Remember when smartphones came with chargers, cables, and even earphones in the box? These good days are long gone, and the retail box for your new smartphone has gotten a lot emptier. But things might be getting even worse soon. A new rumor suggests that USB cables might be the next casualty. So here’s what you need to know.

Smartphone Makers Are Now Ditching USB Cables Too

After charging bricks were quietly phased out in the name of “sustainability,” new reports suggest that USB cables might be the next casualty. One user on the Linus Tech Tips subreddit, who recently purchased the Sony Xperia 10 VII, got a retail box that was devoid of the charging brick and charging cable. Looking at the picture shared by @Brick_Fish, the Xperia 10 VII can be seen with just the basic documentation.

This could be an isolated incident or a hint towards a bleak possibility. Keep in mind that Sony isn’t a major player in the smartphone market, only selling its devices in select regions. On the other hand, this has the potential of becoming a new trend in the industry with over smartphone makers making a similar move in a few years. If this does end up happening, brands would likely use the “sustainability” argument once again.

Apple is a great example of this, as it was the first to ditch the charging brick, and even recently removed the USB cables from its AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3. While this would help avoid more electronic garbage making their way to the landfills, customers might opt for cheaper alternatives that won’t last as long, leading to more waste over a longer period.

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The post After Chargers, USB Cables Might Be the Next to Go from Smartphone Boxes appeared first on Gizmochina.