The AirPods Pro 3 Are Missing Something In The Box

The AirPods Pro 3 are here, and they’re a huge jump from the AirPods Pro 2 in almost every way. But I hope you have a cable lying around, because Apple is not shipping one with its newest earbuds.

According to the official tech specs page for the new wireless earbuds, the “In the Box” section lists the AirPods Pro 3, the MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C), and silicone ear tips in four sizes. The USB-C charging cable, however, is now listed as a separate purchase. For those in the US who happen to need a new cable, Apple’s own one-meter USB-C Charge Cable retails for $19.

This decision is pretty similar to when Apple removed the power adapter from iPhone boxes in 2020. At the time, the company cited environmental reasons, arguing that the move would reduce electronic waste and shrink packaging, thereby lowering the carbon footprint associated with shipping. The same logic is likely being applied here, as the widespread adoption of USB-C across Apple’s product lineup—from MacBooks and iPads to the latest iPhones—and even in other hardware means many customers may already own a compatible cable.

As a reminder, the AirPods Pro 3 case offers a variety of ways to power up. Of course, you can charge it with a cable, but it is also compatible with Apple’s MagSafe chargers, standard Qi-certified wireless charging pads, and even the magnetic puck used for charging an Apple Watch. If you somehow don’t have a USB-C cable or you want to charge your earbuds with an Apple-provided cable rather than with just any cable, you’ll have to buy one. Yes, any USB-C cable will work, not just Apple’s. That’s the magic of USB-C!

Apple’s likely logic here is right: a lot of people do, in fact, have USB-C cables lying around, whether that’s for charging their phones or for charging something else. It’s a standard that has been around for years, it’s the standard connector on iPhones since the launch of the iPhone 13, and it has been used on Android phones for close to a decade by now. To be fair, I don’t agree with the fact cables are being removed. I’m just saying it’s not a big problem in the grand scheme of things. And it’s also already standard practice for many companies making wireless earbuds. This move would’ve been way more disastrous had Apple stuck with Lightning, mind you, but the fact that USB-C is the chosen port means it should be relatively easy to find a cable lying around for charging it.

If you don’t mind this, the phone is already available for pre-order.

Source: MacRumors