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Five Apple Products Rumored to Switch to USB-C
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The day all the things are USB C is the day I celebrate.
While the iPhone still uses the Lightning connector for now, Apple has been transitioning many of its devices to USB-C in recent years.
Apple now offers USB-C ports on every Mac that it currently sells, ranging from the MacBook Air to the Mac Pro. 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. Apple also includes a USB-C port 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, as outlined below.
iPhone 15
While the iPhone 14 is expected to stick with the Lightning connector, at least one new iPhone 15 model will feature a USB-C port, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Shortly after Kuo shared this information, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple was indeed testing prototype iPhone models with USB-C ports.
Last month, the European Union announced that it reached an agreement to introduce a new law that would make USB-C the common charging port across all new smartphones, tablets, headphones, and many other electronics by fall 2024. iPhone 15 models are expected to launch around September 2023, ahead of the European Union's deadline.
Entry-Level iPad
Apple plans to update its entry-level/lower-cost iPad with a USB-C port, according to both 9to5Mac's Filipe Espósito and Gurman. Apple could release the 10th-generation iPad in September as it did with the last three generations of the device.
The launch of the 10th-generation iPad would complete Apple's transition to USB-C across its entire iPad lineup after four years.
AirPods Charging Cases
Once the iPhone switches to USB-C, Kuo said he expects other Apple accessories to adopt USB-C in the foreseeable future, including AirPods charging cases.
Apple is expected to announce second-generation AirPods Pro later this year, but rumors have been conflicting about whether the new charging case will continue to use the Lightning connector or switch to a USB-C port.
MagSafe Battery Pack
Another accessory that Kuo expects to switch from Lightning to USB-C in the future is the MagSafe Battery Pack for the iPhone 12 and newer.
Magic Mouse/Trackpad/Keyboard Trio
Last, Kuo expects Apple's trio of Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse accessories for the Mac to adopt USB-C ports in the future. All three accessories are currently equipped with a Lightning connector for charging.
Beyond the iPhone 15 launching in the second half of 2023, there is no clear timeframe for other Apple products switching to USB-C.
Article Link: Five Apple Products Rumored to Switch to USB-C
They’re USB-C / USB 4 / Thunderbolt 4
All based on the USB-C physical interface.
The biggest issue being some cables are only for charging, some for data, some for power and data, then some are Thunderbolt rated.
Yes, so you still might need multiple cables - but at least they'll all look the same!
Truly a day to celebrate.
As you can see I’m advocating that they just all do power and data.
Given I can go to Anker and get different colours I could have red for power only and grey for power/data cables.
Right, but I just don't get why you and nearly everyone here is so insistent on standardising on one port shape, now-now-now, when there's no sign that the massive fragmentation in USB-C is going away any time soon.
If the standardisation under the hood was present, or nearly present, then USB-C everywhere makes more sense. But it's a mess right now, and I don't actually want to standardise on a mess.
If the standardisation under the hood was present, or nearly present, then USB-C everywhere makes more sense. But it's a mess right now, and I don't actually want to standardise on a mess.
For highly mobile devices - phones being the obvious example - the possibility of at least charging up using a single, common connector, at a basic level, has much to commend it. Especially if it also supports basic data transfer.
If we need some sort of higher spec. cable to charge at high speed, to achieve fast data communication, so be it. I'm very much in favour of some universal identification system so we know what cable/device can achieve what result.
In theory, this makes sense. But the android crew have been living the USB-C life for a while, and in practice, it looks like it sucks.
It's 2024 and USB-C is even more of a mess
USB-C phones and devices are billed as the one-stop solution for all our future cable needs, but feature compatibility is a major problem.
www.androidauthority.com
It’s not really outdated, and I far prefer it to USB C.
Not really, most people aren’t going to use the cord from their box in their car. USB A to USB C cords aren’t expensive (less than $20). So NO, it won’t be painful.
Bingo, I’ve experienced this numerous times trying to buy cables for different things. You really have to read through the specs to know what the cable is capable of. It’s NOT as easy as just buying any USB C cable.In theory, this makes sense. But the android crew have been living the USB-C life for a while, and in practice, it looks like it sucks.
It's 2024 and USB-C is even more of a mess
USB-C phones and devices are billed as the one-stop solution for all our future cable needs, but feature compatibility is a major problem.www.androidauthority.com
I understand - but better to be able to charge at all than not.
It's rare that I'd care about phone charging speed but I know that isn't true for all. The way I find it is that if I can use even a slow charger most of the time, I don't need fast charging ever.
If I had to be away from all charging for extended periods, with only brief availability of any charging, yes, fast charging would matter. So that I could slurp up when possible.
My car charging is plenty to keep up with satnav which is possibly the heaviest use for my phone over extended periods.
Except you have MagSafe or lighting with newer iPhones so you aren’t without charging options, personally I would prefer to skip USB C and just go to a port less iPhone and use MagSafe.
The day when a new standard comes along that doesn't have 20 different cable specs floating around, and has a connector that is more stable than USB-C, is the day I celebrate.
Despite USB-C's problems, it is much better than portless. Portless is so incredibly short-sighted of a suggestion. It undermines and ignores the entire WORLD of wired infrastructure. I don't know if you people who suggest this are just unaware of it, or ignore it, or what. Portless is not in the near future. Not even on the visible horizon. Some narrow minded users seem to think that because they themselves could get away without every plugging in their phone, somehow means all iPhones everywhere can have the port removed entirely. It's a shockingly ignorant take, to be honest.
Portless would be the feature that assures I DO NOT buy the iPhone with it
I believe that’s an issue even now. Starting with the iphone 11 pro/pro max, all iphones have been coming with a lightning to usb-c cable in the box so an adapter is already necessary unless you have an old lightning to usb-A cable from a previous iphone or ipad lying around.
If even the Entry level iPad is getting it...Apple has no good excuse for not adding USB-C to iPhone 14.
Like you, I don't really fast charge, so I don't remember with certainty - but can't we already fast charge over lightning? I thought this was a solved problem.
A bit out of date - but even that seems to require USB-C!
Fast charging works when you use an Apple USB-C to Lightning cable and one of these adapters:
- Apple 18W, 20W,2 29W, 30W, 61W, 87W or 96W USB-C Power Adapter
- A comparable third-party USB-C power adapter that supports USB Power Delivery (USB-PD)
Ok, got it. Thank youA bit out of date - but even that seems to require USB-C!
Fast charging works when you use an Apple USB-C to Lightning cable and one of these adapters:
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208137
- Apple 18W, 20W,2 29W, 30W, 61W, 87W or 96W USB-C Power Adapter
- A comparable third-party USB-C power adapter that supports USB Power Delivery (USB-PD)
I may not have given this impression so far, but I'm not opposed to the existence of USB-C, even with its problems. I have a couple of those chargers you've listed and don't mind them at all.
I'm just opposed to USB-C assimilating every port in computing, particularly the lightning port on my iPhone.
As a standard, it's just not ready.
And as an iPhone user, I even get the benefit of USB-C charging tech, without having a USB-C port on my phone.
Dramatic much? Sorry you’re the one that’s short sighted, you probably still use a cassette player. I live in the country, low speed internet (25 mbps) but I‘m a techie and could absolutely get by just fine with a port less iPhone. Just because you don’t want to move forward doesn’t make it narrow minded or “an ignorant take.” It just makes you myopic.
the 10th gen iPad won't have USB-C ... it will be just a reborn Air 3 (thinner chassis with fully laminated 10.5" panel and A15 coupled with 4GB of RAM... nothing less, nothing more)
also Apple will use higher binned A15 chips in iPhone 14 non-Pro series ... and lower binned will end up in base iPad
also Apple will use higher binned A15 chips in iPhone 14 non-Pro series ... and lower binned will end up in base iPad
