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Let’s hope we get a black option at least.
There should be black AirPods and red AirPods. People spout garbage about white AirPods being synonymous with Apple but we could have said similar about many Apple products and features that have changed. Nothing is and nothing should be set in stone. If Apple like money, they would at least offer one or two new AirPod colors.
 
You should have simply specified by law that every smartphone charger has a USB-C AND Lightning output.
Apple uses USB C chargers for their products. Why would they need other outputs?

What is EU going to do with portless phones? Wait until billions of phones go portless and then demand it to add back the usb-c port?
I don’t think they will, and I also don’t think Apple will go portless.

But now we've spent an extra billion on producing USB-C cables and releasing tons of emissions for nothing
As opposed to producing lightning cables? I’m sure it’s about the same.
 
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A few days ago I got another lightning earpods. Advantages: Price, durability, less prone to lose, better for environment. Disadvantage: Wired, doesn't work with my MBP (didn't find any lighting female to headphone jack adapter), no quick swapping to iPad.

When there are no more lightning airpods I think I can easily stick to earpods which last for years.
 
Which is why Apple should have switched a long time ago and not just switch some devices and not others.
This, but I guess the money they got from MFi was just to good a honeypot to just let got.
 
Check with Apple support. I lost my OG AirPods case, support chat told me to just go to an Apple store and when I arrived they told me I needed to make a repairing appointment.
Just saying so you don’t need to make two trips

You need a repair appointment because they have to pair the AirPods with the new case, same if you get 1 AirPod replaced.

If still under warranty or AppleCare, have it checked and if needed, exchanged for a new one at an Apple Store. They have individual charging cases and each side earbuds for replacement available if you need just one instead of all three.

As noted above, just be sure to book a Genius bar appointment if you need a replacement case or AirPod, and you need to bring the case if you need one AirPod.

This, but I guess the money they got from MFi was just to good a honeypot to just let got.

They could still put MiFi in the cables, as long as they also comply with the USB-C spec for charging. Nothing in the spec precludes proprietary implementations alongside the standard for power.
 
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They could still put MiFi in the cables, as long as they also comply with the USB-C spec for charging. Nothing in the spec precludes proprietary implementations alongside the standard for power.
I think the EU warned them to not do this step, lest they face stricter legislation.
 
Apple has stayed with Lightning for this long because of corporate greed. They pushed for USB-C on MacBooks before anyone else was going for USB-C. They even transitioned the iPad Pro to USB-C quite early on. Somehow, they just kept sticking with Lightning on anything iPhone-related. There is not a single technological advantage of using Lightning over USB-C. There are two physical advantages Lightning is slightly smaller, and you have the pins located on the cable (the weakest link), which is easily replaceable. In contrast, USB-C had the pins inside the port on the device, which is complex and expensive to replace.

The MFi program is the only reason Apple has stayed with Lightning for this long. The NAND flash on the iPhone has surpassed USB 2.0 transfer speeds for years. The Lightning to HDMI adapter can't do full 1080P because of bandwidth constraints. The technology behind Lightning is simply outdated.

I do think Apple planned to transition from Lightning to portless. This EU mandate might have put Apple in an awkward position where they transition to USB-C, only to go portless in 3-5 years. But this is impossible for the EU or anyone else to know. But Apple has only themselves to blame. They put themselves in this awkward position by pushing USB-C harder than anyone else in the market through their Mac lineup. It looks stupid not doing the same on iPhone and accessories. The fact that Mac accessories are still using Lightning, even though the entire Mac lineup has pushed for USB-C and USB-C only for years, is just stupid at this point,
 
You need a repair appointment because they have to pair the AirPods with the new case, same if you get 1 AirPod replaced.



As noted above, just be sure to book a Genius bar appointment if you need a replacement case or AirPod, and you need to bring the case if you need one AirPod.



They could still put MiFi in the cables, as long as they also comply with the USB-C spec for charging. Nothing in the spec precludes proprietary implementations alongside the standard for power.


It's extremely easy to pair AirPods with a new case. You plot your AirPods inside the case, and then you reset the case with the AirPods inside of the case. Job done.

When my wife's AirPods Pro started acting up, and she was relying more heavily on hers than what I did with mine, she wanted to keep her engraved case and have them replaced on the warranty you get a non-engraved case in return. I simply took my AirPods Pro's inside her case, did a full reset, and I did the same by putting hers inside my case. No problem and I had them replaced under warranty by sending what was originally her AirPods Pro inside my case.
 
I think the EU warned them to not do this step, lest they face stricter legislation.

Except the regulation specifically allows for it and doesn’t cover data at all, so I doubt the EU would do that. At any rate, Apple and any other manufacturer can add proprietary specs as long as the meet any associated USB-C standard charging specs with a standard cable.

High speed data, for example, could require a special cable if a manufacturer wanted to, or even just a standard but more expensive Thunderbolt 4 cable for example.

It's extremely easy to pair AirPods with a new case. You plot your AirPods inside the case, and then you reset the case with the AirPods inside of the case. Job done.

Yes, but that’s not the point. If you get it done by Apple they want to be sure they work and not have people who don’t know how, or don’t properly do, a reset to come back. It also ensures the model number and firmware match on each AirPod if one is replaced. So Apple requires it, even if some users could do it themselves.

Sometimes requirements are to make a process more efficient and based on the lowest level of technical knowledge of users; in this case Apple doesn’t want customers to have problems and have to return.
 
What the AirPods Pro desperately need are improved microphones. To me it seems like the AirPods Pro 2 mics are significantly worse than the original AirPods Pro or regular AirPods even. Judging by how many complaints I'm getting about sound quality from the receiving end. Sometimes I'm at home in a completely quiet environment and I still get complaints. That would never happen to me with earlier versions. I even had one pair replaced by Apple because of this but it didn't help. Anyone else getting this?
 
Totally get this. Now imagine this. We, who bought more products from Apple than just AirPods and iPhone, for instance we have Macbook and iPad as well, we have to deal with USB-C and lightning weird mix for few years now.

Excited to finally see USB-C in iPhone and airpods.
I can see that USB-C is great for many. I'm just happy I have a bit of time.

Btw, I do have a MacBook Pro. It charges using MagSafe. But even if I used USB-C, which I could, I wouldn't use the 96W MacBook Pro charger for my (future USB-C) iPhone nor iPad.
 
Literally every USB-C charging item Apple sells, comes with a new cable ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I don't think you got my point. I have chargers in several places in my house. These chargers all use USB-A on the charger end and lightning on the other end. The new cable doesn't do me any good. For one, I still own many devices that require lightning, but even if I didn't, I would also have to replace all the chargers. But given that I am not going to go from all lightning to all USB-C in one day, I will have to have dual chargers + connectors in every single spot.
 
I can see that USB-C is great for many. I'm just happy I have a bit of time.

Btw, I do have a MacBook Pro. It charges using MagSafe. But even if I used USB-C, which I could, I wouldn't use the 96W MacBook Pro charger for my (future USB-C) iPhone nor iPad.
And why is that? Your iPhone is smart enough to only draw as much power as it can handle from any charger regardless of how much power it can theoretically provide. I for one am definitely planning on using my MacBook Pro 67W charger fror daily top-up charging of my iPhone 15 Pro.
 
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I can see that USB-C is great for many. I'm just happy I have a bit of time.
Totally fair point.

Btw, I do have a MacBook Pro. It charges using MagSafe.
Charging via MagSafe is the fastest method, but it is not exactly gentle to the battery.

But even if I used USB-C, which I could, I wouldn't use the 96W MacBook Pro charger for my (future USB-C) iPhone nor iPad.
I'm using 60W MacBook USB-C charger. You don't have to worry though. Charger wattage is only the maximum available it can do. It will never push 60W (or 96W in your case) to the iPhone or iPad. So it's completely safe and within specification. It's USB-PD's task to negotiate appropriate charging current for each device using it.
 
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That's true for MagSafe for iPhone which is wireless. MagSafe for MacBook Pro is a completely different technology and equal to any wired charging.
Yes, I know that. But it still pushes highest current possible. And it's always better - for the battery - to charge with lower current rather than with highest available.

Apple transitioned to ‌MagSafe‌ largely for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which is now able to charge at up to 140W, a charging speed not supported by USB-C cables.
140W charging speed is definitely less gently for the battery life than say 96W available through the USB-C.
 
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There should be black AirPods and red AirPods. People spout garbage about white AirPods being synonymous with Apple but we could have said similar about many Apple products and features that have changed. Nothing is and nothing should be set in stone. If Apple like money, they would at least offer one or two new AirPod colors.

Colorware can grant a wish for any color. Here's one shade of red and one shade of black with an arbitrary case color...

ColorwareAirpods.jpg


They have dozens of color choices for anyone willing to pay for such customizations.
 

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Totally fair point.


Charging via MagSafe is the fastest method, but it is not exactly gentle to the battery.


I'm using 60W MacBook USB-C charger. You don't have to worry though. Charger wattage is only the maximum available it can do. It will never push 60W (or 96W in your case) to the iPhone or iPad. So it's completely safe and within specification. It's USB-PD's task to negotiate appropriate charging current for each device using it.
I know it is safe. However, I can't connect an iPhone/iPad if the MacBook is charging, or the other way around. I have just two places in my house where I can charge my MacBooks, and I have charging options for Lightning in every single room.
 
I have just two places in my house where I can charge my MacBooks, and I have charging options for Lightning in every single room.
And it's best to change this to the unified USB-C charging option. Just one connector and you'll soon be able to charge iPad, Macbook, iPhone, AirPods and other stuff with it. Truly awesome. No multiple connectors in each room or just one spot where you have your Macbook charger.
 
Sold my APP1 to get these. Dying to see the back of lightning.

Also nice to get fresh batteries with the upgrade. Hoping they last 2 years
 
I don't think you got my point. I have chargers in several places in my house. These chargers all use USB-A on the charger end and lightning on the other end. The new cable doesn't do me any good. For one, I still own many devices that require lightning, but even if I didn't, I would also have to replace all the chargers. But given that I am not going to go from all lightning to all USB-C in one day, I will have to have dual chargers + connectors in every single spot.
True. Many of us have had to setup multiple chargers and cables in the last few years as we transition from lightning to USB-C. This is an ongoing transition that will probably still take a couple of more years for many. It doesn’t have to happen all at once. We can start by adding USB-C in places as your get new devices with the newer port. Eventually all your devices are converted and the transition is done. You just happen to be on the early edge of the curve.
 
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People are complaining, but think of all the research and development needed, it takes time. It’s not like they had an opportunity to update it when a new version came out. Let’s applaud Apple, for being green, everyone has a usb-c cable.. hopefully, because it won’t be included.
 
People are complaining, but think of all the research and development needed, it takes time. It’s not like they had an opportunity to update it when a new version came out. Let’s applaud Apple, for being green, everyone has a usb-c cable.. hopefully, because it won’t be included.

I’m guessing it still we be included, at least in the US, since USB-C is not all that common and I suspect many iPhone users will not have other USB-C devices. The EU, OTOH, may get it sans cable to help reduce eWaste.

Fortunately, USB-A to C cables are available to allow using existing chargers.
 
For accessories that never leave your desk, does it matter what cable they use to charge? You can keep one cable on your desk to charge those devices. This change matters more for devices that are charged when traveling where you want to bring fewer cables and chargers and don’t want to forget that one critical cable when you leave.

Yes, it does matter. It is convenient to be able to use just the cable in your reach to charge anything randomly. There is no logical reason for Apple to switch to USB-C for laptops before anyone else and force us to use lightning for the iPhones. Being able to use the same cable with MacBook, iPad and an Android phone but not an iPhone is quite absurd.

Right now there is a USB-C to lightning cable and a USB-C to USB-C cable connected to two separate ports on my Studio Display just to charge Magic Keyboard, iPhone, MX Master 3, iPad, and any other accessory that charges via Lightning/USB-C. If iPhones, AirPods and Magic accessories all switch to USB-C, there will be only one cable connected to the display for everything.
 
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