How Apple Plans To Offset iPhone 12 5G Costs

KEY POINTS

Apple is expected to release the iPhone 12 series soon
A TrendForce report claims that the new models will not come with accessories
The report confirms previous speculations about Apple's move not to ship with headphones and charging bricks

Apple is working on giving the upcoming iPhone 12 lineup support for 5G. The components needed for this, however, are expected to raise production costs, possibly resulting in the iPhone 12 series becoming much more expensive than the iPhone 11 lineup.

Thankfully, Apple has found a way to offset the costs of including 5G in the new models. The company has “decided” to sell the upcoming iPhone 12 models without the usual accessories that come included in the box, according to a report from Taiwan-based research firm TrendForce.

The cost of producing the iPhone 12 units is “significantly higher” compared to the amount that went into making older models such as the iPhone 11 and iPhone XS, the report said. This is because of the components used for 5G.

“To cut costs and stabilize retail pricing, Apple has decided to sell the upcoming iPhones without accessories such as wired earphones, power adapter, etc.,” TrendForce said. “This move is expected to help with sales performance.”

TrendForce's analysis falls in line with earlier predictions and reports regarding the iPhone 12 series. Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, for example, previously said that Apple will not ship the iPhone 12 models with a charging brick and headphones inside the box.

The analyst's claim was supported by a leaked image showing the iPhone 12 models' purported packaging. The image showed a slim inner box that indicated a lack of space for such a charging brick. There is enough space only for the handset and a few things, likely a user manual.

It's also worth noting that Apple recently held a survey asking Brazilian consumers what they did with the charging bricks that came with their iPhones.

The survey indicated that Apple was likely interested in the public's need for a charging brick. The responses could've led to the decision that TrendForce reported about.

All these things – the survey, the TrendForce report, Kuo's prediction and the leaked packaging image – seem to indicate that iPhone 12 units will not come with chargers in the box.