The Sao Paulo state court in Brazil fined Apple a whopping 100 million reais ($19 million USD or $26.33 million CAD) on Thursday for not selling new iPhones in the country without charging adapters in the box — reports Reuters.
Sao Paulo’s state court ruled against Apple in a lawsuit filed by the association of borrowers, consumers, and taxpayers. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs accused Apple of employing abusive practices by not including a power adapter with its flagship product.
This is far from the first time Brazil has reprimanded Apple for selling devices without chargers, a trend the company set with the iPhone 12 back in 2020 under the veil of reducing e-waste. Even at the time, Brazil compelled Apple to include chargers with iPhones sold in the country.
Apart from imposing a $19 million USD fine, the Sao Paulo court also ruled that all new iPhones sold in Brazil must include chargers moving forward. Brazil’s Justice Ministry issued a similar order last month, which was accompanied by a $2.38 million USD fine.
According to the Sao Paulo state court, Apple’s practice of not shipping a charger with new phones equates to selling an incomplete product. The court said in its ruling that customers should not have to buy a second product for the first to work.
“It is evident that, under the justification of a ‘green initiative,’ the defendant imposes on the consumer a required purchase of charger adaptors that were previously supplied along with the product,” the court said in its decision.
Apple is currently appealing the Justice Ministry’s order to start including chargers with iPhones. The tech giant also plans to appeal the Sao Paulo decision and the fine imposed.
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I agree wholeheartedly with Brazil on this. Chargers must be provided with new iPhones, especially if there is a port change and we know USB-C will be the standard for the foreseeable future. Over time, poor quality Apple cables deteriorate and degrade, many of them get tugged at and pulled and then frayed, then the person who buys a new device expects a brand new cable in the box. Imagine paying $2400CAD for a new phone and not being able to charge it without buying a cable separately. It’s ridiculous.
I can imagine Apple shifting to USB C, charging absurd amounts for the USB C charger at the store, then a few years later going full wireless charging and charging $150 for that.
What’s truly sad is just how many companies are following in their footsteps. Each and every one of them deserve to be fined like this. Stop using the environment as an excuse. This is pure and simple money grab tactics.