Robert Triggs / Android Authority
TL;DR
- iPhone sales have been banned in Brazil.
- The country is banning the phones due to Apple not including a charger with purchase.
- Brazil is also levying a potential daily fine against Apple to the tune of 12 million Brazilian real (~$2.3 million).
When Apple decided to stop including chargers with its iPhones, it was a very controversial move. Even today, almost two years later, it’s still controversial.
If there’s any doubt of that, look no further than Brazil. According to Brazilian publication G1, Brazil’s Ministério da Justiça (Ministry of Justice) just banned iPhone sales across the country. The primary reasoning behind this decision is Apple’s refusal to include chargers.
The country will also fine Apple 12 million Brazilian real (~$2.3 million) each day it breaks this ban. The machine translation of the article appears to indicate that Apple would not see these fines, however, until if and when it is determined the company tried to circumvent the ban. In other words, if Apple halts iPhone sales or starts including a charger, it won’t see the fine.
See also: The best Apple iPhone chargers
This is all very bad timing for Apple considering we’re only a day away from the launch of the iPhone 14. Although there’s been no confirmation yet, it is all but assured that they won’t come with chargers either.
This isn’t the first time Brazil has attacked Apple in this fashion. For the iPhone 12 series — the first to launch without a charger included — Brazil fined Apple 10,546,442 Brazilian real (~$1.9 million) and, eventually, Apple included a charger with purchase in at least one Brazilian state.
