Skip to main content

UK network O2 sees success selling the HTC One X+ without a wall charger

HTC One X+ Press ShotFollowing a trial which began in October last year, UK network O2 is celebrating the success of its “Charger out of the box” scheme, where it partnered with HTC to provide customers purchasing the One X+ the chance to opt out of having a mains charging adaptor included. The idea is to reduce the amount of environmental waste these chargers produce, as according to O2, there are 100 million of them laying around in the UK already.

Those buying the One X+ without a charger will get the standard Micro USB to USB cable, enabling them to use a compatible wall charger they already own, or to charge their new phone through a computer. In 2010, the European Commission and 14 mobile manufacturers approved a plan to standardize mobile phone chargers, and all agreed to use the Micro USB system. A clause allows manufacturers to provide an adaptor if they really don’t want to convert over to Micro USB charging, which is how Apple deals with the rule.

O2 became the first network to conduct a trial run of selling a phone without an A/C adaptor, as its research showed 70 percent of its customers already owned a suitable charger and therefore didn’t need another. Now the trial has ended, it has revealed 82 percent of people who purchased the One X+ chose not to take a charger, showing its research was on the conservative side. In case you’re wondering, O2 will still supply a charger to anyone who wants one, but they have to pay cost price.

With 30 million phones sold in the UK annually, if every network and manufacturer adopted a similar practice, it would result in 24 million fewer phone chargers being added to the pile, based on O2’s results. O2’s CEO Ronan Dunne said, “The results of the trial demonstrate a clear willingness among consumers to consider and respond to the environmental argument for taking a phone charger-free.” Dunne also pushed others to follow its example. The trial is the first part in O2‘s plan to ultimately sell all its phones without a charger by 2015.

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Don’t buy this new Motorola phone — get this other one instead
Renders of the Moto G 5G (2024) and Moto G Power 5G (2024).

the Moto G 5G (left) and Moto G Power 5G Digital Trends

Budget phones can slip under the radar when shiny, powerful flagships launch. But if you're in the market for a smartphone that gets the job done and won't blow a four-figure hole in your bank balance, then a great budget smartphone is the way to go.

Read more
Get 32% off the cellular model of the iPad Pro 12.9 this weekend
The iPad Pro on a desk next to a stylus and AirPods.

If you've been thinking about getting the iPad Pro with cellular connectivity but you've been hoping to buy the tablet from iPad deals for a discount, this may be what you've been waiting for -- a 32% discount from Amazon's Woot on the 12.9-inch, Wi-Fi + Cellular model of the 2021 Apple iPad Pro with 128GB of storage. From $1,199, it's down to just $810, which is a steal price for this device with savings of $389. However, while there are still several days left on this offer, it's highly recommended that you proceed with the purchase immediately because there's a chance that stocks don't last that long.

Why you should buy the 2021 Apple iPad Pro 12.9
It's not the latest version of Apple's top-of-the-line tablet -- the honor goes to the 2022 Apple iPad Pro -- but the 2021 Apple iPad Pro is still a pretty powerful device by today's standards. That's because it's equipped with Apple's M1 chip, which promises fantastic speed and excellent graphics when you're working on your multimedia projects, multitasking between several apps, or playing console-level games. With its 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR touchscreen, you'll enjoy high-brightness and high-contrast content, and its mini-LED display provides deeper black levels and more vibrant colors.

Read more
Samsung Galaxy A55 vs. A54: all the big changes, explained
Renders of the Samsung Galaxy A55 next to the Galaxy A54.

Galaxy A55 (left) and Galaxy A54 Digital Trends

Samsung has been on a roll with new phone releases in 2024. At the end of January, Samsung released the flagship Galaxy S24 lineup. It's fantastic, but not everyone can afford the latest and greatest flagship. Thankfully, Samsung also makes budget-friendly alternatives, and that’s the appeal of the new Galaxy A55.

Read more