Syed Saif Ul Hassan 
Oct 07, 2025
Smartphones' packaging, over the past couple of years, has been shrinking side by side with the advancements in technologies involving their manufacturing, and now the rumour has it that smartphone makers are inching closer to stopping the inclusion of USB-C cables in their boxes.
The exclusion of USB-C cables from future smartphone boxes adds to the removal of items like charging bricks, which many users still find frustrating, in recent years.
The development stepped into the limelight in a recent Reddit post about the Sony Xperia 10 VII, which revealed that the phone comes without a charging brick or USB-C cable. In the leak, the box clearly indicated these omissions, meaning it could be a deliberate change.
While it seems to have outraged the public, manufacturers view this move as an eco-friendly one. With USB-C now the standard for most devices, they argue that most smartphone users are more likely to have enough cables at home.
Why smartphone brands considering not to offer charging cables?
By removing these charging cables, companies are said to be aiming to reduce e-waste and packaging materials, and ultimately benefit the environment.
Don't miss the financial angle of the story: shipping phones without accessories saves manufacturers money, and even small savings make up millions of units. This will also encourage customers to purchase official accessories, and subsequently boost mobile makers' profits.
Not all USB-C cables are created equal. Low-quality or uncertified cables often lead to slow charging, overheating, or even damage to devices. This could result in more electronic waste, as users may need to buy replacements more frequently.
A recent poll showed that 64% of users think a cable should always be part of the package, while 36% feel they have enough already.
With this trend gaining pace, time's running out when it will no longer be a surprise that your new mobile purchase will come with nothing more than the phone itself.
Whether other mobile phone makers opt for the trend or not, this has surely laid the groundwork for a future smartphone industry where phones would be sold without any cables.
