Brazil Fines Apple $19 Million for Selling iPhones Without Chargers

A civil court in Sao Paulo has issued Apple with a $19 million fine for selling iPhones without chargers.

As Barron’s reports(Opens in a new window), the lawsuit was filed by the Brazilian Consumers’ Association, which accused Apple of an “abusive practice” by not including a charger. Judge Caramuru Afonso Francisco agreed, concluding in his ruling that Apple “requires consumers to purchase a second product in order for the first to work.”

Apple’s decision to stop including a charger with new iPhones is meant to cut down on the amount of electronic (and packaging) waste the world produces. Many consumers already own a charger that will work with a new smartphone, so bundling one with every handset is wasteful. It should come as no surprise that Apple intends to appeal the decision, Reuters confirmed(Opens in a new window).

This isn’t the first time Apple has been fined in Brazil for not including a charger with its phones. In March last year a $2 million fine was issued because the iPhone 12 didn’t include a charger. More recently, Brazil’s Ministry of Justice ordered Apple to stop selling iPhones without chargers in the country, claiming the company is selling consumers an incomplete product.

One has to wonder why Apple doesn’t just flip this around and start bundling a separate charger, but offering a discount on the price if the customer opts not to have one. That way it would still be encouraging consumers in Brazil to produce less e-waste while potentially avoiding further legal action.

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