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

[Algr]

I think getting rid of USB Type A is possible, but I think given the size of the Mac Studio, probably not.

Anything is possible, the question is if it is a good idea. Front ports are mainly for USB memory sticks, and those are still mostly USB A. Needing adaptors constantly is clumsy. It would be so much more elegant if they had one USB a and one USB C port there. Quality isn't about how it looks. It is about what happens in real world use.

 

[teejaysplace24]

For a company that historically loved forcing its users into adopting whatever great new technology struck their fancy, I find it absurd the degree to which Apple has slow-walked the Lightning-to-USB C transition, to the point they actually had to be mandated into doing it by an international oversight body.

 

[Blackstick]

While I'd like my Magic Mouse/keyboard to switch to USB-C... I just keep a lightning cable around for it, and my old AppleTV remote. They charge every 3-4 months or less. It's not that big a deal. When I travel none of my devices are USB-C, that's a big win.

 

[TechRemarker]

And the one I can most about Powerbeats Pro, from their Beats brand. At least that know we know is officially coming some time in 2025.

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

I bet Magic Keyboard, trackpad, and mouse switch to USB-C with the release of the M4 iMac

 

[JohnC1959]

For a company that historically loved forcing its users into adopting whatever great new technology struck their fancy, I find it absurd the degree to which Apple has slow-walked the Lightning-to-USB C transition, to the point they actually had to be mandated into doing it by an international oversight body.

I am so glad the EU did mandate this and some other changes like Apple adapting RCS so that the Messages app can communicate equally with Android phones. Unique innovations are fine but for some things a common approach can make life so much simpler.

 

[SIGSEGV1]

EU taking notes to fine Apple. What happened to 5th bullet point?

 

[Ericplan]

Magic Mouse was a self inflicted wound. Remember when it used to have replaceable AA batteries?

Still use one with rechargeable batteries, but the batteries are eol, lasting a day, no more. So, for now it is replacing batteries or wait for a new magic mouse.

 

[london_apple]

I was going to make a forum post about this actually. I'm still holding on to my Mac accessories with Lightning and can't wait to replace them with USB-C versions. When is this going to happen!? This should've been done so long ago...

 

[Jeaz]

Would be nice with updated Magic Mouse and Keyboard with USB-C but it's honestly the products where I expect least problem staying with lightning as at my desk I always have cables available.

I know I'm in minority in this, but I really like the Magic Mouse. The multitouch area is just so convenient and natural to use. Been using it for nearly 15 years and never had any problems... except charging and using at the same time...

 

[foobarbaz]

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.

The inventory argument isn't an explanation why it's taking so long. Clearly, they have kept producing it throughout the last year (since the introduction of the iPhone 15), since Apple would never have a year's worth of inventory (except for failed products).

And they have continued to keep producing them for many years since the first USB-C Macs were introduced, even introducing new accessory models during that time.

They still sell them, because they made the decision to have them be Lightning. Over and over again.

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.

Nope, they're not. The regulation only applies to new products. I mean, clearly they're not updating the iPhone SE in time, either.

I've "strongly felt" the accessories would be updated many times now. I still can't believe they updated it in freaking 2021 and put in Lightning, again.

To me, it's either incompetence or malice. And I don't say that often. But it's clearly the most inscrutable decision of the last ten years for me.

 

[bradman83]

Apple Desktop Bus II Mouse was great

It was a great mouse from a shape perspective but Apple really should have relinquished and gone the two button route when Mac OS 8 added support for contextual menus in 1997. It took them until the Mighty Mouse in 2005, eight years later, before they added two button click support and a scroll ball.

 

[gyubok]

yup, bought mx master 3s immediately following the announcement.

 

[Scoob Redux]

The list of Apple devices and accessories that are still sold with the 12-year-old Lightning port ...

Calling the Lightning port "12-years-old" is like complaining that we "still" plug our chargers into "93-year-old" 110v outlets The "age" of the lightning port (i.e. when it was introduced) is really irrelevant. Not everything needs constant updates.

 

[MNWildFan]

The Magic Mouse getting a much-needed update after 9(!) years would be such a huge yet pleasant surprise at this point. 😩

Yup, not only for the changeover to USB-C, but to put the port in a spot where you can still use and charge it at the same time

 

[salz4life]

What's crazy is that not only have Macs never used Lightning, the Magic peripherals with Lightning were fist launched after Apple had launched the 12" MacBook with USB-C... and the all-USB-C MacBook Pros must have been in the pipeline at that stage.

It's not really a big deal but it is silly.


The big problem is that Apple only make one style of mouse, and you really need to choose a mouse that suits you. Fortunately there's plenty of third party choice - and its now only the iMac that comes with a bundled Magic Mouse (I'd recommend taking the opportunity to get a Magic Trackpad for 50 bucks, instead - even if you sell it on).

It's subjective but, personally, the only Apple input devices out of history I'd give desk space to are the current Magic Trackpad (impressive - doesn't quite replace a mouse for me, but its worth trying) and the ~2010 era wired Aluminium chiclet keyboard (the Magic version changed the keys, even if they weren't butterfly, and wrecked it). The Mac mouse was only "best" while it was the only mouse...

Mind you, some people even liked the infamous hockey-puck mouse, so there's no accounting for taste.

When I got my 2012 iMac back in the day, I remember deciding to get the Trackpad upgrade (sight unseen, never used before) because I had already tried out the Magic Mouse and HATED it. Best decision I ever made. The Magic Mouse is so painfully uncomfortable to use.

 

[docbop]

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.

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

I have four of those devices still use three of them and being Lighting is no big deal because I have the cables and all things I charge at home. My iPhone and old AirPods Pro have Lighting but I charge with Magsafe. Mac keyboard and trackpad I have the Lighting cord, sure USB-C would be nice, but no big deal. My Magic Mouse just collects dust Apple mice have alway sucked and I've used 3rd party mice. I still have my old Apple mouse the white bean and my old programmers keyboard both with a attached USB cord that if I forget to charge my keyboard of mouse I can plug in and keep working.

 

[bradman83]

For a company that historically loved forcing its users into adopting whatever great new technology struck their fancy, I find it absurd the degree to which Apple has slow-walked the Lightning-to-USB C transition, to the point they actually had to be mandated into doing it by an international oversight body.

Apple's forced transitions to other connection technologies were generally quite self-serving despite seeming to push the industry forward:

• Moving the Mac platform off of legacy ports like ADB, SCSI and serial made Macs easier to design peripherals for. In the late 90s Apple used proprietary ports and non-standard expansion slots which meant peripheral makers needed to make Mac-specific hardware. This meant a limited selection at higher prices which was one of many deterrents for consumers to purchasing a Mac. By adopting industry-standard internal and external expansion it made the Mac platform much more attractive at a time it needed the boost the most.
• Apple co-developed FireWire/IEEE-1394 so they had an interest in fostering its development over USB 2.0 and USB 3.0; they received a portion of the royalties from other companies to license the FireWire patent and make their own peripherals.
• Apple co-developed Thunderbolt with Intel and, similar to FireWire, received a portion of Thunderbolt's royalties prior to eventually transferring their IP stake entirely to Intel and going royalty-free in 2019.
• Apple developed Lightning and... surprise surprise rakes in royalty feels from every MFi branded Lightning item out there.

USB-C is a royalty-free technology so Apple gets no royalties from devices with these ports.

 

[Nautilus007]

Judging by recent announcements - I wouldn't be surprised if lazy apple just slapped USB C ports on all of the aging accessories and called it a day.

Really wish they updated the keyboard with backlighting and improved the Magic Mouse...

 

[Spiderstu]

And the Powerbeats pro. Don't forget them. They are still going strong, shipping with a USB A to Lightning cable

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

The inventory argument isn't an explanation why it's taking so long. Clearly, they have kept producing it throughout the last year (since the introduction of the iPhone 15), since Apple would never have a year's worth of inventory (except for failed products).

And they have continued to keep producing them for many years since the first USB-C Macs were introduced, even introducing new accessory models during that time.

They still sell them, because they made the decision to have them be Lightning. Over and over again.

I don’t know of course, but I doubt stuff like keyboards and mice (K&M) lean on JIT manufacturing. Instead, I would (wild) guess they’ve been made in batches and stored in inventory. Thus, my (also) guess at when they go USB-C where they are not forced by law.

But, I’ll grant that you could know better than me and thus working down inventory at maximum profit is NOT a driver. But then it would imply Apple just being slow or lazy to evolve these things to USB-C… a port they were first or near first to bring to market long ago.

Once iPhone went- which was known at Apple long before its release- it would seem there was little reason to- in a JIT situation- keep cranking out Lightning product. There aren't licensing accessories of consequence to sell with K&M and odds are good new owners of K&M probably already have more Lightning cables on hand then they'll ever need to use them until they conk. So this is one of those rare situations where it being about accessory money/licensing for proprietary Lightning probably offers Apple little $$$ benefit.

K&M doesn’t need a big event… and I don’t expect one when it does happen. Instead, I expect someone to post that their new iMac arrived with the new ports in K&M or someone notices a quiet change in a store. Or maybe a solid rumor beats that moment by a week or three.

 

[nutmac]

I am guessing that the next iMac refresh will include a USBC keyboard and hopefully a redesigned Apple Mouse that can be used while charging.

That's what I assumed when iMac was first redesigned with M1, then again with M3.

I am guessing Apple has a giant stockpile of Mac input devices and/or USB-C-to-Lightning cables. Because it just doesn't make sense why M3 iMac wasn't refreshed with USB-C input devices.

 

[SuperHamster]

They missed the Apple TV 4K? Afaik the remote still has a lightning port for charging.
(Edit: obviously not. Oh well, time for a new ATV remote I guess)

 

[Spock]

They missed the Apple TV 4K? Afaik the remote still has a lightning port for charging.

My Apple TV remote has a USBC port for charging

 

[platinumaqua]

Still use one with rechargeable batteries, but the batteries are eol, lasting a day, no more. So, for now it is replacing batteries or wait for a new magic mouse.

New eneloops are $15 for 4, cheaper to get new batteries