I suspect that people are getting this completely wrong and it's quite amazing too.
Here's what this is likely to be:
1. Select your phone 2. Select your power adapter/charging device, where none is an option 3. Select your listening device, where none is a option
In other words, they are likely unbundling and giving people options, including none (if they already have these items).
This is not lawsuit-worthy and should not be surprising or controversial.
What a fu**ing mess. Imagine the craziness store employees will have to go through? Will the charger be in the box? Separate? How would this affect the environment with separate boxes? Stores will have to stock pallets of free accessories?
Imagine the store employee telling you "Sorry we're out of iPhone boxes with no chargers but with Earpods."
Only solution could be all physical store iPhones have EarPods and chargers removed. Will customers have to redeem them online? What a clusterf**k for Apple. Now imagine the DELAYS that would cause. Now imagine the OUTRAGE when millions of customers can't get their chargers for another 3 months.
I don't think it will be a mess at all. If they actually do this, all phones will be boxed without power and EarPods. Each of those will be packaged separately. One can already buy power blocks separately, and while I haven't looked, it wouldn't surprise me if EarPods were also available in separate boxes now as well.
I agree with Rayz, there will very likely be a cord in the box that will allow you to connect your new iPhone to a USB port of some kind -- just not a wall wart. So everyone above who is losing their minds and threatening lawsuits might be able to stand down.
I think it would be great if Apple included a coupon in the box for $10 off either the charger or the AirPods (or $20 off if you get both), or maybe an e-offer like that when you register your new device. But then I also hope they extend the free year of Apple TV+ when you buy Apple hardware, so I may be asking for rather a lot there.
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I don't think it will be a mess at all. If they actually do this, all phones will be boxed without power and EarPods. Each of those will be packaged separately. One can already buy power blocks separately, and while I haven't looked, it wouldn't surprise me if EarPods were also available in separate boxes now as well.