Apple iPhone 14 BANNED in this country even before launch?

Brazil has banned Apple from selling iPhones without chargers in the country. This has created a big setback for the company ahead of its iPhone 14 launch today.

iPhones banned from Brazil on accounts of selling iPhone without chargers in the country. Could iPhone 14 be next? (Unsplash)

Shockingly, Brazil has banned Apple from selling iPhons without chargers in the country. The decision of the Brazilian government came on the same day Apple is hosting its Far Out event. The event is expected to launch the iPhone 14 series. But after being barred from selling smartphones without chargers, it is not sure if Apple will be able to launch the series in Brazil. The notice mentions iPhone 12 as the directly affected device, however it also hints at the iPhone 13 as well.

In the official notice, the Brazilian authorities said, “the immediate suspension of the distribution of iPhone brand smartphones, regardless of model or generation, that is not accompanied by a battery charger”. The Brazilian government reached the decision accusing Apple of “discriminatory practices” in the country.

The Brazilian Ministry of Justice and Public Security has additionally ordered Apple to pay a fine of 12.28 million reais (nearly $2.4 million) for its continued offenses. It has also revoked the registration of iPhone 12 with Anatel. The National Telecommunications Agency or Anatel is a special agency in Brazil and is similar to FCC (Federal Communications Commission) in the USA.

Brazil bans Apple from selling iPhone without chargers

The biggest concern at the moment is how this affects today's iPhone 14 launch for Apple. Considering the previous years' trend, it is likely that Apple will not include a charger in the box. While the notice applies to existing smartphones, there is a strong possibility that the iPhone 14 shipments will not be allowed in the country. The Department of Consumer Protection and Defense has already effectively prohibited the sale of all iPhone 12 and 13 models.

The shock move has been in the works for a while. Apple was being investigated in Brazil since December for "the sale of an incomplete product," "discrimination against the consumer" and "the transfer of responsibility to third parties" as it sold iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 without charger, as per the official notice.

The notice further mentioned, "There is no justification for an operation which, in aiming to reduce carbon emissions, leads to the introduction into the consumer market of a product whose use depends on the acquisition of another (product) which is also marketed by the company”.