Apple created a pretty compelling package with the iPhone SE 3, but does the company’s budget iPhone come with a charger in the box? This is a question that shoppers need to regularly ask when looking at a new smartphone. Not that long ago, every phone was expected to come with a free charger regardless of who made it or how much it cost. Today, the included charger is becoming just as rare as the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Similar to how it started the trend of axing the headphone jack, Apple’s also credited for making it ‘cool’ to ship smartphones without charging adapters in the box. Shortly after it released the iPhone 12 without a free charger, countless other companies quickly followed suit. It’s why we now have the Galaxy S22, Pixel 6, and other phones without included chargers.
Although the iPhone SE 3 is lauded as a cheaper and more accessible iPhone, it falls into the same charging pitfall as its more expensive siblings. That’s to say that the iPhone SE 3 does not come with a charger in the box. Just like the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and the iPhone SE 2, the only things you get with the iPhone SE 3 are a Lightning to USB-C cable, a SIM removal tool, Apple stickers, and a small instructional booklet. Nowhere in the iPhone SE 3 box is a free charging adapter. It’s certainly annoying and frustrating for some shoppers, but it’s also the new norm for the entire smartphone industry.
Why The iPhone SE 3 Doesn’t Have A Charger
So the iPhone SE 3 doesn’t come with a charger. That’s fine. But why doesn’t it come with a charger? The first reason — and the one Apple’s happy to talk about — is reduced environmental impact. Since removing free chargers from the iPhone, Apple says it’s “avoided mining a significant amount of materials from the earth,” such as plastic, copper, tin, and zinc. On top of that, Apple also says the lack of a charger has reduced its carbon footprint. No included charger means the iPhone ships in a smaller box. A smaller box means lighter packaging, and lighter packaging means Apple can ship more iPhones in a cargo truck/plane at once.
There is another element to the missing charger, and it has to do with money. Charging adapters are cheap on their own, but when Apple is manufacturing and shipping millions of them with every iPhone that’s sold, it’s a cost that quickly adds up. When Apple doesn’t include a charger with the iPhone and sells the iPhone for the same price, that just means more money in Apple’s pockets. And, of course, Apple’s happy to sell you a charging adapter from its website or stores if you really want one.
All of that said, not getting a charger with the iPhone SE 3 really isn’t a big deal. Chances are, most people have a USB-C charging adapter lying around their home. If you do, just plug the included cable into it, and you can start charging the iPhone SE 3 without a problem. If you don’t have a charging adapter, there are plenty of models online for about $10.
