more sales of AirPods either.)
Apple currently offers EarPods for all iPhones, a 5 W USB-A adapter for 11 and SE and an 18 W USB-C adapter for 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. The 18 W charger was added last year after years of complaints about the slow 5 W adapter. So it would be surprising if it disappeared so quickly. However, it is not clear whether this will be the case across the iPhone line.
Regardless, Apple is said to develop a new 20W fast charger that will be available alongside new iPad models. Kuo expects that a 10.8-inch iPad with an 8.5-inch iPad mini-set will be available sometime this year for the first half of 2021. These iPads appear to come with the new 20W charger, which will otherwise be available as a separate purchase for iPhone owners.
