Apple has made a big change with the release of their new AirPods 4 lineup, and no, we are not talking about the active ANC on one of the variants; it is about continuing their trend of reducing included accessories in the box.
Both AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC will not come with a USB-C charging cable in the box. This comes after Apple transitioned the AirPods 4 charging case from Lightning to USB-C ports. Hence, if you don’t already own a charging USB C cable, the AirPods will cost you more than what they were announced for.
Don’t miss the best of The Mac Observer
Set us as a preferred source and our Apple reporting ranks higher in your Google Search results and Discover feed — one tap, no account changes.
Apple hasn’t stated its reasoning for this decision, but it’s likely an extension of its environmental initiatives and cost-cutting measures. The company may be assuming that most users already have USB-C cables.
The AirPods 4 are available for pre-order and will begin shipping on September 20, 2024. The standard AirPods 4 retails for $129, while the other one with Active Noise Cancellation costs $179.
The AirPods Max, which also received a USB-C update, still includes a charging cable in the box[2].
Apple is no new to the game of removing accessories from the box; in fact, they’re a trendsetter.
- In 2020, Apple removed charging adapters from iPhone boxes.
- In 2022, the company stopped including USB-C cables with Apple TV for charging the Siri Remote.
Buy here.
Discussion