Chinese students sue Apple over not including chargers with iPhones

A group of students from Chinese universities are suing Apple over its decision to not include chargers with the iPhone 12 and later.

Following Apple's 2020 decision to no longer include chargers in the box with its iPhones, the company has repeatedly faced fines from Brazil. Now it's subject to a new lawsuit, this time from a group of students from Donghua University and the Beijing University of Chemical Technology.

According to the Shanghai Rule of Law Daily, the case was presented in an online hearing of the Beijing Internet Court Electronic Litigation Platform. Following a two-hour session, with evidence from both the students and Apple, the court is now reportedly gathering supporting evidence and written materials.

One of the students, a law one reports name only as Fang, began the campaign after buying an iPhone 12 Pro Max. It was one of the first without a charger, and her aims include getting Apple to provide a charger.

She also wants the company to pay 100 yuan (approximately $15.50), presumably per buyer, and pay litigation costs.

"Apple has a serious infringement of consumers' legitimate rights and interests," she said during the hearing. "Most consumers and even Apple employees are equally puzzled and angry about this, but most of them have become a silent majority."

Apple has argued that its box for the iPhone 12 Pro Max is clear that it does not include a charger. The company has previously said that the reason for the removal is to reduce carbon waste.

The case was first spotted by Vice.

Criticisms of Apple removing the charger come as the EU continues to propose that all mobile phone makers switch to a common USB-C charging standard.