Apple stopped packing EarPods inside iPhone boxes long ago but France continued to get them for a long time. What made Apple do this is the legal requirement related to radio-frequency energy which makes headphones a necessary item and needs to be included in the box with smartphones. However, this law has now been changed.
According to a new report by MacRumors, starting January 24, 2022, Apple will no longer provide EarPods in the box when you purchase a new iPhone. The law which previously compelled Apple to include a “handsfree kit,” with their smartphones has now been changed in favor of reducing the environmental footprint of digital devices.
Apple had made the environment-friendly move back in 2020 when they stopped including EarPods and the charging brick with the iPhone 12, significantly reducing the size of its box.
This new law is not only applicable to apple but all the smartphone manufacturers in France as it no longer forces them to include headphones in the box. Instead, they just need to ensure that compatible headphones are available separately as an optional accessory.
The French carrier Frac has posted a notice in their store stating: “DEAR CUSTOMERS, We would like to inform you that our manufacturers are no longer required to supply headphones/hands-free kits with their smartphones in France. This new law, adopted in late 2021, aims to reduce the environmental footprint in France.
The Xiaomi brand is concerned, for products purchased from the week of January 17, 2022. The same will be true for the Apple brand as of from the week of January 24, 2022
THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING”
For now, Apple’s French website continues to show EarPods an included item in the box alongside a USB-C to Lightning cable which is likely to change soon.
Apple’s environment-friendly initiative, although controversial, is becoming standard practice in the premium smartphone segment. However, some regions have pushed back against it with Brazil fining the Cupertino tech giant $1.9 million in March 2021 for not including chargers in the iPhone 12. After which the company was forced to offer chargers to anyone requesting it.
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