Does the M5 MacBook Pro Come with a Charger? Not in the EU
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Shortly after Apple unveiled its new M5 MacBook Pro this week, keen-eyed observers noticed that the models being sold in the European Union were missing one key pack-in: the power adapter.
Specifically, Apple’s M5 MacBook Pro now only ships with a USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable in the box in most European countries, including the UK. In the US and Canada, the box still includes a 70W USB-C power adapter.
Some were quick to blame EU regulations for this, which isn’t too surprising considering the European Commission’s long history of actions to unify charging standards and reduce electronic waste. After all, we largely have the EC to thank for the USB-C iPhone. However, the situation with the MacBook Pro charger is slightly more nuanced.
To recap, EU regulators spent more than a decade pushing for a common charging standard. In fact, they’ve been at this for so long that the original proposal would have had everyone adopting Micro-USB. However, since those early attempts relied on voluntary compliance and left more than a few loopholes, Apple mostly ignored it, switching to Lightning three years after it signed the “voluntary memorandum of understanding.” Instead of putting a microUSB port on the iPhone, it tossed a Lightning to Micro USB Adapter into the box to satisfy the letter of the EU mandate, if not the spirit.
Five years ago, the European Commission decided it had had enough of these games and got much more assertive, ultimately drafting legislation that would require all rechargeable electronics to be able to use a USB-C port by the end of 2024. Note that the rules don’t prevent companies from offering additional charging connections — which is why its MacBooks can still use MagSafe 3 — it just says they must be able to charge via USB-C.
Why Apple Dropped the Charger (and Why It Wasn’t Forced To)
Given the crackdown, it’s no surprise that many people assume Apple removed the charger from its new M5 MacBook Pro due to EU regulations. However, it turns out there’s nothing in the rules that prohibits Apple from including a charger. It was entirely Apple’s call to remove it and require customers to pay extra if they need one.
That’s not to say EU rules didn’t affect Apple’s decision. The problem is that, to prevent needless electronic waste, regulations require manufacturers — including Apple — to offer products without a charger in the box. That way, customers who don’t need the charger don’t end up with an extra power brick that could ultimately end up in a landfill somewhere.
In light of that, Apple clearly didn’t feel it was worthwhile to sell two versions of the new MacBook Pro in Europe — one with a charger and one without — so it just pulled it entirely.
While some Apple apologists have pointed the finger at the EU, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman points out that Apple could have easily found ways to compensate for this.
Apple often cites environmental responsibility as a rationale for removing chargers, as it did with the iPhone lineup five years ago, but the real issue is that the price of the MacBook Pro hasn’t been reduced. The M5 MacBook Pro is priced the same as its predecessor in every country where it’s being sold, yet folks in Europe are now getting less for that price. That makes this less a case of regulatory overreach and more one of Apple’s own calculus — profitability over packaging, with a dash of environmental consciousness tossed into the mix.
