It’s been greater than 10 years since Apple unveiled its new Lightning port with the iPhone 5 in 2012 After the European Parliament voted in favor of a brand new rule requiring all new telephones and smaller electronics that use a cable to cost to be geared up with a USB-C port, the countdown to the dying of Lightning started. Whereas the brand new rule technically solely applies to new merchandise offered in Europe, Apple isn’t about to restrict the change to Europe. Listed here are all of Apple’s remaining Lightning merchandise and after we may see them change to USB-C:
iPhone
Final up to date: September 2022 (iPhone 14)/March 2022 (iPhone SE)
Subsequent anticipated replace: September 2023 (iPhone 15)
The iPhone 14 is probably going the final flagship mannequin with a Lightning port. Whereas the subsequent iPhone will are available in nicely below the deadline imposed by the EU, Gurman says the transfer to USB-C for the iPhone 15 is all however confirmed because the leaks and rumors roll in. Not solely will it carry common charging along with your MacBook and iPad, however USB-C additionally opens the door for sooner information transfers, which can be a welcome new function now that the iPhone 14 Professional can shoot 48MP ProRAW images. And the most recent iPhone SE rumors say Apple received’t be updating the present mannequin for some time, if in any respect. Granted, it’ll be a number of years till Lightning is gone for good since Apple sells older iPhones for a number of years—the iPhone 14 will doubtless nonetheless be accessible in 2025—however we now have virtually definitely seen the final new iPhone with a Lightning port.
iPad
Final up to date: September 2021 (Ninth era)
Subsequent anticipated replace: None
When Apple launched the Tenth-gen iPad in October 2022, it formally retired Lightning from all new iPad fashions. However there may be nonetheless one mannequin remaining that has it, the Ninth-gen iPad from 2021. We don’t understand how lengthy Apple will preserve it round, however as soon as it’s gone, we’re practically sure that it received’t get replaced with a USB-C mannequin.
AirPods/AirPods Professional Wi-fi Charging Circumstances
Final up to date: March 2022 (third era)/September 2022 (2nd era)
Subsequent anticipated replace: Fall 2023
Whereas the AirPods and AirPods Professional instances picked up MagSafe charging final 12 months, they nonetheless use Lightning to cost with a cable regardless of having ample room for a USB-C port on the underside of the case. Apple solely just lately each AirPods fashions, so that they’re unlikely to obtain one other main refresh till 2025, but it surely’s very attainable Apple quietly launches new USB-C instances for the prevailing fashions alongside the iPhone 15.
Foundry
AirPods Max
Final up to date: December 2020 (1st era)
Subsequent anticipated replace: Fall 2023 (2nd era)
When Apple launched the AirPods Max in December 2020, they didn’t have a charging case. As an alternative, Apple included a Lightning cable on the aspect for charging (or wired listening through the non-compulsory Lightning to three.5mm audio cable). It’s been greater than two years for the reason that first era arrived, however a reference to a brand new AirPods mannequin was discovered hiding contained in the iOS 16.4 code, so it’s attainable that the AirPods Max will get a long-overdue replace inside the subsequent few months. Among the many anticipated updates are higher noise cancellation, an H2 chip for Adaptive Transparency, and naturally, USB-C as an alternative of Lightning.
Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, Magic Mouse
Final up to date: March 2022 (new colours)
Subsequent anticipated replace: Fall 2023
Apple hasn’t modified the design of its trio of Mac equipment in practically a decade, but it surely does introduce new colours considerably recurrently. In 2021, all three equipment—Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse—bought new colours to match the brand new 24-inch iMac, whereas the Magic Keyboard obtained a Contact ID sensor. Then earlier this 12 months, Apple started providing black variations of the equipment alongside the Mac Studio and Studio Show. Whereas we don’t anticipate Apple to shock us with a Magic Mouse that costs correctly (which means you don’t must flip it over to attach the charger), when Apple updates the Mac Professional with Apple silicon, we anticipate some USB-C equipment will arrive as nicely.
EarPods
Final up to date: September 2016 (1st era)
Subsequent anticipated replace: September 2023
Apple started bundling EarPods with a Lightning connector with iPhones again when it eliminated the headphone jack from the iPhone 7. Today you’ll have to purchase them individually for $19 if you need a pair with a Lightning port, however Apple is rumored to be making an up to date pair with USB-C to launch alongside the iPhone 15 in September.
Apple
Powerbeats Professional
Final up to date: June 2020 (new colours)
Subsequent anticipated replace: N/A
Whereas most of Apple’s Beats merchandise use USB-C or micro-USB for charging, there may be one—the PowerBeats Professional—that also makes use of a Lightning-to-USB-C cable to cost. We assume that every time Apple releases new colours or updates the PowerBeats Professional it’ll drop the Lightning port—although with a brand new Beats Studio Buds+ on the way in which, it’s attainable that the PowerBeats Professional are merely discontinued.
