July 6, 2022, 12:46 pm | Read time: 3 minutes

Some tech is simply iconic. Nintendo’s old Game Boy Color, for example, or the Nokia 3310. These devices share the trait of instantly conjuring an image in your mind. It’s similar with Apple’s old 5W USB-A power adapter–for years, this accessory came with every iPhone. Now, the final end for the iconic power adapter has been decided.

Small USB-A Power Adapter Was Very Popular

Since 2020, Apple has been selling its iPhones without the previously included power adapter. This saves the company a significant amount of money, but many users were not pleased with the practice. One reason was that the power adapter, which had been included with every iPhone for many years, was extremely popular. Small, handy, and with a beautiful design–almost every Apple user has at least one of the small 5W adapters at home.

Most recently, the handy power adapter with a USB-A connection cost a hefty 25 euros in the Apple Store. In the future, it will no longer be available.

Outdated Technology

Apple does not provide an official reason for discontinuing the power adapter, but it is assumed that it is simply too outdated. Iconic status aside, there are now faster power adapters to charge the iPhone. For comparison: 18 watts is now the norm. Thanks to fast charging and USB-C instead of USB-A, charging times have drastically shortened. This has led to USB-C becoming more of a standard–not just at Apple. By mid-2024, this will also be law in the EU to enforce uniform standards.

Here you will find content from third-party providers

To interact with or display third-party content, we need your consent.

Activate

In order to display embedded content, your consent to the processing of personal data, which can be revoked at any time (via the switch or via “Revoke tracking and cookies” at the bottom of the page), is required. Data may be transferred to third countries such as the USA (Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). By switching to “on” you agree. You can find more information here.

Also interesting: How to properly charge an iPhone–and how not to

Speed aside, the Apple company has yet to offer an adequate replacement for the small USB-A power adapter. Apple’s other adapters are all significantly larger and noticeably heavier. The advantage of the older model was precisely its compactness; the power adapter fit easily into any pocket. As of now, it is no longer available directly from Apple. In the online store, it is marked as “Sold Out.” Surely, the small USB-A adapter will still be available from third-party vendors for some time until it finally disappears.

Source

• heise