How To Charge Another Phone With S21

Why Samsung'south Galaxy S21 doesn't come up with a charger

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra doesn't take a charger in the box (Image credit: Samsung)

The removal of the charger from smartphone boxes has been 1 of the most contentious topics in phones over the concluding year, and now Samsung has confirmed it won't include many accessories (opens in new tab) y'all may expect in its packaging when yous buy a new phone.

Following Apple's move to ditch the charger and in-box headphones with the iPhone 12, the Samsung Galaxy S21, Milky way S21 Plus and Galaxy S21 Ultra will also come without some key accessories in the box.

Why has Samsung dropped these? Officially, it's to cut downward on e-waste matter by supplying you with a charger that the company believes it's unlikely you lot'll need. At that place'south very little in the box aslope the telephone – just a USB-C to USB-C cablevision, the phone'due south Quick Start guide and an ejector pin and so yous can insert your SIM.

There'south also a pre-applied screen protector, but that's information technology. That's a lot less than you'd currently expect from a smartphone box. It ways y'all'll have to use a pre-purchased phone charger and another pair of headphones with your device rather than rely on the ones included.

Samsung Galaxy S21 accessories: what comes in the box, and what doesn't

The Samsung Galaxy S21 box (Epitome credit: Samsung)

TechRadar spoke to Paul Scott, Samsung Mobile'south Head of Product Management in the United kingdom, who said, "It's a actually bold only really important step at the same time. Listening to our consumers they're making far more than, every bit we are, sustainable choices in their daily lives, and what we need to do is make certain that we support that.

"Nosotros do not want to be sending a consumer withal another charger when they've peradventure got a charger from, say, 2018 or going all the way back to 2017. It's a USB Type-C charger, and so we're not irresolute it."

All superlative-end Samsung phones, and the vast majority of other Android phones, accept supported USB-C charging since 2017. The Samsung Galaxy S8 was the first phone from the visitor to make the switch from microUSB to USB-C. If you lot own an Android phone, it's very likely that you lot currently recharge information technology with a USB-C charger that will exist compatible with the new Galaxy S21 series.

Samsung is also encouraging users to use its wireless charging tech likewise, which ways y'all don't need a cable to exist able to recharge your phone. That isn't technology that everyone has, though, and proficient wireless chargers are nonetheless a more expensive investment than opting for a plug and cable.

Information technology's a really assuming, but really of import step

Patrick Chomet, Samsung'southward Head of Customer Experience Part, said, "Nosotros believe that the gradual removal of charger plugs and earphones from our in-box device packaging tin help address sustainable consumption issues and remove whatever pressure level that consumers may feel towards continually receiving unnecessary charger accessories with new phones.

Samsung isn't merely cut back on the e-waste matter by dropping chargers – it's also trying its all-time to improve its packaging overall.

Scott told TechRadar, "Over the past five years, nosotros've reduced that plastic weight within the Southward series packaging by 92%. And the plastic that we apply is up to 3% of the packaging with the latest Samsung flagship, so there's very minimal plastic usage.

"We used to have plastic within the box – a plastic holder tray – and we've replaced those trays with pulp molds then the wrapping and accessories are far more eco-witting."

That ways the box your Samsung Galaxy S21 telephone volition come up in is ready to exist far smaller and generally more eco-friendly than previous phones you've bought from the company, and probable more than the boxes you've bought from other manufacturers.

While many volition exist upset by the lack of a charger in the box with the Galaxy S21 serial, the visitor has made this notably easier to transition over than Apple did with its iPhone 12 series. Many needed to buy a new charger to use on the iPhone 12, but Samsung'south new tech can just be used with a traditional USB-C charger.

If you want the latest and greatest charging tech from Samsung and y'all're using an older charger, you'll likely want to purchase a new one. The company has said it's reducing the price of its chargers from $34.99 / £29 / AU$50 before the S21 launch to $19 (well-nigh £xv, AU$25) in the near hereafter.

That price doesn't seem to have taken identify on Samsung'south website (opens in new tab), but the company said during its launch the price will be dropping. We've all the same to hear the new price for those in the Britain or Australia.

Plus, you've got the choice of a third-party alternative to go aslope your new smartphone. But given the path Apple and Samsung are paving, y'all won't be encumbered with more charging cables packed in all phones to come.

Our time with the Samsung Milky way S21 and then far

James is Senior Phones Editor for TechRadar, and he has covered smartphones and the mobile space for the best part of a decade bringing you news on all the big announcements from peak manufacturers making mobile phones and other portable gadgets. James is often testing out and reviewing the latest and greatest mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets, virtual reality headsets, fettle trackers and more. He'due south currently near excited about the Samsung Galaxy S22, God of War: Ragnarok and the rumored foldable iPhone.