Apple’s New macbook Pro Ships Without Charger in UK & EU – A Businessโข Decision, Not an EU Mandate
Following the release of the M5 MacBook โPro,โ customersโฃ in the United Kingdom and European Union will find the laptop ships without aโค power adapter included in โthe โbox. This change has sparked confusion online, with some believing it’s a direct result of new EU โฃregulations. Though,this โฃis inaccurate.
Apple quietly updated its online store toโ reflect the โคchange, meaningโ buyers of โthe 14-inch MacBook Pro in these regions will now need โto purchase a compatible USB-C power adapter separately. The laptopโข does still include a MagSafe 3 charging cable. This policy does not extend to other markets, like the united States, where a 70W USB-C Power Adapter remains included with โpurchase.
The speculation arose from the โฃEU’s 2022 Common charger Directive, which aims to standardize charging ports toโ USB-C across a rangeโค of devices – including smartphones, tablets, and laptops – and increaseโข consumer flexibility. While the โdirectiveโ does require manufacturers to offer a version of each product without a charger โคto reduce electronic waste,it explicitly does not prohibit including a charger. Companiesโ are free to bundle a โcharger, or offer โit as a no-cost option alongside โฃthe charger-less version.
Apple’s decision to โcompletely remove the charger goes further than the EU law requires. They could have offered a โcharger inclusionโฃ option โคat checkout without violating the directive. The removal is also unnecessary in the UK, which is not subject to EU regulations.
This move appears to be a business decision by Apple,streamlining logistics and packaging by avoiding the need for different product variations (SKUs) within Europe. Though, it shifts the โคcostโฃ of a necessary accessory onto consumers who don’t already ownโ a compatibleโฃ USB-C power โฃadapter.
Apple has previously justified โฃremoving chargers from packaging – beginning with iPhones in 2020 – as part ofโข a broader environmental โคinitiative.The company claims smaller โpackaging and fewer accessories reduce carbon emissions andโ resource consumption throughout its supply โฃchain.โ
The M5โฃ MacBook Pro โremains compatible with existing โค67W, 96W, and 140W USB-C power adapters. Apple’s online store now clearlyโฃ states “power adapter sold separately” forโฃ customers in the affected regions.
interestingly, the price of the new 14-inch MacBook Pro has been โคadjusted โคdownwards in some European countries – approximately โฌ100 less than the previous model. However, the starting price remains unchanged in the UK.