Rumor has it that Apple plans to ship the iPhone 12 without EarPods and charging adapters. Now a minor change in the iOS 14.2 code seems to confirm this.
Apple released the second beta of iOS 14.2 and Co. last night. Now a small change in the code has been discovered (via MacRumors), which supports rumors about the included iPhone 12 accessories. For several months, there have been reports that Apple wants to save the EarPods and the charging adapter on the iPhone 12. Now a minor change in iOS 14.2 is providing new fuel. Under iOS 14 or earlier iOS versions, it is mentioned that exposure to RF energy should be reduced by using the "included headphones". This wording has been used by Apple for years. But under iOS 14.2, Cupertino's wording is changing. In iOS 14.2, this wording was changed to just "headphones", with the "included" part of this statement removed. Accordingly, the full code now reads as follows:
To reduce exposure to RF energy, use a hands-free option such as the built-in speakerphone, headphones, or similar accessories.
iPhone 12 launch on October 13th?
This small but important change could finally confirm the elimination of the EarPods. Here for comparison: iOS 14 & iOS 14.2.

The first rumors about the removal of the EarPods were documented at the beginning of this year. At that time, the well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo explained that the included EarPods would no longer be part of the iPhone packaging. Instead, Apple is planning a new promotion for AirPods. Later, reports followed that the charging adapter would be removed from the iPhone packaging. Unlike the EarPods, this rumor caused significantly more discussion. Due to the fact that the Apple Watch Series 6 is delivered without a charging adapter, it can be assumed that the iPhone 12 will follow suit. Whether the rumors, about which there is hardly any doubt, will ultimately come true remains to be seen. The presentation of the new iPhone generation is expected on October 13th. An official announcement from Apple is still pending - but that could change next week at the latest. (Photo by HalfPoint / Bigstockphoto)