It’s only been a little more than a decade since Apple unveiled its new Lightning port with the iPhone 5, but the tiny port is nearly completely gone. After the European Parliament voted back in 2022 for a new rule requiring all new phones and smaller electronics that use a cable to charge to be equipped with a USB-C port, the countdown to the death of Lightning began. While the rule technically only applies to new products sold in Europe, Apple has been changing its Lightning devices to USB-C following the launch of the iPhone 15 in 2023.
In September, Apple swapped out the Lightning port on the AirPods Max and AirPods 4 case, leaving just a handful of Lightning devices remaining. Here’s what’s left and how much longer they’ll be around:
iPhone SE
Last updated: March 2022 (3rd gen)
Next expected update: March 2025 (4th gen)
Apple updated the iPhone 15 with USB-C in 2023, but there are still two phones remaining that have a Lightning port: the iPhone 14 and the iPhone SE. The latest iPhone SE rumors say Apple will be updating the current model in 2025 with a new iPhone 14-style design, Apple Intelligence support, and of course, a USB-C port. In fact, Apple may be launching an iPhone SE Plus as well that would likely replace the iPhone 14 and make the whole lineup Lightning-free.
Foundry
Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, Magic Mouse
Last updated: March 2022 (black)
Next expected update: October 2024
Apple hasn’t changed much about its trio of Mac accessories in nearly a decade, but it does introduce new colors somewhat regularly. In 2021, all three accessories—Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse—got new colors to match the new 24-inch iMac, while the Magic Keyboard received a Touch ID sensor. Then in 2022, Apple began offering black versions of the accessories alongside the Mac Studio and Studio Display. While we don’t expect Apple to surprise us with a Magic Mouse that charges properly (meaning you don’t have to flip it over to connect the charger), Apple is expected to update its Mac accessories in 2024 with USB-C when the first models with the M4 chips arrive.
IDG
Powerbeats Pro
Last updated: June 2020 (new colors)
Next expected update: 2025
While most of Apple’s Beats products use USB-C or micro-USB for charging, there is one—the PowerBeats Pro—that still uses Lightning. After Apple discontinued PowerBeats in 2024, we had assumed that the PowerBeats Pro were just going to disappear forever. But in September 2024 Beats and Shohei Ohtani teased a new model with a streamlined design. Additionally, they may be able to measure heart rate during a workout.
Author: Michael Simon, Executive Editor, Macworld
Michael Simon has been covering Apple for more than 20 years. He started covering rumors with Spymac when the iPod was the iWalk, and has owned nearly every iPhone Apple has ever made. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, son, and far too many gadgets.