Apple is finally removing the Lightning port from its lineup of Mac accessories. Earlier today, the company announced a new iMac with M4 with updated versions of the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad that all have USB-C. Apple is also selling them individually in the Apple Store. All three have featured the proprietary Lightning port since 2015.
Apple’s latest Mac accessories no longer use Lightning.
Image: Apple
Umar Shakir is a news writer fond of the electric vehicle lifestyle and things that plug in via USB-C. He spent over 15 years in IT support before joining The Verge.
The prices haven’t changed from their Lightning versions: the USB-C Magic Mouse is $99; the Magic Keyboard, which is so far seemingly only available as the larger model with a numpad, is $199; and the Magic Trackpad is $149. All three are available in black or white. USB-C aside, their designs are overall unchanged. And after tapping the “View in your space” link to look at the 3D model on the mobile version of the iMac page, I regret to inform you that means the Magic Mouse still charges via a USB-C port on the bottom. (There are ways to fix that if you’re desperate.)
The shift to USB-C is overdue: all Mac desktops and notebooks had switched to USB-C as their primary connectivity port by 2018. The iPad started getting USB-C the same year, and USB-C arrived on the iPhone in 2023. Switching these accessories to USB-C will allow many Apple device owners to toss their USB-C-to-Lightning cables now that the entire line has switched over.
EU regulators pressured Apple to fully switch from Lightning, with the company ultimately updating the port on the iPhone 15 last year. Apple has been slowly swapping out the ports on its remaining devices since then. Last month, the company upgraded its AirPods Max headphones to USB-C as well (and… didn’t do much else).
In the past few years, Apple has had several opportunities to replace its computer peripherals with new versions that, at the very least, updated how they charge. However, alongside the release of the M1 Mac Mini in 2020, the redesigned M1 iMac in 2021, the Mac Studio in 2022, and each of their spec upgrades in 2023, Apple seemed determined to keep Lightning.
Now, the iPhone SE is Apple’s final major device with a Lightning port, which may change soon enough.
Update October 28th: Clarified language around where the screenshot of the Magic Mouse originated from.
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