Brazil fines Apple over lack of charger in iPhone 12 box

Procon-SP, a Brazilian consumer protection regulator based in the state of São Paulo, fined Apple on Friday for not including a charger in an iPhone 12 box.

The fine is around $ 2 million (R $ 10.5 million) “for false advertising, sale of a device without the charger and unfair conditions.” This is not the first time Procon-SP has asked Apple about its new policy.

In October last year, the regulator questioned the company’s consumer protection, and in November, the group said “the iPhone maker has not demonstrated an environmental benefit.”

Now, Procon says that Apple did not respond when asked if the price of the iPhone 12 was reduced after removing the charger, what is the price of the iPhone with the charger and without, and whether it reduced the number of carriers removed.

While the iPhone 12 mini costs $ 729 in the US, in Brazil the same phone is around $ 1,200. Back in 2019 when Apple introduced the iPhone 11, it started at $ 799, and in Brazil it cost around $ 1,200 as well. Real Brazil’s decline and the pandemic helped increase the U.S. dollar over Brazil’s currency.

In addition to removing the charger on the iPhone 12 and new commercially manufactured iPhones, Procon-SP reports other problems with Apple, such as:

  • False advertising: IPhone 11 Pro users said that Apple did not repair their phones after water problems
  • iOS update problems: Some users reported “problems with some duties” on their iPhones after updating, which didn’t help Apple
  • Unfair terms: Apple exempts itself from all legal and comprehensible warranties and against hidden or manifest defects, according to Procon-SP

Fernando Capez, Executive Director of Procon-SP said “Apple needs to understand that Brazil has strong defense laws and agencies. He must respect these laws and these institutions. “

Apple did not respond to Procon-SP investigations, but the company can appeal to the court, if it so wishes.

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