Your Next Phone May Arrive Without a Charging Cable, Experts Warn

Sony’s newly released Xperia 10 VII has ignited discussion online after users noticed that the device no longer comes with a USB charging cable. A Reddit post by user Brick_Fish shared an image of the smartphone’s packaging, which clearly shows the absence of both a charger and cable in the box.

This approach mirrors a trend seen in the smartphone industry in recent years. In 2020, Apple introduced the iPhone 12 without a charging brick, explaining the decision as part of its efforts to reduce environmental impact while assuming that most customers already own compatible chargers. Apple has extended this practice to other products as well, such as its latest AirPods models, which now ship without USB cables.

The rationale behind excluding cables is partly environmental. As USB-C becomes increasingly standard across devices, many consumers already possess usable cables, potentially reducing electronic waste. At the same time, companies benefit financially, lowering production costs per unit by omitting accessories like chargers and cables.

Despite these intentions, some users have expressed concerns over the quality of replacement cables they might need to buy separately. Discussions on Reddit and tech forums have raised questions about whether third-party cables will provide the same durability or performance as those previously bundled with devices.