iPhone 16 Series To Come Without The Apple Sticker: Here’s Why It Matters

Apple has offered the popular sticker with all its iPhones for years but not anymore.

Apple has removed the adapter from the iPhone boxes in recent years and the company going to cut more items in the years to come.

The excitement of unboxing an iPhone has always been special, but it's losing some of its charm. In line with Apple's environmental commitment to achieve zero net emissions by 2030, the Apple iPhone 16 retail box now comes without the iconic Apple sticker, marking a significant shift from tradition.

According to a 9to5Mac report, people who buy or pick up an iPhone 16 from an Apple Store are still eligible to obtain an Apple sticker. On the other hand, purchasing an iPhone from a reseller or having it shipped to your house from the Apple Store will not qualify you for an Apple sticker. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16, some documentation, a braided USB-C to USB-C cable, and a SIM ejector pin (in India) are now included in the retail package of the Apple iPhone 16.

Furthermore, the launch of the M2 iPad Air and M4 iPad Pro marked the beginning of the trend of removing the Apple sticker. With two Apple stickers, a 5W power brick, a USB cable, and EarPods, the iPhone 11 was the last model to provide a comprehensive unboxing experience.

Apple is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030, and this move is part of its larger environmental strategy. Apple has reportedly stated that by the end of the next year, all of its packaging, including that for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models, will be made entirely of fibre.

Following Apple’s removal of the charger from the iPhone box, a number of other smartphone manufacturers, including Samsung and Google, have also begun to remove chargers from their boxes. Still, a number of companies, including OnePlus, Realme, Xiaomi, Oppo and others, provide their devices with a charger—even an incredibly quick one.

That’s not all, Apple is now selling AirPods 4 series without charging cable in the box. This shift is consistent with Apple’s recent pattern of removing accessories from product packaging to lessen environmental impact. The iPhone 16 series is now available for pre-order in India, with official availability starting Friday, September 20. Similarly, the AirPods 4 can be pre-ordered and will be available on September 20 across online and offline stores.