Apple's New M3-Powered iMacs Still Feature Lightning Port-Based Accessories Despite Shift to USB-C in Other Devices

New M3-powered iMac users now using USB-C for almost all devices must still keep Lightning cables for the Magic Mouse, Keyboard, and Trackpad, as Apple misses update opportunity in their latest release.

• Despite Apple's recent move to USB-C in other devices, the new M3-powered iMacs still feature Lightning port-based accessories such as the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad.
• This discrepancy means that users will have to keep both Lightning and USB-C cables for their devices, creating an inconvenience that could have been avoided with a USB-C update in the iMac accessories.
• Not updating these accessories to USB-C, despite updating the connectivity in iPhones, iPads, and even the Apple Pencil among others, points towards a strategy to maximize the use of old products and designs for cost-effectiveness.
• Given Apple's typical update cycle, it could be a few years before these accessories get a USB-C update, unless an unexpected product, such as a new 32-inch iMac, necessitates the change.
• European Union law demands that keyboard and mouse devices use USB-C by the end of 2024, which places a ticking clock on Apple's update for these accessories.

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