Apple has been transitioning its products to USB-C for a while now. However, the Cupertino firm’s iPhone, AirPods, its entry-level iPad, and a few accessories still use Lightning. When will Apple move these holdouts to USB-C?
As reported by MacRumors, Mac that Apple currently sells sports USB-C ports. Other devices with a USB-C port include the 2018 and newer iPad Pro, 2020 and newer iPad Air, sixth-generation iPad mini, Studio Display, and Pro Display XDR. A USB-C port is also included on the Magic Keyboard for iPad, on the Beats Flex, and on the charging cases for the Beats Studio Buds and Beats Fit Pro.
Rumors suggest that at least five other Apple products and accessories will also switch to USB-C in the future.
While Apple is expected to hang in there one more year and offer the iPhone 14 with a lightning connector, the iPhone 15 is expected to sport a USB-C connector. Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman both expect to see Apple equip the iPhone 15 with USB-C.
The move is likely spurred by the European Union‘s June announcement that it will force a variety of consumer electronics (including the iPhone and other Apple devices and accessories) to use USB-C port charging by fall 2024. iPhone 15 models are expected to launch around September 2023, well-ahead of the European Union’s deadline.
Both 9to5Mac‘s Filipe Espósito and Gurman say Apple has plans to update its entry-level iPad with a USB-C port. Apple could release the 10th-generation iPad in September as it did with the last three generations of the device.
Apple is expected to announce its second-generation AirPods Pro later this year, but rumors are split as to whether the new charging case will continue to use the Lightning connector or switch to a USB-C port.
Kuo also expects to see Apple switch from Lightning to USB-C for the MagSafe Battery Pack for the iPhone 12 and newer.
Kuo expects to see Apple’s Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse accessories for the Mac to adopt USB-C ports in the future. All three accessories currently use a Lightning connector for charging. Let’s hope Apple uses the opportunity to put the Magic Mouse charging port somewhere that would allow using it while it’s charging, not on the underside of the accessory as it is now.