Apple fans mourn 'the end of an era' as iPhone 16 is missing popular item from box

Apple fans are mourning ‘the end of an era’ after it’s been revealed that the new iPhone 16 is missing a popular item from the box.

With tweaks and improvements being made to every model, it’s no surprise when we open a new iPhone box to find some changes.

First, Apple dropped the headphone jack, followed by the home button a year later.

The popular item will be missing from the iPhone 16 box (Apple)

But as the adjustments were made, there was always a constant item that remained the same over the years.

Now, iPhone users have been shocked to find out that for the first time, the latest device will be missing the iconic Apple stickers.

Instead of them waiting inside each box, the tech giant announced that the stickers will only be available to iPhone 16 customers who request them.

If you’re shopping for the latest device in the Apple Store, fear not, you can ask for the stickers at the time of purchase.

However, if you’ve already ordered your phone - or if you order one for home delivery - you might be out of luck.

You also won’t be able to grab any if you’ve bought the iPhone 16 from third-party retailers because they haven’t been given any stickers to distribute.

Fans took to Reddit to share their reactions to the news, with one user writing: “Stickers today, no phone in the box tomorrow.”

The Apple stickers will no longer be included in the iPhone box (eBay)

A second said: “iPhone 17 will come without a box, just wrapped in a 100% recycled sheet of paper with the shipping label.”

A third joked: “Canceled my preorder and am literally crying and shaking.”

A fourth person said: “For every Apple box I open, I get happy when I see the stickers but then put them back and have actually never used any of the dozens I’ve accumulated over the years.”

And a fifth added: “I think it’s cute that they included them but no one that I know actually uses them so maybe it’s better to just have them be something you can ask for.”

While it might take some getting used to, there’s a good reason why Apple isn't including the stickers.

It’s all part of the company’s environmental goals in the effort to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Apple revealed that its packaging for the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Pro is entirely fiber-based.

This is part of the goal the firm has to remove all plastic from its packaging by next year.

Besides, did anyone actually use those stickers anyway?