Apple’s M5 MacBook Pro in South Africa: Charger Not Included!
Apple’s new M5 MacBook Pro in South Africa is being shipped without a charger, citing environmental reasons, but this decision has sparked criticism as buyers face an additional R1500 cost, leading some to consider the older M4 model that still includes a charger at a much cheaper price. Picture: Apple
Image: Apple
Apple is trying to pull a fast one again, providing less for the same high price as they are shipping their new M5 MacBook Pros to South Africa without a laptop charger.
The official reason given by Apple is “to reduce carbon emissions by shrinking the size and weight of shipments”. It seems unless you live in the USA, you now have to pay extra for the charger.
What rubbish. If they were so concerned about the environment, they could stop making Apple products, and that would be that. But then they would be unable to make more money, and for Apple, that’s always the core— excuse the pun— drive of the company.
In fact, if you want to buy the new M5 14” MacBook Pro, which went on sale earlier this month, it’s not immediately clear that it doesn’t come with the charger.
Only once you go to the checkout screen do you find out you will have to pay an extra R1499 for the laptop charger. Screenshot from istore.co.za
Image: Screenshot from istore.co.za
Hidden Charger Costs: Is the R34,499 Laptop Worth the Extra R1500?
Not even after you’ve configured your device according to how much storage and unified memory you want and click 'buy now' do you get a notification that it doesn’t come with a charger. That's unless you click on the product information category before clicking 'buy now'.
Instead, the laptop which was advertised for R34,499 now automatically adds the 70W charger at checkout for a sum of R1499. You then have the dilemma: are you really willing to fork out another R1500 simply to be able to use your new laptop?
I know what I would do. I would empty my shopping cart and go and add the M4 14” for R31,999, which still comes with an old-fashioned charger.