Wesley Hilliard
Apple announced that it would not ship a 5W power adapter with Apple Watch Series 6, though expensive watches like the Hermes edition still had one — until now.
Apple made the announcement that most of the Apple Watch line would not have a USB AC adapter, during a small portion of the "Time Flies" event focused on the environment. The company says that most people buying the Apple Watch already have an adapter and including one in the packaging adds to waste.
Despite Apple's reasoning, high-end models like the Apple Watch Edition and Apple Watch Hermes still came with the 5W adapter. The operating theory for early adopters was that the adapter was still included in the more expensive models due to those being purchased by people who upgrade less often.
As noted by MacRumors, however, Apple now indicates that it has stopped shipping the adapter in the box for all Apple Watch Series 6 models. Apple has updated the Apple Watch Hermes page with the same message it has on the others:
"As part of our effort to meet our environmental goals, Apple Watch does not include a power adapter. Please use your existing power adapter or add a new one before you check out."
Apple's environmental push will affect the "iPhone 12" as well, as it is expected to ship without a power adapter or headphones. The "iPhone 12" is expected to be announced on October 13.
Christine McKee
Andrew Orr
Charles Martin
Marko Zivkovic
14 Comments
I struggle with this. Apple’s environmental objectives are noble, but to take credit for leading environmental change by suddenly crippling usability for the same buyers they’re bragging to seems a little counterintuitive.
We’ll all deal with it, of course, and it won’t matter to most. But the idea of “non-techie” users havin to double-check to make sure they already have a solution just to power the device they’re buying, while Apple boasts in a marketing campaign feels disingenuous.
For perspective: Apple only sell the Hermes and Titanium (and previous Edition) Apple Watch models in a few markets.
This is all fine but they need to lower the price of the 5w charger from $19 to $9 for the people who need one.
What about the Titanium? I received a completely useless 5W power adapter with my Series 6 Titanium. There are so many ways of recharging something as small as an Apple Watch, it just isn't justified to ship the nearly useless 5W adapter with any product any longer. Maybe Apple should reduce the price on the 5W adapter from $19 to $9 or something for the very few people who still need or want one.
Edit: Ha, Ninja'd by Goodbyeranch by 5 minutes.
Edit 2: It looks like the same message is now on the checkout for the Titanium too. Good!