Apple could introduce USB-C to AirPods by 2024 and Mac accessories

Apple’s preparing to adopt USB-C charging across its line of AirPods and Mac accessories within the next couple of years, according to A report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. As the European Union looks to move away from Lightning, this purported shift comes. Mandate USB-C chargingNew smartphones, tablets and headphones that will be released in the region by late 2024. While the legislation still hasn’t yet been signed into law, it Receved approvalThis is the last week of the European Parliament.

Gurman thinks Apple may bring USB-C to its next-gen AirPods Pro and AirPods by 2024. Mac accessories such as the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad could also be made to switch to USB-C within the next year. Apple’s due to refresh its Mac lineup with a new iMac and Mac Pro next year, and since the release of new Macs typically “coincides with accessory updates” Gurman says “it’s a safe bet that those accessories will move to USB-C in their next incarnation.” Gurman similarly believes Apple will swap over its AirPods before the EU’s legislation goes into effect.

Gurman reported earlier this year that Apple had already It has begun testing USB-C charging for iPhones, but that we shouldn’t expect them to land on devices until 2023 “at the earliest.” Gurman reiterates this belief in this most recent Power On newsletter, once again adding that he thinks Apple will add a USB-C charging port to the iPhone 15, as well as to the Entry-level iPad due to be releasedBy the end of the year.

My. Jon Porter, colleague, points it out, Apple technically wouldn’t have to comply with the EU’s upcoming law until it releases the iPhone 17 in the fall of 2025, as there’s a two-year grace period that allows companies (namely, Apple) enough time to make the transition to USB-C. Despite this, Gurman thinks Apple will “handily beat the due date with its most visible products.”

Gurman predicts that Apple will not make the switch to USB C, even though it does. Gurman believes that Apple will eventually bring inductive charging to the iPhone and iPad “at some point in the next few years” to get around the legislation, as it doesn’t apply to devices that don’t support wired charging.