Despite the fact that French law requires that mobile phones have to be sold with headphones included, it seems that Apple will not include the EarPods in the original iPhone box in France, which would vary the packaging in the neighboring country.
The elimination of the plug and the EarPods inside the boxes was a reality, made Apple implement a minimalist packaging for the iPhone, reducing the height to half of what Apple was accustomed to. The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro will come in France in the same reduced box as in the rest of the countries, so that the packaging will not vary to include the EarPods and comply with the legislation. The EarPods will come in a separate box that would also contain the original iPhone box.
In this way, Apple would continue to include the EarPods with the iPhone in France. complying with the law that requires the inclusion of hands-free accessories with mobile devices out of general concern with electromagnetic waves near the head.
In addition to the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, the iPhone 11, XR and SE will also not include the EarPods outside of France.
Through its website, Apple proposes to its users that they use the adapters they already have from other Apple devices that they have already purchased as well as the EarPods or that they can buy them independently. To make up for it, they have reduced the price of wired headphones from € 29 to € 19.
Apple touts the environmental benefits of the decision to no longer include headphones and a wall adapter in the iPhone box in such a way that they reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Similarly, with the reduction of the iPhone case, Apple says that they can include up to 70% more iPhones in each pallets in transport.