The iPhone 12 series has been sold in the Vietnamese market since November 27 and has immediately attracted significant attention from consumers. The appeal of the iPhone 12 comes not only from upgrades in design and features but also from its reasonable price and the early arrival compared to imported versions.
Previously, the FPT Shop shared with us that the number of iPhone 12 pre-orders was “on par with the peak period of the iPhone with the iPhone 6/6 Plus model in 2014, with record sales figures.” Another retailer, CellphoneS, also reported that the iPhone 12 pre-orders were three times higher than the same period last year.
The high demand for the iPhone 12 has led to many consequences, including a severe shortage of the two premium models, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. As reflected in a previous article, these two models are currently sold out at most retailers, especially in colors like Gold or Pacific Blue. Users will have to wait several weeks, even over a month, to own the new iPhone.
Not only the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, but another product that is also experiencing a shortage in Vietnam is… the iPhone charger. In the iPhone 12 generation, Apple has removed the charger and earphones from the box and only “included” a USB-C to Lightning cable. This forces users to either use an old charger or buy a new one if they don’t have one. Apple claims that removing the charger is a measure to “protect the environment,” however, many believe this is a way for Apple to increase profits through accessory sales.
This assessment is entirely valid. The accompanying cable for the new iPhone is based on USB-C standards, and most users are still using chargers with USB-A outputs, which are incompatible with this cable. Therefore, most iPhone 12 users will still have to purchase a new charger.
To meet this demand, alongside the iPhone 12, Apple has launched a new charger with a USB-C output and a power of 20W. This charger is sold by many retailers at a “promotional” price of 490,000 VND when customers buy it with the iPhone 12.
After nearly a week of the iPhone 12 launch, many large systems are hanging up “sold out” signs for this charger. Meanwhile, some other systems and stores still have stock but have raised the price to double, at 990,000 VND.
This is somewhat puzzling, as the price Apple set for this charger is only 19 USD (equivalent to 440,000 VND if converted to Vietnamese currency). However, in Vietnam, the listed price has risen to 990,000 VND, while the price that users should be entitled to, 490,000 VND, is considered a “sale” price.
It must be affirmed that there are many manufacturers of chargers and cables for iPhones on the market with comparable quality, even better than Apple’s. However, users still prefer to buy Apple’s charger due to brand compatibility with the device they are using. Moreover, some people still have fears when purchasing products from unknown brands.
