Under pressure from the European Union, Apple is integrating USB Type-C on the last accessories that still worked with Lightning. So you can now charge the Magic Mouse with USB-C, although taking a break while charging is still mandatory.
Apple proudly proclaims that the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad will now feature USB-C ports, “allowing users to charge all their favorite devices with a single cable.” Just under a decade after the competition, the American computer maker is thus finally allowing its customers to enjoy the benefits of USB Type-C.
Although Apple is in good taste selling the modification as a self-invented genius innovation, in reality the change is taking place thickly against the company’s wishes and under the influence of European regulations. Indeed, EU legislation from 2022 requires electronics manufacturers to embrace the same charging port in order to curb the proliferation of chargers, cables and thus electronic waste.
Gone license revenue
Apple was not a fan. While the Lightning port is by no means superior to USB-C and does not offer a more pleasant experience for customers, it is Apple’s intellectual property. Anyone who wanted to make a charger with Lightning therefore had to pay a licensing fee to Apple. This allowed the company to collect extra pennies from accessories developed by third parties. With USB Type-C, that possibility disappears.
With the transition of accessories to USB Type-C, almost Apple’s entire portfolio has been transitioned. There are still a few exceptions, such as the old iPhone Se and iPhone 14. The new iPhone SE will almost certainly embrace USB-C as well, since sales in the EU would otherwise be impossible. The Apple Vision Pro’s battery also has its own connector, but that is objectionably relevant given the limited niche that device embraces.
Apple didn’t put too much effort into the redesign of its gadgets. Visually, in other words, you won’t see any difference between the new Magic Mouse and the old one. The USB-C port, like the Lightning port, sits conveniently at the bottom, leaving the mouse unusable when you need to recharge it.