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Apple begins selling $29 USB-C adapters – and users are not happy

Lottie Casas September 13, 2023

Apple begins selling adaptors, wires and other gizmos just moments after announcing the iPhone 15 and new AirPods will require a NEW charging cord

  • Apple added new iPhone 15 accessories to its website shortly after its event 
  • Users are in an uproar over the tech giant charging $29 for the USB-C adapter
  • Apple also added $59 phone cases and  USB-C Charging Cables
  • READ MORE: Apple’s iPhone 15 is officially UNVEILED

Apple just unveiled the new iPhone 15 – and the tech giant has not wasted time cashing in on the announcement.

Within minutes after the company’s ‘Wonderlust’ event concluded, consumers spotted a new $29 USB-C to Lightning adapter for sale in the Apple Store. 

While some praised Apple for the ‘affordable’ price, others are in an uproar over it – many users shared on social media that they can get higher-quality cables for less than $10.

Also decorating the Apple Store are new iPhone 15 cases for up to $59, a cloth-made wallet with MagSafe and USB-C Charging Cables with the same price tag as the adapter.

Within minutes after the company’s ‘Wonderlust’ event concluded, consumers spotted the new $29 adapter for sale in the Apple Store

Apple announced Tuesday that the iPhone 15 and new AirPods Pro will support USB-C charging 

Rumors over the past year have suggested Apple was set to introduce the USB-C port to the new iPhone 15.

But during Tuesday’s unveiling, the company also announced the new connector for the latest version of its AirPods Pro earphones and wired EarPods headphones.

‘USB-C has become a universally accepted standard, so we’re bringing it to iPhone,’ a presenter said during the Apple launch event Tuesday. 

The USB‑C connector for the iPhone 15 will let consumers charge the smartphone with the same cable used to power the Mac and iPad.

The move results from new EU rules approved last year that will require all small and medium-sized electronics to use a standard charging cable by the end of 2024 to cut the number of cables users need for their devices to help save consumers money and reduce e-waste in the long term. 

However, some experts have raised concerns over the number of obsolete cables created in the short term by the change as Apple moves away from its proprietary Lightning connector. 

Consumers have raised their own issues with the new charging adapter, mainly the $29 price tag.

One X user shared he found ‘higher-quality’ cables on Amazon for just $9 each – but Amazon also offers adapters for as low as $3.99.

One X user shared they had found a better charging adapter on Amazon for less than $10

Consumers have raised their issues with the new charging adapter, mainly the $29 price tag

Apple also added several cases with MagSafe, ranging from $49 to $59, and a new iPhone FineWoven Wallet with MagSafe for $59.

FineWoven is the company’s replacement for leather as it moves to be more environmentally friendly. 

The Wallet is made ‘from a durable and elegant micro twill with a soft, suede-like feel,’ according to Apple.

‘The material is made from 68 percent post-consumer recycled content and has significantly lower carbon emissions compared to leather.’

The new iPhone 15,which starts at $799, features an all-new textured matte finish, a ceramic shield and comes in five new colors – a fetching pink, yellow, green, blue and black.

The smartphone also includes an upgraded camera and iOS 17, adding NameDrop, Live Voicemail, and several other new features.

Apple just announced the new iPhone 15 – and the tech giant has not wasted any time cashing in on the update

A new $49 iPhone 15 case has built-in magnets that align with the smartphone’s battery

FineWoven is the company’s replacement for leather as it moves to be more environmentally friendly. The Wallet is made ‘from a durable and elegant micro twill with a soft, suede-like feel,’ according to Apple

Also decorating the Apple Store is USB-C Charging Cables that have the same price tag as the adapter

Users will see a 48-megapixel camera, Dynamic Island and AI-powered Voice Isolation that helps calls sound louder and clearer in a noisy environment.

The iPhone 15 will be available on September 22nd, with preorders starting Friday.

Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, said: ‘iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus represent a huge leap forward with exciting camera innovations that inspire creativity, the intuitive Dynamic Island, and features like Roadside Assistance via satellite that make a real difference in users’ lives.

‘We’re also pushing the power of computational photography to new levels this year with a 48MP Main camera featuring a new 24MP default for super-high-resolution photos, a new 2x Telephoto option, and next-generation portraits.’

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, which starts at $899, feature a 48-megapixel main camera, capable of twice the telephoto option for capturing photos and 4K video, and the new A16 bionic chips.

The iPhone 15 Plus has a 6.7-inch display but the same features as the flagship model, which has a 6.1-inch screen.

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