Apple’s New Gadgets: Sleek Design, USB-C Power

Gadgets: Apple’s magic keyboard, mouse, and trackpad: Now with USB-C. Really sleek design.

Apple has updated the Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse with USB-C! The previous models used Lightning. Note that, Apple includes the Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard in the box with the iMac, and the Magic Trackpad is an optional upgrade.

Apple is finally dropping the Lightning port from its list of Mac accessories. Just this morning, it released a new iMac with M4 and upgraded versions of the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad-all with USB-C. And for the first time ever, they are available in the Apple Store for separate purchase. All three have ported that proprietary Lightning port since 2015.

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. Otherwise, their designs haven’t changed.

Apple’s New Gadgets: Sleek Design, USB-C Power

In the last couple of years, Apple had several opportunities to replace computer peripherals with new versions or at least update how they charge. However, with the release of M1 Mac Mini in 2020, the new M1 iMac in 2021, the Mac Studio in 2022, and the spec upgrades in 2023 for all of them, Apple seemed keen on keeping Lightning.

Now, the iPhone SE happens to be Apple’s last serious device sporting a Lightning port, but that may change soon enough.

All Mac desktops and notebooks had defaulted to USB-C as their primary connectivity port by 2018, which has been for the iPad since the same year. The iPhone first received USB-C in 2023.

EU regulators have applied whole pressure on the company; Apple subsequently updated that port on its iPhone 15 last year. This year, it has been updating the ports for the remainder of its other devices one by one.