Google ‘expects’ to deliver future smartphones without charger

Google ‘expects’ that the Pixel 5a will be the last smartphone from the company that still comes with an adapter. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will be released later this year. These phones will probably no longer get a charger. Apple and Samsung now also supply phones without chargers.

The company expresses its expectation to The Verge and says that “most people” already have a USB-C adapter at home. Therefore, it would not be necessary for Google to provide one with it. Cost savings and possible environmental gains probably also play a role in Google’s decision, although these considerations are not explicitly mentioned.

iPhones, Xiaomi Mi and Galaxy S phones, among others, now come without adapters. These phones also come without earphones. The omission of these two accessories means that packaging can be made smaller and therefore theoretically could carry more phones in a single load. In addition, it would save waste.

Google unveiled the Pixel 5a 5G on Tuesday, the successor to the Pixel 4a 5G. The 5a will have a larger screen, faster soc and larger battery. For now, the smartphones only appear in the United States and Japan. This fall, Google will also release the Pixel 6 series. These devices get a soc designed by Google itself.