1 min readApple’s Scary Fast event looked at a bunch of personal computer software, and hardware, but the scariest part was the lack of universal charging standards. The giant announced new M3 processors, MacBooks, and an iMac but there was no mention of a new Magic Mouse with USB-C.
Since its release in 2015, the Magic Mouse 2 has been criticised for its charging choices and eight years on the old charging port remains an issue. Shoved by the EU, Apple’s USB-C push presents the perfect opportunity for the Magic Mouse 3 - a version with upgraded charging in both position and port. Magic Mouses have historically been announced alongside iMacs, so it wasn’t a far stretch to hope for a new model while Apple was announcing the refreshed 24-inch iMacs. Alas, no.
Despite rumours suggesting otherwise, none of Apple’s other Mac accessories got the USB-C treatment either. Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad all still charge via Lightning, as they have since they were announced at the same Mac event in October 2015.
Weirdly enough, USB-C ports became more prevalent across Apple’s personal computing range at about the same time these accessories were released. USB 3 ports came to the MacBook in early 2015, and the MacBook Pro in 2016, while iPads saw the implementation of the port starting with the 2018 iPad Pro. As far as productivity machines are concerned, USB-C has been Apple’s go-to for a while.
While the Magic accessories continue to evade it, Apple doesn’t seem to be opposed to using the port with accessories entirely. Earlier this month it announced a new - albeit baffling - Apple Pencil with USB-C. Apple Pencils have been largely wireless apart from the first generation released in 2015, which (you guessed it) used Lightning. Considering that Apple Pencils are only for use with iPads which have mostly all switched to USB-C, it does make sense that the manufacturer would prioritise it over other accessories.
With the iPhone, and AirPods now released with USB-C, there aren’t many more pieces of hardware left to make the switch. iPad mini, AirPods Pro Max, and Magic accessories with the universal standard are inevitably coming, but it won’t be this year.
