The Xiaomi Mi 11 is slated to launch on Monday, but the new smartphone will be announced without a key component, a charger included inside its retail box.
Xiaomi CEO, Lei Jun recently teased the Mi 11 packaging on the Chinese social media platform, Weibo, explaining that the decision to release the device without a changer was propelled by the brand’s commitment to environmental protection. The executive noted that many smartphone users have “a lot of idle chargers,” which can be used with upcoming phones.
Ironically, this news comes after brands including Xiaomi and Samsung quipped at Apple for releasing its latest iPhone 12 series in October without chargers in box. Now Xiaomi is taking a stance similar to Apple’s in terms of environmental responsibility and an excess of chargers already in circulation.
Still, many believe brands removing common accessories from their packaging may be an attempt for manufacturers to regulate recent price spikes for premium devices. While the Xiaomi Mi 11 is rumored to start around $700, many rival devices have base model prices, which have exceeded $1,000 for several years. Removing these components may allow brands to lower their production costs with smaller boxes, which in turn can help prevent device prices from increasing as rapidly. It is interesting that as many brands continue to market various levels of fast charging for their smartphones, they have begun to remove chargers from retail boxes. However, most manufacturers do already market their special fast chargers as sold-separately accessories and not free in box accessories.
Some suggest Xiaomi may offer consumers an opportunity to get a charger for their new Mi 11 in the form of a voucher or discount. Perhaps the first people to preorder the device may receive a free charger. Overall, the manufacturer is expected to handle its transition to a charger-free branding much differently than Apple. The only option for iPhone 12 owners who want or need a new charger is to purchase one.
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S21 series is also rumored to launch without a charger; however, it remains unknown whether the brand will offer alternative ways for consumers to get chargers at little to no cost.
