Whereas the iPhone nonetheless makes use of the Lightning connector for now, Apple has been transitioning lots of its units to USB-C in recent times.
Apple now provides USB-C ports on each Mac that it at the moment sells, starting from the MacBook Air to the Mac Professional. Different units with a USB-C port embody the 2018 and newer iPad Professional, 2020 and newer iPad Air, sixth-generation iPad mini, Studio Show, and Professional Show XDR. Apple additionally features a USB-C port on the Magic Keyboard for iPad, on the Beats Flex, and on the charging instances for the Beats Studio Buds and Beats Match Professional.
Rumors counsel that at the very least 5 different Apple merchandise and equipment will even swap to USB-C sooner or later, as outlined beneath.
iPhone 15
Whereas the iPhone 14 is anticipated to stay with the Lightning connector, at the very least one new iPhone 15 mannequin will function a USB-C port, in accordance with Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Shortly after Kuo shared this data, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reported that Apple was certainly testing prototype iPhone fashions with USB-C ports.
Final month, the European Union introduced that it reached an settlement to introduce a brand new regulation that might make USB-C the widespread charging port throughout all new smartphones, tablets, headphones, and plenty of different electronics by fall 2024. iPhone 15 fashions are anticipated to launch round September 2023, forward of the European Union’s deadline.
Entry-Degree iPad
Apple plans to replace its entry-level/lower-cost iPad with a USB-C port, in accordance with each 9to5Mac‘s Filipe Espósito and Gurman. Apple might launch the Tenth-generation iPad in September because it did with the final three generations of the gadget.
The launch of the Tenth-generation iPad would full Apple’s transition to USB-C throughout its total iPad lineup after 4 years.
AirPods Charging Circumstances
As soon as the iPhone switches to USB-C, Kuo mentioned he expects different Apple equipment to undertake USB-C within the foreseeable future, together with AirPods charging instances.
Apple is anticipated to announce second-generation AirPods Professional later this 12 months, however rumors have been conflicting about whether or not the brand new charging case will proceed to make use of the Lightning connector or swap to a USB-C port.
MagSafe Battery Pack
One other accent that Kuo expects to change from Lightning to USB-C sooner or later is the MagSafe Battery Pack for the iPhone 12 and newer.
Magic Mouse/Trackpad/Keyboard Trio
Final, Kuo expects Apple’s trio of Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse equipment for the Mac to undertake USB-C ports sooner or later. All three equipment are at the moment outfitted with a Lightning connector for charging.
Past the iPhone 15 launching within the second half of 2023, there isn’t any clear timeframe for different Apple merchandise switching to USB-C.