All the Hardware Apple Still Sells With a Lightning Port

[Fuzzball84]

I like how very few consider the following on this topic:
1. Does anyone know what the surplus of lightning cables were in 2018? Does this affect Apple’s decisions?
2. A mouse and keyboard, in most cases, need the least frequent recharging compared to most other Apple devices. As such, does lightning vs usb-c make that big of a difference? Especially in a primarily stationary environment, where you leave the cable in a desk drawer versus having an extra cable in your book bag or purse.
3. I agree the Magic Mouse is a little ridiculous. At the same time, how long of a charge does it take to get hours out of it? Can you not take a bathroom break while it charges upside down? Aren’t we all supposed to be leaving our desks every once in a while for health reasons?
4. Lightning was/is a superior physical design. Not saying anything about charging or data speeds. But on a physical level that cable is so much better. Easier to clean lint out of the port and stronger as well. I wish usb-c was more similar to the design of the lighting port/cable or that Apple helped design usb-c with lightning as the backbone. USB-C is technically a male and female plug/port at the same time. What other pluggable device can you say that about? (Seriously, is there one?) It seems flawed just on that notion.
5. To echo a sentiment I hear here a lot…. A vast majority of the people on here making these superfluous posts/comments have bought at least one of these offending devices in the last 5 years. If you are this upset, why keep purchasing?

Id say maybe if the USB C receptacle was made slightly more robust... it would be way way way way better design than lightning that has the part most prone to breaking on the device side.

 

[subjonas]

While Lightning is smaller than USB-C, the difference is not significant and its male connector has one major disadvantage. The female connector on the device could wear out over time (become looser).

The USB-C connector is female, and it is much cheaper to replace.

Furthermore, I don't think Lightning could be made to support higher than USB 2.0 (480 Mbps) data rate.

I’m not sure I follow your logic. Why is a female connector on device more prone to wear out than a male? I would think if anything the thin male part in the USBC connector would be more prone to damage. But also USBC has both male and female parts in both the cable connector and device connector—both have both—the cable inserts into the device, and the device also inserts into the cable. So whichever gender is the weak link, that weakness is in both the connector and the device. Ie. it’s a more complex connector, which means more that can wear out or break. Lightning doesn’t have as much bandwidth but it is simpler and more durable.

 

[darngooddesign]

Interesting to see what happens with the iPhone 14 range as that won't filter out of the lineup before the EU law comes into force. I wonder if the rumours of an iPhone SE using the iPhone 14 shell are just a version of the iPhone with USB-C to comply with the EU law.

The EU mandate affects new devices, not existing devices like the iPhone SE 2020 and iPhone 14.

 

[LV426]

Lordy me. That Magic Mouse! Every time I see this, I have to slowly shake my head and think of the Last Words of Pedro, the Cuccaracha.

 

[truthsteve]

The mouse is kinda necessary

usb-c mice exist.

 

[truthsteve]

But I can’t buy an Apple mouse that doesn’t have lightning

yes you can. 1st gen had aa batteries.

 

[truthsteve]

A story listing the products doesn't seem like whining, seems informative

I'm referring to people whining about it which prompted the write up.

 

[truthsteve]

You know, that's already occurred to many of us... The position and type of the charging port is just one reason why I wouldn't buy a Magic Mouse.

However - this also affects things like the Magic Trackpad (I don't think there's a comparable 3rd party trackpad) the Magic Keyboard (only option if you want touch ID on an iMac/Mini/Studio) - and Apple are still selling iMacs that come with Magic Mice and Keyboards as part of the price.

Plus, nobody should apologise for holding Apple to high standards for design and attention to detail. When they mess up, its fair comment to criticise them. This "well don't buy it then" is a truly vapid argument.

Logitech made a multitouch trackpad and Touch ID isn't a necessity.

they didn't mess up with the design.

 

[truthsteve]

I like how very few consider the following on this topic:
1. Does anyone know what the surplus of lightning cables were in 2018? Does this affect Apple’s decisions?
2. A mouse and keyboard, in most cases, need the least frequent recharging compared to most other Apple devices. As such, does lightning vs usb-c make that big of a difference? Especially in a primarily stationary environment, where you leave the cable in a desk drawer versus having an extra cable in your book bag or purse.
3. I agree the Magic Mouse is a little ridiculous. At the same time, how long of a charge does it take to get hours out of it? Can you not take a bathroom break while it charges upside down? Aren’t we all supposed to be leaving our desks every once in a while for health reasons?
4. Lightning was/is a superior physical design. Not saying anything about charging or data speeds. But on a physical level that cable is so much better. Easier to clean lint out of the port and stronger as well. I wish usb-c was more similar to the design of the lighting port/cable or that Apple helped design usb-c with lightning as the backbone. USB-C is technically a male and female plug/port at the same time. What other pluggable device can you say that about? (Seriously, is there one?) It seems flawed just on that notion.
5. To echo a sentiment I hear here a lot…. A vast majority of the people on here making these superfluous posts/comments have bought at least one of these offending devices in the last 5 years. If you are this upset, why keep purchasing?

sensible reply. I think Magic Mouse isn't ridiculous at all. alternative charge port locations would be a regression in the experience.

 

[Siliconguy]

The mouse is kinda necessary

A mouse is necessary, fortunately Logitech sells a Bluetooth mouse that can use rechargeable batteries. If you forget to charge them it only takes a few seconds to swap them out. Much better than looking sadly at your upside down mouse for X hours.

 

[Veinticinco]

There's a special circle of hell reserved for whoever designed and signed off on that "magic" mouse with perpendicular charging.

 

[magicMac]

will they really update the AirPods Max ? they might just push sales towards to the Beats Studio Pro headphones, which already have USB-C.

btw the list left out the AirPods 2nd and 3rd gen which still have lightning. although the 3rd gen do have a MagSafe option I suppose...

it's a pity apple never really did reverse wireless charging on AirPods, because that would largely resolve the awkward lightning port issue for existing AirPods users who happen to now have an iPhone 15 with a different connector to their AirPods.

 

[gund1234]

I need thunderbolt 5 for all apple devices, iPhone, Air Pods, Mouse, keyboard.
i want to be able to copy all songs into my Air Pods super fast, i have huge music library

 

[SactoGuy18]

The AirPods Max may switch go USB Type C fairly soon. A slightly modified AirPods Max with the new connector could arrive as early as April 2024 in my opinion, using the H2 and U2 chips.

 

[magicMac]

i do miss the old apple mighty mouse with small USB-A cable, great for laptops for connecting to the apple keyboard with USB-A ports either side

 

[switz]

My 2021 MacStudio has two (2) first generation USB-A ports. Apple CD player connection has never been updated as well my Dymo LabelWriter II which are both attached to the MacStudio.

 

[Rychiar]

A mouse is necessary, fortunately Logitech sells a Bluetooth mouse that can use rechargeable batteries. If you forget to charge them it only takes a few seconds to swap them out. Much better than looking sadly at your upside down mouse for X hours.

I can stand mice that don’t have a touch surface on top. When i use pc mice and can‘t scroll sideways it just sucks.

 

[Rychiar]

i do miss the old apple mighty mouse with small USB-A cable, great for laptops for connecting to the apple keyboard with USB-A ports either side

The terrible mouse with the little roller ball on top that failed in weeks of using it? Lol

 

[magicMac]

The terrible mouse with the little roller ball on top that failed in weeks of using it? Lol

oh yeh that roller ball was a nightmare!

 

[magicMac]

I can stand mice that don’t have a touch surface on top. When i use pc mice and can‘t scroll sideways it just sucks.

there are some PC mice that allow you to push the "up/down scroll wheel" to the left or right, I have used a logitech one like this. It functions as expected on a mac.

 

[acorntoy]

I'm just glad Apple is taking the right steps in cutting down eWaste like when the removed the brick. Thank god.

*Looks at the 7 lightning cables that are now useless*

"Oh those? Let me just sweep these under this rug here...annnddd there. eWaste cleared."

Apple Trade In

From now until 18 June, get extra trade-in credit towards a new iPhone. Save $200-$650 in credit when you trade in iPhone 12 or higher. Terms apply.

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Other devices- Power cords and cables
Free label for recycling.
works great I've sent 15LB+ boxes full of damaged/old cables for free, doesn't need to be Apple cords.

 

[minik]

We've compiled this list of Lightning products in one place so you won't be surprised when your USB-C to USB-C cables don't fit your new purchase.

Only the Apple Pencil (1st generation) doesn't come with a Lightning cable in the box, so I doubt the users will be surprised on rest of the devices that still use a Lightning connector.

 

[dandeco]

Yeah, I still use an Apple Magic Keyboard and Mouse that charge via Lightning. And since my only iOS devices I currently regularly use are my 2nd-gen iPhone SE and my 7th-gen iPad "Classic", it's handy to have one of my Lightning to USB cables plugged into my Apple Thunderbolt Display for charging them with (as having them charge via USB 2.0 is still just fine). When my Magic Mouse or Keyboard's battery is getting really low, I can just plug it into the cable and let it charge overnight, with its' battery all filled up the next morning. Although I can kind of see why they'd soon switch to USB-C, given all those regulations I've heard about at my workplace.
Speaking of which, we still have a LOT of Lightning cables at my workplace, because as of now we almost never get any USB-C iOS devices. We do have a few available cables, just in case.

 

[macduke]

I definitely would've purchased a new mouse and keyboard with my 14" MPB M3 Max but Apple is still stuck in the past in that area so it didn't make any sense. They're leaving money on the table at this point.

I envision the new mouse having a small button on the bottom that you can press and it pops the top white/black touch surface up slightly and exposes a USB-C port on the front that locks the top into place, so you can charge it while using it, but when not charging, it still maintains a sleek appearance. Press the bottom button again to pop the top back down when finished charging. Now that would be magic and solve their stupid design problems.

 

[magicMac]

The AirPods Max may switch go USB Type C fairly soon. A slightly modified AirPods Max with the new connector could arrive as early as April 2024 in my opinion, using the H2 and U2 chips.

It’s such a low volume product they may simply just discontinue the AirPods Max. Just don’t want you to get your hopes up too much 😁