Tuesday's "Scary Fast" event by Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) saw major upgrades to the Mac, but the company's Magic accessories such as the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad continued to feature Lightning ports. This comes as a surprise to many who anticipated a shift to USB-C, a trend already seen across other Apple products. The iPhone 15 lineup, second-gen AirPods, new Apple Pencil, and Siri Remote for Apple TV have already made the switch to USB-C.
The decision not to upgrade Magic accessories to USB-C has led to some inconvenience for new iMac users who also own an iPhone 15. These users are now required to keep a separate cable exclusively for charging their Magic accessories. Furthermore, the design issue of an awkwardly located charging port at the bottom of the Magic Mouse remains unaddressed.
The 24-inch iMac base configuration detailed in the "What's in the Box" section includes these accessories and a color-matched Lightning to USB-C cable. Higher storage configurations also offer a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID. Currently, only AirPods, AirPods Max, iPhone SE, and iMac peripherals retain the Lightning port.
However, an impending regulation by the EU mandates keyboards and mice to transition to USB-C by the end of 2024. This may lead Apple to revisit and revise their accessory designs in the near future. Speculation is also rife about a possible USB-C upgrade for AirPods and AirPods Max next year, which could indicate a similar switch for Mac accessories.
InvestingPro Insights
Apple, a prominent player in the Technology Hardware, Storage and peripherals industry, has been making strategic moves that are reflected in its robust financial metrics. According to InvestingPro, Apple's market capitalization stands at a staggering 2630.0B USD, and the company operates with a P/E ratio of 28.46 as of Q3 2023.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that Apple operates with a high return on assets and yields a high return on invested capital. These metrics underscore the company's efficient use of its resources. Additionally, Apple has displayed a strong track record of profitability, with positive earnings over the last twelve months.
Apple's management has been aggressively buying back shares, indicating their confidence in the company's future prospects. The company's strong earnings have also allowed it to maintain dividend payments for 12 consecutive years, offering a consistent return for shareholders.
In total, InvestingPro offers 17 additional tips about Apple, providing a comprehensive analysis for those interested in investing in this technology giant.
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