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These Apple Products Are Still Sold With Lightning After More AirPods Switch to USB-C

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Apple has been gradually transitioning its products from Lightning to USB-C in recent years. For example, the charging cases for both new AirPods 4 models unveiled this week, and the revised AirPods Max, are now equipped with a USB-C port. In addition, Apple discontinued the iPhone 13 this week, and that device has a Lightning port.

lightning-connector-feature-purple.jpg

The list of Apple devices and accessories that are still sold with the 12-year-old Lightning port or connector continues to shrink, and it is now as follows:

  • iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone SE
  • Magic Keyboard (Mac)
  • Magic Mouse
  • Magic Trackpad
    First-generation Apple Pencil
A new iPhone SE with a USB-C port is rumored to launch next year, while the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus should be discontinued next September. The first-generation Apple Pencil will likely be discontinued at some point too, and the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad trio of accessories for the Mac should be updated with USB-C ports eventually. Beyond legacy cables and adapters, the Lightning era will then finally be over at Apple.

Article Link: These Apple Products Are Still Sold With Lightning After More AirPods Switch to USB-C
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/09/10/apple-still-sells-these-lightning-products/
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VisceralRealist said:
I wonder what their long term plan is for the Mac accessories. Seems like the release of the M3 iMac would've been the time to update the accessories to USB-C, but that didn't happen. Maybe the Mac event in October/November?
Click to expand...

The change is made when inventory falls to a threshold that will minimize taking less than maximum margin for these products. As soon as these go USB-C, not many are going to want to buy the "old" version anymore... and if they do, they'll be expecting a big (margin-eating) discount. Apple will likely just sell down inventory to some quantity at which the release of the replacements squeeze every possible nickel out of whatever is still in stock.
 
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I’ve been wanting to buy a new Magic Mouse for my new-ish upstairs standing desk setup, but I keep holding off because I figure that surely they will be upgrading it soon? Hopefully at the Mac/iPad event next month. Even if it’s only USB-C, at least then I don’t need yet another cable on my desk to charge it. And hopefully they put it on the front so you can use it while charging! Apple still has some work to do to get over themselves when it comes to form over functionality.
 
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I wonder if the Magic Mouse and trackpad will be getting an redesign or if it will just be a straight swap. If it is the former, then that may be why they didn't debut with the M3 iMac. Rumors seems split about an M4 iMac in the next 6 months, but I would assume that would be the switchover. I did think that the M4 Mac Mini could be the point, but there would still be a lot of M3 iMac SKUs in the wild which would be confusing.

I can imagine the Apple Pencil 1st gen hanging around for a few years yet for all those Lightning iPad owners (and those who find that leaving your pencil uncharged for a few months breaks it!).
 
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macduke said:
I’ve been wanting to buy a new Magic Mouse for my new-ish upstairs standing desk setup, but I keep holding off because I figure that surely they will be upgrading it soon? Hopefully at the Mac/iPad event next month. Even if it’s only USB-C, at least then I don’t need yet another cable on my desk to charge it. And hopefully they put it on the front so you can use it while charging! Apple still has some work to do to get over themselves when it comes to form over functionality.
Click to expand...

Apple is more or less forced to wrap up this transition soon (for devices, December 31st is the limit in Europe), which is why we saw them "updating" the AirPods Max with just usb-c yesterday.

I strongly feel the magic accesories will be all updated in the next Mac refresh in about a month.
 
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Get Logitech Master 3s - way superior and more ergonomical than the crap from Apple that will ruin your wrist

macduke said:
I’ve been wanting to buy a new Magic Mouse for my new-ish upstairs standing desk setup, but I keep holding off because I figure that surely they will be upgrading it soon? Hopefully at the Mac/iPad event next month. Even if it’s only USB-C, at least then I don’t need yet another cable on my desk to charge it. And hopefully they put it on the front so you can use it while charging! Apple still has some work to do to get over themselves when it comes to form over functionality.
Click to expand...
 
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Chet-NYC said:
Honestly, I think a USB-C Mouse and Keyboard would cause a greater news story than a new phone or Mac. (Doubly so if the mouse is usable while plugged in!)
Click to expand...
There will be news photos of people burning their Lightning keyboards and mice in a football stadium, chanting disco sucks... oh, wait, that won't happen, they will have Apple recycle those devices responsibly.
 
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