Apple surprises MacBook Pro users by removing charger from the box

Your 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro retail box is going to feel a bit lighter because Apple has continued the trend of removing accessories from its devices. The refreshed laptop doesn't ship with a charger or power adapter, so you'll need to buy a new one if you don't have a spare lying around.

As spotted by MacRumors, this change has trickled across many European countries, including the UK, Italy, Germany, Ireland, France, Spain, Norway, and the Netherlands. Apple has confirmed the same on its website and online store by writing phrases like "No power adapter" and "Power adapter sold separately."

You'll still get the 2m long USB-C to MagSafe 3 charging cable in the box, which you can pair with a compatible charger. Apple has kept the starting price of the 14-inch MacBook Pro the same, but its 70W USB-C Power Adapter will increase your budget by £59.

Apple will ship a 70W USB-C Power Adapter with the device in other countries, including the US. Note that the said change is limited to the M5 version of the 14-inch MacBook Pro in Europe; its pricier variants still ship with a power adapter.

It remains to be seen whether the company will remove the charger for more MacBook models or other regions in the future and whether this trend will trickle down to other laptop makers.

It may not be surprising because Apple has been doing it for years now. It started by removing the charging brick from the Apple Watch and iPhone 12 series in 2020, and the nearly impossible-to-repair AirPods Pro 3 don't even ship with a charging cable in 2025.

The decision could be a cost-cutting measure or a way to satisfy the company's environmental goals and its dream of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. However, it has been years since the European Union has been pushing for a standardized charging port for mobile devices, reducing e-waste, and providing an option to buy devices without a charger to save money.