Why doesn't Samsung Galaxy S21 come with a charger? Here's the official answer

By Tom Pritchard
published

The Samsung Galaxy S21 is just the beginning

Samsung Galaxy S21 review
(Image credit: Future)

As expected, the Samsung Galaxy S21 does not come with a charging brick in the box. The move is hot on the heels of Apple, which did the exact same thing with the iPhone 12, and Samsung won’t be stopping with its latest phone.

A Q&A on Samsung’s press page with Patrick Chomet, EVP and Head of the Customer Experience Office at Samsung, confirms that other Samsung phones will be ditching the charger as well. Though it won’t all happen immediately.

Here's the official statement in full from Patrick Chomet, Samsung's EVP and Head of Customer Experience Office, Mobile Communications Business:

“We discovered that more and more Galaxy users are reusing accessories they already have and making sustainable choices in their daily lives to promote better recycling habits. To support our Galaxy community in this journey, we are transitioning to removal of the charger plug and earphones in our latest line of Galaxy smartphones.

We believe that the gradual removal of charger plugs and earphones from our in-box device packaging can help address sustainable consumption issues and remove any pressure that consumers may feel towards continually receiving unnecessary charger accessories with new phones.

We’ve also been implementing standardized USB-C type charging ports since 2017, so older chargers can still be compatible with our newest Galaxy models.”

Of course, making the charger optional will also generate revenue for Samsung, A 25W fast charger for the Galaxy S21 currently costs $34.99 through Samsung.com, but you can grab one for $14.99 through Amazon.com when it's on sale. 

While we expect that removing the charger will become standard practice for Samsung flagships from now on, including the upcoming Galaxy Note 21 and Galaxy Z Fold 3, it’ll likely have an impact on cheaper phones as well.

Samsung does produce a lot of budget and mid-range devices, and it’s worth bearing in mind that there will be a point where there isn’t a charger brick inside the box. In other words, that bargain of a phone might turn out to be more expensive than you think. 

Assuming, of course, you don’t have a USB-C charging brick already. Chargers you received with other phones will work with Samsung handsets, but what you have may not be able to  the fastest charging speeds available for your phone.

It’s not clear when Samsung will be widely implementing its new "no charger" policy, but we expect it will start soon for new premium and budget handsets alike.

Tom Pritchard
Tom Pritchard
UK Phones Editor

Tom is the Tom's Guide's UK Phones Editor, tackling the latest smartphone news and vocally expressing his opinions about upcoming features or changes. It's long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo UK, when pretty much everything was on the table. He’s usually found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining about how terrible his Smart TV is.

1 Comment Comment from the forums
  • Shade69
    admin said:
    The Samsung Galaxy S21 set the stage for all other Samsung phones to ditch the charger.

    Galaxy S21 is just first of many Samsung phones that's ditching the charger : Read more
    This is dumb. First, the cable is a c-type to c-type. That is great for data connections. But if this is your first Phone (as is the case for my daughter) or if you have not gotten a new phone since the Note 5 (as is the case for me), you do not have a c-type wall charger. Samsung, if you would have at least included an USB A to C-type adapter, I would not have as much buyer's remorse.
    Samsung, if you are going to try and be Apple, stop with the bad customer service. When my friend got a new iPhone 12 and did not have a charger for it, Apple gave him one.
    When I called Samsung CS, they basically told me no new phone manufacturer is going to supply a wall charger any more and that I was going to buy one. And that they would be happy to sell me 2 power kits.
    Now my batteries are dead and I'm waiting on a third party charger... Yet another thing that is no longer available when you buy a new phone.

    Wishing Fair Phone was in the USA.
    Reply