Apple ordered to stop selling iPhone without charger in Brazil and faces fine for ‘incomplete product’

The Brazilian government reportedly fined Apple BRL 12.275 million (roughly Rs. 18 crore) for missing a charger in the box of iPhone models, while saying that customers were provided with an incomplete product. The day before the Cupertino-based company is expected to introduce the iPhone 14 lineup — the intended successors to the iPhone 13 lineup — Apple has also been ordered to stop selling iPhones without chargers in the country, according to the report.

According to report According to Reuters, the Brazilian Ministry of Justice has ordered Apple to stop selling the iPhone 12 and newer models, as well as other iPhone models that do not come with a charger in the box. The ministry also said the charger exclusion was a “deliberate discriminatory practice against consumers” and that the iPhone was missing a “major” component.

Apple was also fined BRL 12.275 million (roughly Rs. 18 crore), according to a report citing an order published in Brazil’s official gazette.

The company stopped including chargers with the launch of the iPhone 12 in 2020 as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions. These arguments were reportedly dismissed by the Department of Justice, which stated that there was no evidence of environmental protection from the exclusion of the charger.

On Wednesday, Apple is expected to release the alleged iPhone 14 series, consisting of iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max. Models with the “Max” suffix are said to have larger displays compared to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro. Apple is also expected to make a distinction in terms of hardware between Pro and non-Pro models with the launch of the iPhone 14 line this year.