Apple’s new 24-inch iMac, unveiled at its recent “Scary Fast” event, features the powerful M3 chip. However, a surprising detail has emerged: the Magic accessories that come with the iMac still use Lightning ports, despite Apple’s recent push to USB-C.
2023 Magic accessories stick with Lightning despite Apple’s USB-C push and the EU’s mandate
Although Apple has been promoting USB-C across its latest devices, the new iMac’s Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad still use Lightning ports. This may disappoint users who want a single cable solution for their Apple devices.
Apple’s decision to use Lightning ports on the new iMac accessories is unusual, given that the company has been moving towards USB-C on most of its other products, partly due to the EU’s mandate. This includes the entire iPhone 15 lineup, the latest entry-level iPad, Apple TV, AirPods Pro, and Apple Pencil. It is possible that Apple is planning to update the Magic accessories to USB-C in the near future.
It is unclear why Apple chose to use Lightning ports on the new iMac accessories when it has been moving towards USB-C on most of its other products. However, the new iMac’s other improvements, such as the M3 chip and 4.5K display, are significant.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman had previously hinted that the Magic accessories might be updated to USB-C at the event. However, the “What’s in the Box” details for the 24-inch iMac showed that the Magic accessories still come with Lightning to USB-C cables, which suggests that there have been no major updates.
Other than the three Magic accessories for the iMac, the only recent Apple devices with Lightning ports are the AirPods, AirPods Max, and iPhone SE. However, rumors suggest that the AirPods and AirPods Max may be upgraded to USB-C in the next year.
The delay in transitioning Magic accessories to USB-C raises questions about Apple’s timeline and strategic decisions, especially since the “Scary Fast” event brought remarkable updates to Macs. Users hoping for a seamless USB-C experience within the Apple ecosystem may have to wait a little longer. However, the new iMac’s performance and display enhancements are a step in the right direction for Apple’s product lineup.
Read more:
