Conversation in Apple store about iPhone 12...

[Cr00zng]

This is a conversation, that lot of people will have, who has an iPhone that is older that iPhone 11. Like my better half and I...

"Hello, I'd like to buy one of the new iPhones, please!"

"Sure thing, here's the new iPhone 12. It's fast, beautiful, and is generally awesome."

"Sweet, I'll take it. This box is really small."

"Yup, that's because Apple is making the environmental move to reduce waste and not give you yet another charging brick when you, a loyal Apple customer likely have tons of these already."

"I have bought a new iPhone every 2 years for as long as iPhones have existed, I'm extremely loyal! So I can use one of the half dozen bricks I have in my house already?"

"Well, no, see the included Lightning cable doesn't work with any brick we've shipped with an iPhone except last year's iPhone 11 Pro."

"Ok then, I guess that's fine, I suppose I can use one of the less-frayed cables I have at home to charge this phone."

"Don't get too ahead of yourself, because we have this new charging technology that we think you're going to love: MagSafe. It's wireless charging, but it's faster than previous iPhones and magnets make it more reliable too."

"Fantastic, let's do that. Looks like it's $40 for the puck. That's a bit more, but it sounds cool so let's do it."

"I'll add it to your bag. Now tell me, do you have Apple's 20W USB-C charging brick to use with this? It doesn't come with a charging brick either, and to get the advertised speeds then you need to use that brick. Literally no other charging bricks will get that speed."

"Well, no I don't, in part because you didn't sell that product until today."

"So we'll just add one of those to your bag as well. Now you're getting the full iPhone 12 experience we've been advertising you should want to have!"

"This sounds like it will all work great, but now I have a new phone, two new cables, and one new charging brick, but I didn't get a charging brick with the iPhone because that was supposed to help reduce waste?"

"You got it. Thanks for buying the things our ads say you should buy, and enjoy your new iPhone."

Source: https://birchtree.me/blog/a-guy-walks-into-an-apple-store/

Yes, it might be better for the environment and certainly for Apple's bottom line, but not for my wallet. If Apple would be so concerned about the environment, it really should adopt the USB charger (Power Delivery) standard for the all of the iDevices. Instead of doing it for selected iDevices, such as MacBooks and selected iPads.

 

[toMACsh]

What did you expect? It's still 2020, The Year of Nonsense.

 

[chscag]

And that is pure baloney. The iPhone 12 can be charged the same as the iPhone 11. The only thing Apple has done is eliminate the charger brick and ear buds.

The new Mag-Safe charger is slower than the 20W brick and has been reported to leave marks on the phone or case. But it is an optional accessory, not mandatory.

 

[MacInWin]

The article set up a straw man argument and then poked holes in it. As Charlie says, you can charge the 12 with all the same cables/wallwarts you have in the past, all the way back to the first lightning cables. You don't HAVE to use the wireless charging, you don't HAVE to use the USBc cable, you don't HAVE to use the puck, you don't HAVE to use the 20 amp brick with the puck. Fundamentally, the entire article was a pack of lies.

 

[Cr00zng]

These black birds are annoying...

Fundamenthally, it's not entirely impossible to have the quoted conversion in the Apple store. After all, sales is sales and as usual, there's lot of pressure on the sales people to, well, sell. Call the conversation whatever you will, but it is not whithout merit....

Asides from Apple recommending the 20W wall charger and one doesn't really have to have Mag-Safe wireless charger...

Yes, my better half can use her 6S wall charger with the USB lightening cable to charge her new iPhone 12. It will take awhile, but yes, it will work:

iPhone 12 chargers tested: 5W vs MagSafe vs 20W | Tom's Guide

If she does that, there's no need for the iPhone 12's USB-C to lightening cable. Maybe Apple should remove this cable from the iPhone 12 package as well? After all, everybody has some kind of lightening cable by now. That would have been more enviromentaly concious decision by Apple, or seeking even more profit, depending your point of view.

I like my iPhone, but that does not prevent me from seeing things from different perspective...

 

[MacInWin]

The cable is needed not just for charging, but for connection to the latest series of Macs that only have USB-c connections. I think that's why it's in the box. Otherwise, if it were only charging, any lightning cable will do or any wireless charger as well.

 

[ferrarr]

Cables are the first (usually) thing to break/not work.

 

[Cr00zng]

Yeah, the USB-C lightening cable will work well with my late 2013 MBP, not!

Question...

Will the USB-C lightening cable support USB 3.x transfer rate?

 

[ferrarr]

Yeah, the USB-C lightening cable will work well with my late 2013 MBP, not!

Question...

Will the USB-C lightening cable support USB 3.x transfer rate?

Yes, but only at USB 3 speeds.

 

[Cr00zng]

Yes, but only at USB 3 speeds.

Thanks, 4.8 Gbps transfer rate is a huge update from the USB 2.0's 480 Mbps. My better half's W10 box does have a USB-C port, backup and restore will be much faster, than with the USB to lightening cable.

 

[pm-r]

This is a conversation, that lot of people will have, who has an iPhone that is older that iPhone 11. Like my better half and I...

Thanks... I can just imagine the specific sales training session the salespeople go through to deal with such sales...

I wonder when other products and companies will start the same sort of tactics... other than overselling Accessories as they have done for years...


- Patrick
=======

 

[lclev]

I have two wireless chargers that I used with my Xs Max. Only one will sort of work with my 12 Pro. The other one never seems to connect. I am not feeling the need to buy the MagSafe puck. I did pick up a 20W charger so I plug it in at night and am good to go in the morning.

 

[MacInWin]

Lisa, that's strange. I have two Anker chargers that I used with my 11, and as soon as I put the 12 on them it started charging immediately. I also have a iOtttie holder in my car with wireless charger capability and it charges there as well. I did get the puck, but I don't have the 20W charger to drive it at maximum, but that's not key for me as I also charge my phone over night. Wonder what is going on that yours aren't working?

 

[lclev]

I do have it in a leather wallet case. Also one of mine is a cheap model so I was not surprised. I really am not fond of wireless chargers. The phone - both my Xs Max and the 12 Pro seems to get too hot for my comfort. The one that works I keep at work so I can lay it on the charger. It has a light that shows it is charging but it is slow. Not sure what brand it is. I am sure the leather case does slow things down. I usually just plug it in.

Lisa

 

[MacInWin]

My wireless chargers from Anker stand the iPhone up at a nice angle to allow me to see the face of the phone. Anker makes pretty good stuff. I have a silicone case on the 12, had a similar case on the 11. Neither one seems to interfere with the charging. I have an app called "Battery & Charger Test" that give me a reading of the flow in or out of the phone. It says the Anker has a net 125 mA/h charge with the phone streaming music over Wifi. With the puck that jumps to 1500-1800 mA/h even without the "official" charger from Apple. The iOttie car mount is about 500 mA/h when using the phone for SatNav and streaming and connected to the car by BT. Could be either the wall wart or the charger itself is not working properly?