Xiaomi appears to be the latest company to follow this concerning trend

Xiaomi, the popular Chinese smartphone manufacturer, might be following in the footsteps of its competitors by removing chargers from its phone boxes. This speculation arises from the recent release of their Redmi 13 series in Europe, which notably does not include a charger in the package.

This move, while not officially confirmed by Xiaomi, could signal a significant shift in the company's approach. It could mean that future Xiaomi phones, especially those released in Europe, might also come without chargers. However, it's possible that the company's higher-end models might still include a charger as a differentiating factor.

Currently, Xiaomi recommends using their 33W Type-A charging combo for the Redmi 13, which suggests that the company may be transitioning towards a model where chargers are sold separately. This aligns with a trend adopted by several other major smartphone manufacturers in recent years. Proponents of this approach argue that it reduces electronic waste, as many users already have multiple chargers lying around. Additionally, it allows manufacturers to potentially lower phone prices by removing the cost of including a charger in the box.