Samsung's positioning the Galaxy S21 FE as its latest smartphone designed specifically for its biggest fans — but does part of that equation include putting a charger in the box? A couple of years ago, every phone was expected to come with a charging cable and wall adapter in the box. It wasn't something anyone had to give much thought to. Buy a new phone, open the box, and sitting there would be an included way to charge the thing.
In 2022, however, this is no longer the case. Ever since Apple launched the iPhone 12 without an included charging adapter, many other companies have been quick to do the same. The Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro don't come with a charger, the latest iPhone 13 models don't either, and many of Samsung's latest releases have fallen into this trend, too. Last year, Samsung shipped the Galaxy S21 series, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and Galaxy Z Flip 3 — all without free chargers.
What does all of this mean for the Galaxy S21 FE? The answer isn't surprising in the slightest. Just like all of those phones mentioned above, the Galaxy S21 FE does not come with a free charger. This means shoppers will need to supply their own charging adapter, or buy a new one if they don't have one already. It's an annoying thing to deal with — especially for a phone that costs $699 — but it's also the new normal for many smartphones these days. As for what does come in the S21 FE box, it's admittedly not much. Along with the phone itself, Samsung also includes the following: A USB-C charging cable, a SIM removal tool, and a handful of instructional/warranty materials. That's it.
Why The Galaxy S21 FE Doesn't Come With A Free Charger
There are a couple of reasons why Samsung's so skimpy with its included accessories. Charging adapters doesn't cost that much money, but when Samsung's shipping millions upon millions of phones, not including them in the box is a legitimate way for the company to save some cash. It also helps reduce Samsung's environmental impact. Smaller/lighter boxes mean it can ship more phones out at once. It also cuts back on the chance of unwanted chargers ending up in landfills, thus reducing the potential for more e-waste.
If someone already has a spare charger lying around, none of this really matters. Buy the S21 FE, use the charger you already have, and go about your day. For someone who doesn't have a charger, buying one is both easy and affordable. Along with ample third-party options, Samsung also sells its own charging adapter for $20. It's readily available at most stores, is occasionally on sale, and supports the full 25W charging speeds the Galaxy S21 FE is capable of.
Source: Samsung