4 ms·

Correction: Not because of free charger, but due to not using a standard charger (USB C) while not including their own non-standard charger.

neallindsay 4y ago
Wait, when we're talking about the "charger" here, do we mean the box that converts AC to DC? Or are we talking about the cable that plugs into the phone? If we're talking about the cable, Apple does and always has included that in the box. If we're talking about the wall plug thing that converts AC to DC, Apple no longer gives you one of those in the box, but it has always been standard USB. (USB A for the longest time, but USB C in recent years.)
- speeder 4y ago
  Both. Most other companies here offer the charging box that is USB-A. While the phone end is USB-C. So when you buy an iPhone, you get a lightining-USBC cable, while you have a USB-A brick... thus you can't use the iPhone. In an older thread I gave a more detailed explanation on how this situation happened. But long story short: phones in Brazil are ridiculously expensive, so are chargers, people don't change them often and someone buying an iPhone often is someone that was using a very old phone, sometimes a dumbphone even. And when they don't find a charger in the box, they go to black market to buy some crappy chinese ones that can set themselves on fire.
  - neallindsay 4y ago
    Ah. So if Apple had put off switching from USB-A to USB-C for a few years they might not have gotten in trouble. And other phone brands that use USB-C and don't include the AC adapter are probably less high-profile than Apple but might find themselves in the same legal situation in the near future.
    - postalrat 4y ago
      You can but a standard cable for usb-a charging with other phones. An iphone would require a cable just for it.
    - speeder 4y ago
      In fact, yes. What pissed off the judges here was precisely that Apple switched from USB-A bricks to USB-C bricks and dropped the chargers right after. So when their defense was sent to the judge, claiming people already had the chargers, the justice system considered this a blatant lie. EDIT: the company I work for sent me a Mac M1... The charger brick that came with it, is the only USB-C charger brick I have. And I have a ton of charger bricks... Meanwhile I am today using 2 USB-mini to USB-C adapters to charge phones. Because my 2 most reliable chargers are USB-A to USB-mini. I tried switching cables around but then fast charging stops working.
BoppreH 4y ago
Do you have a source for that? All the Brazilian articles that I could find, even the official government publication[1], only mention carregador ("charger", the thing that plugs into the wall), and "missing components necessary to use the product". There's no mention of USB-C or cable incompatibility anywhere. As to why only Apple (and not, say, most wireless earbuds), I'd guess that it's because of their visibility and obscene prices in Brasil. Due to its weak currency and self-imposed import taxes, Brazilians pay over 6 months of minimum wage for the lowest spec iPhone 14. [1] https://in.gov.br/web/dou/-/despacho-n-2.968/2022-438272613 https://in.gov.br/web/dou/-/despacho-n-2.968/2022-438272613
- speeder 4y ago
  The judge wrote that in his most recent decision that was discussed here on HN. I would appreciate if someone found the link for the most recent discussion before this one where this was pointed out.
- marcosdumay 4y ago
  AFAIK, only Apple does that. Most wireless earbuds come with cables that plug into the USB power supplies that people actually have.

neallindsay 4y ago

Wait, when we're talking about the "charger" here, do we mean the box that converts AC to DC? Or are we talking about the cable that plugs into the phone? If we're talking about the cable, Apple does and always has included that in the box. If we're talking about the wall plug thing that converts AC to DC, Apple no longer gives you one of those in the box, but it has always been standard USB. (USB A for the longest time, but USB C in recent years.)

speeder 4y ago
Both. Most other companies here offer the charging box that is USB-A. While the phone end is USB-C. So when you buy an iPhone, you get a lightining-USBC cable, while you have a USB-A brick... thus you can't use the iPhone. In an older thread I gave a more detailed explanation on how this situation happened. But long story short: phones in Brazil are ridiculously expensive, so are chargers, people don't change them often and someone buying an iPhone often is someone that was using a very old phone, sometimes a dumbphone even. And when they don't find a charger in the box, they go to black market to buy some crappy chinese ones that can set themselves on fire.
- neallindsay 4y ago
  Ah. So if Apple had put off switching from USB-A to USB-C for a few years they might not have gotten in trouble. And other phone brands that use USB-C and don't include the AC adapter are probably less high-profile than Apple but might find themselves in the same legal situation in the near future.
  - postalrat 4y ago
    You can but a standard cable for usb-a charging with other phones. An iphone would require a cable just for it.
  - speeder 4y ago
    In fact, yes. What pissed off the judges here was precisely that Apple switched from USB-A bricks to USB-C bricks and dropped the chargers right after. So when their defense was sent to the judge, claiming people already had the chargers, the justice system considered this a blatant lie. EDIT: the company I work for sent me a Mac M1... The charger brick that came with it, is the only USB-C charger brick I have. And I have a ton of charger bricks... Meanwhile I am today using 2 USB-mini to USB-C adapters to charge phones. Because my 2 most reliable chargers are USB-A to USB-mini. I tried switching cables around but then fast charging stops working.

BoppreH 4y ago

Do you have a source for that? All the Brazilian articles that I could find, even the official government publication[1], only mention carregador ("charger", the thing that plugs into the wall), and "missing components necessary to use the product". There's no mention of USB-C or cable incompatibility anywhere. As to why only Apple (and not, say, most wireless earbuds), I'd guess that it's because of their visibility and obscene prices in Brasil. Due to its weak currency and self-imposed import taxes, Brazilians pay over 6 months of minimum wage for the lowest spec iPhone 14. [1] https://in.gov.br/web/dou/-/despacho-n-2.968/2022-438272613 https://in.gov.br/web/dou/-/despacho-n-2.968/2022-438272613

speeder 4y ago
The judge wrote that in his most recent decision that was discussed here on HN. I would appreciate if someone found the link for the most recent discussion before this one where this was pointed out.
marcosdumay 4y ago
AFAIK, only Apple does that. Most wireless earbuds come with cables that plug into the USB power supplies that people actually have.