Apple’s upcoming AirPods Pro 3 will ship without a charging cable, marking another step in the company’s long-running move to slim down its packaging.

On the AirPods Pro 3 product page, Apple makes it clear in the “In the Box” section: “USB-C Charge Cable sold separately.”

That means buyers will need to rely on an existing USB-C cable, purchase one separately, or use a wireless charger to power the earbuds’ case.

For many customers, this change may not cause much disruption.

USB-C has become the standard across Apple’s latest devices, and plenty of users already have spare cables at home.

Apple also frames such decisions as part of its environmental push, reducing the number of redundant accessories that often end up discarded.

Still, the absence of a cable is a noticeable shift.

Previous AirPods Pro models came with one included, giving users a backup even if they didn’t need it immediately.

The change could frustrate those who prefer to keep extra accessories on hand.

Apple has a history of cutting back on pack-ins. In 2020, it stopped shipping wall chargers and EarPods with iPhones, citing environmental benefits.

The AirPods Pro 3’s omission suggests the company may be edging closer to removing cables from other products in the future, possibly even iPhones.