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When Apple Used to Include Free Accessories With iPhones

The meme displays an older generation iPhone placed next to its opened original packaging. Inside the box, three free bundled accessories are visible: wired Apple EarPods, a wall power charging adapter, and a Lightning charging cable. The overlaid text at the top reads "When apple used to take care of us", which is a sarcastic and nostalgic joke referencing Apple's widely discussed 2020 decision to stop including chargers and wired earphones in new iPhone packaging, forcing consumers to purchase these items separately if they do not already own them. The meme contrasts the older, more inclusive product offering against modern Apple policies to humorous effect.
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When apple used to take care of us

Overview

The meme displays an older generation iPhone placed next to its opened original packaging. Inside the box, three free bundled accessories are visible: wired Apple EarPods, a wall power charging adapter, and a Lightning charging cable. The overlaid text at the top reads "When apple used to take care of us", which is a sarcastic and nostalgic joke referencing Apple's widely discussed 2020 decision to stop including chargers and wired earphones in new iPhone packaging, forcing consumers to purchase these items separately if they do not already own them. The meme contrasts the older, more inclusive product offering against modern Apple policies to humorous effect.

Origin notes

This meme originates from the X (formerly Twitter) account @WholesomeMeme, which shares lighthearted, relatable content. It taps into a popular ongoing consumer discourse about Apple's cost-cutting packaging changes that remove standard bundled accessories, a topic that has been widely joked about and criticized in tech communities and general consumer spaces since the policy was first announced.

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This meme displays a photo of an unboxed pink iPhone SE retail package, showcasing all included accessories: wired earbuds in their protective case, a wall power charger, and a Lightning-to-USB cable. Bold white text at the top of the image reads **WHEN APPLE ACTUALLY TREATED ITS CUSTOMERS WELL**. The content nostalgically contrasts Apple's former practice of shipping iPhones with all necessary complementary accessories against their later policy of selling devices without chargers or earbuds (framed as an environmental measure, but criticized by many as cost-cutting). It taps into consumer nostalgia for more comprehensive product bundles.

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