Apple Reportedly Plans to Announce New AirPods With USB-C Charging Case at iPhone 15 Event

[goobot]

Never said it becomes useless. But as someone that travels often and plans to upgrade to the 15, it doesn’t make sense to carry a lightning cable only for AirPods but also doesn’t make sense to pay 250 for new AirPods just for a case.

You can buy just the case and a singular wire isn’t a huge deal considering as soon as you upgrade that problem is gone and you can use that one wire for everything, also MagSafe cable works with both and you can get them for like 25$

 

[Allahu Akbar]

Wowww Apple is innovated...

 

[4look4rd]

About time. I refused to buy a single lightning accessory, unless it at the very least had mag safe. This kept me away from the AirPods Max, but I hope they are next to get updated.

that horrible cable needs to die.

 

[Dwalls90]

You can buy just the case and a singular wire isn’t a huge deal considering as soon as you upgrade that problem is gone and you can use that one wire for everything, also MagSafe cable works with both and you can get them for like 25$

Thanks but I don’t want to buy a MagSafe charger. I have a fast charger and so plan to use that with a USB-C cable that launches with the 15. So hopefully I can just buy the new AirPods Pro case and keep using my AirPods Pro.

 

[acblue94]

All four iPhone 15 models launching next month are widely expected to be equipped with a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port. Alongside this change, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today reported that Apple plans to announce updated AirPods with a USB-C charging case during its event on Tuesday, September 12 at Steve Jobs Theater.

"To match the new iPhones, Apple will introduce updated AirPods at the event that include a USB-C charging port," wrote Gurman.

The report does not provide any additional details about the updated AirPods, so it's unclear if it is referring to the standard AirPods and/or the AirPods Pro, but both models will need to be updated with USB-C charging cases eventually to match the iPhone 15 models. Gurman and other sources previously claimed that the AirPods Pro would be updated with a USB-C charging case later this year, while hidden code-level references to new AirPods and a new charging case were uncovered in iOS 16.4 back in March.

It's also unclear if the updated AirPods will have any new features or changes beyond a USB-C charging case. The third-generation AirPods launched in October 2021, while the second-generation AirPods Pro were released in September 2022.

There are several other Apple products and accessories that will likely need to transition from Lightning to USB-C over time if they remain sold, such as the AirPods Max, MagSafe Battery Pack, Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, various adapters, and more. Apple already updated the Siri Remote with a USB-C port last year.

Article Link: Apple Reportedly Plans to Announce New AirPods With USB-C Charging Case at iPhone 15 Event

Whoa the innovation…. Wow.. whole event for that. Wow

 

[Torty]

Before 2 cables were enough for traveling: USB-A to lightning and USB-A to USB-B. Now you need additional USB-A to USB-C plus USB-C to lighting plus USB-C to USB-C.
What a ****** mess. But what to expect from EU?

 

[darngooddesign]

Before 2 cables were enough for traveling: USB-A to lightning and USB-A to USB-B. Now you need additional USB-A to USB-C plus USB-C to lighting plus USB-C to USB-C.
What a ****** mess. But what to expect from EU?

Can you imaginee back in the day complaining about the change from SCSI to USB.

Back with my 2014 MBP I carried two USB-A > Lightning cables which handled my iPhone and iPad, and a dual USB-A block.

Now that I have an 16” M1 MBP, I carry a USB-C > Lightning and USB-C > C along with a dual USB-C block.

When I upgrade our two XRs I’ll give away all our Lightning cables to people who haven’t upgraded yet.

No mess for me.

 

[henkie]

Going to need a source for that data.

Even if there are, that's not dozens of "spare" cables.


That's never been a thing.

Yes that is definitely a thing: just about everyone who is non-tech-savy/Apple adept calls it an iPhone charger. Please elaborate which other non-Apple devices use the Lightning connector. We will wait...
In the meantime, I can charge (and transfer data from) my MacBook Pro, iPad, Bluetooth speaker, Fujifilm XT-30 camera, Jabra 75T Bluetooth headphones, old Android phone etc. with the same cable and charger.
But no, replacing the Apple, sorry, Lighting port with USB-C which is causing ewaste. What a nonsense.

 

[4odomi]

Of course there won't be any new features.
Apple likes to bleed its customers dry, first to buy the new version with solely a different charging port - and then introduce a new product to catch them again.

That's not really true, not one customer has to upgrade, their existing gen 2, lightning will still work as long as they need, the new port is for new customers

 

[karranz]

I won't buy this but since apple is going to reduce noise cancelation on AirPods Pro 2 30% or 50% I will be pushed to buy this or forget about nc.

 

[4odomi]

You have no idea what you talking about, best thing which could Happen for environment and users.

It does absolutely nothing for the environment (either way), the only benefit to the users is faster transfer speeds for pro res videos (for the few that use it) and possibly slightly faster charging.
Is it a good thing, well yes, if you offer pro res, then you have to have the right cable for it, but stop this rubbish about it being better or worse for the environment 😏

 

[seek3r]

Pretty sure Apple has data on how people charge their AirPods. If the majority did charge via wireless, they would have eliminated the port.

This might shock you, but

1) there are, wait for it, other uses for a port besides charging

2) plenty of folks (like myself) charge wirelessly at home/work on magsafe/ms compatible chargers but carry a cable to charge on the go (magsafe is bulky)

In 2023, many enthusiasts have a surplus of Lightning cables that's going to ewaste. It is quite an environmental disaster.

Do you somehow think every device with lightning is going to stop working the minute new devices cone out? Or that lightning cables never break or wear out?

 

[seek3r]

Indeed it is. We are probably only a few years out from the next port/connector standard and either it will be "here we go again" or the EU will hold back progress and deny its use. Or both!

USBC cables can already handle 240W charging with headroom for plenty more in the spec and USB4, in addition to including TB, while typically maxing out at 40Gbps can technically do up to 80Gbps in the spec and again has lots of headroom to grow that further with USBC cables

It’s going to be a long time, likely a couple decades, before we hit the limits of USBC and need a new standard, and when we *do* get there the laws can be updated

 

[Ghost31]

As far as I know, your lightning AirPods case will still work after the September 12 event. Just stick with that if you prefer this port. Or use wireless charging.

This is actually the one product I don’t care much about being usb c because I primarily wireless charge them. It’s so easy to pop it on either a watch charger or iPhone MagSafe charger and forget about it. It’s not like I’m plugging my AirPods into my car and using CarPlay

 

[Ghost31]

USBC cables can already handle 240W charging with headroom for plenty more in the spec and USB4, in addition to including TB, while typically maxing out at 40Gbps can technically do up to 80Gbps in the spec and again has lots of headroom to grow that further with USBC cables

It’s going to be a long time, likely a couple decades, before we hit the limits of USBC and need a new standard, and when we *do* get there the laws can be updated

In so many cases wired charging is slept on. If I gotta go to work soon, I plug in my iPhone cause wireless charging is just not fast. Not only that, when we get these hot summers down here I can’t wirelessly charge my phone because the puck gets too hot. If it charges at all it’s super slow

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

That's like saying stick with iPhone 14 if you don't want USB-C.

I mean... yes.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I wonder will the updated AirPods Pro 2 make a surprise change: support for Sony's LDAC or even Qualcomm's aptX codec variants

 

[jz0309]

Before 2 cables were enough for traveling: USB-A to lightning and USB-A to USB-B. Now you need additional USB-A to USB-C plus USB-C to lighting plus USB-C to USB-C.
What a ****** mess. But what to expect from EU?

Seriously? Yea, cables add so much to your travel accessories…

 

[fwmireault]

Before 2 cables were enough for traveling: USB-A to lightning and USB-A to USB-B. Now you need additional USB-A to USB-C plus USB-C to lighting plus USB-C to USB-C.
What a ****** mess. But what to expect from EU?

What are you talking about? Right now, to charge my Apple devices on the go, I need to carry a USB-C to lightning cable AND a USB-C to USB-C cable. Once AirPods and iPhone move to USB-C, I’ll only need the latter.

And I’m not aware of a single Apple device that requires a USB-B cable.

So if I read your argument correctly, all tech is allowed to improve and to upgrade, but not the port, even if we can provide a far more superior (and universal) port. I assume you still want an iPhone with a 30-pin connector and carry a VGA cable in case you want to plug your laptop to a monitor. Let’s also carry some floppy disks just in case.

 

[Ethosik]

They're not pointless just because they don't work with your new phone. They still work with billions of iPhones out there. I don't know how old your current phone is but most likely you will sell it or pass it down since it's still functioning. How about including those dozens! of lightning cables so the new owner can use them.

How does MY cable help YOU for example?

 

[KevinVonJames]

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never thrown away a working cable and I’m not sure why anybody would in this case, considering there are billions of Lightning devices out there.

If you no longer have devices that support it, you're either going to throw it away or donate it... and the next person to receive it will eventually do the same once they don't have any lightning devices left...

 

[henkie]

1. Beside the point. Switch to USB-C obviously means Apple will more than likely include the cable with the box whereas keeping with lightning meant there was a high chance Apple would have excluded the cable. Including the cable in the box for the next several years is the problem.
2. MacBook Pros and Airs come with MagSafe currently. Not USB-C to USB-C
3. My Switch/PS5 currently has a USB-C cable connected to the dock/system. For daily charging, most people aren't going to be walking to their consoles to plug in their phone. My a7IV usb cable is in my camera bag. Don't have a drone but I imagine I'd have a place of where I can easily plug in and charge my drone which would not be in my usual phone spot. Point is, the cables that come with these devices generally sit at or near where the device is being used. And quite often, like the iPad, they are being used when you want to charge your phone so either you unplug the device so that you can charge your phone, or do what most people do and end up getting a new cable just for the phone.





Hopefully EU won't decide what to do with wireless standards *after* billions of devices adopts it. This to me makes no sense to force standards after billions have adopted it.

1. Seriously: https://www.phonearena.com/news/iphone-14-whats-in-the-box_id142374 Up until now Apple has always included a Lightning to USB-C/A cable: until last years ipHone 14. But you claim now, that after all these years, Apple would have suddenly decided to not include it because of environment? Lightning, which is only used by AirPods and iPhone users? Instead, they will now include USB-C to USB-C, a cable that is commonly used by people with iPads and most non-Apple electronics. I.e. at the iPhone 16 stage I suspect Apple will actually leave the cable out.
2. Not the point: I can charge it with USB-C if I would like to. iPhone/Airpods, not so much.
3. You just assume people would need to have the charger + cable at the ready always? I would not waste money and ewaste on this at all. E.g. when I travel I tend to pack as little stuff as needed: a single USB-C + charger will be enough for my work MacBook Pro, headphones and iPhone 15. Finally!

There is a standard that everyone adopted to, except Apple. They just needed a little push.
By the way, in contrast to some "government is bad" naysayers here, EU regulations often help drive innovation, e.g. vacuum cleaners:

https://www.currys.co.uk/techtalk/kitchen-and-home/not-just-hot-air-the-new-eu-vacuum-rules-explained.html#:~:text=Since%202014%2C%20vacuum%20cleaners%20sold,cleaners%20regularly%20exceeded%202%2C200W.

Thanks to the EU we have better, quieter and more energy efficient vacuum cleaners. What has Apple done with lightning in that time, except milking it for licensing fees? #innovationmyass

 

[tripsync]

It’s Apple who kept pushing Lightning long after it was outdated:

That's Apple's decision. Not EU.

And those annoying cookie alerts: that’s called malicious compliance. They are made so obnoxious on purpose so people quickly accept them in order for companies to be able to continue tracking you.

That just proves EU doesn't know how to properly regulate things.

 

[tripsync]

"... an environmental disaster..." 🤦‍♂️

Apple has had 2 years to address the issue...

They are addressing it. It's more environmentally friendly to keep lightning until iPhone goes portless than to switch to USB-C for a few years.

It absolutely is an environmental disaster the way EU is going about it.

 

[tripsync]

You’re just going off anecdotal assumptions about consumer behavior that are very shortsighted.

Agree to disagree. We're talking about millions of 60-70 year olds who would think that Apple USB-C cable would only work with Apple devices and more.

It's you who is very shortsighted to understand how non-tech savvy users work.