Apple Will Reportedly Shift Its Entire Product Lineup to USB-C by 2024
Apple is reportedly transitioning certain products to the USB-C connector in 2024 as the European Parliament moves to curb the iPhone maker’s “over the top” exploitative business tactics by requiring it to adopt the standard. The most recent rumor claims that in two years, current-generation AirPods and several Mac accessories will transition to USB-C.
According to Mark Gurman’s most recent Power On newsletter, Apple is willing to make improvements to its products so they may utilize the widely used USB-C connection. Since the EU regulates a wide range of areas, it would be in Apple’s best advantage to change or run the danger of having its products outlawed.
Fortunately, it seems that the iPhone 15 will switch to USB-C before the deadline set by the EU. A future low-cost iPhone SE may still debut with the Lightning interface and would not be subject to any sales restrictions in any nation that is a member of the European Union since the new legislation mandates that Apple products transition over to USB-C before the end of 2024.
The AirPods 3, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Max are the three AirPods versions that Apple now offers. The Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and next versions of similar wireless audio devices, according to Gurman, are anticipated to migrate to USB-C by 2024.
The law states that the shift applies to new devices. So, let’s assume Apple rolls out an iPhone SE in March 2024 with Lightning and not USB-C. That wouldn’t make that device out of compliance in the EU because it launched before the end of 2024. It just would mean that the 2025 or 2026 model would require the change.
I don’t think Apple will take that long to bring USB-C to all of its devices, though. I’d bet the next versions of the regular AirPods, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max all move to USB-C, and that transition should be done by 2024.”
TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that Apple would provide a USB-C charging case for various AirPods models in 2023, but he left out the AirPods Pro 2, indicating that the switch from Lightning may occur much sooner. Apple is anticipated to release the reasonably priced iPad 10 later this year. This tablet might be the last one produced by the business to use USB-C, ending the shift, at least for this particular product category.
Apple will abandon its control on its exclusive Lightning connection over the course of the next two years and totally transition to this USB-C. Given how businesses have framed USB-C technology in their favour by including features like rapid charging, it is certain that that transition by Apple would result in heated rivalry in the market.
