AirPods that use USB-C to charge in place of Lightning are reportedly right around the corner. They supposedly will be unveiled at Apple’s “Wonderlust” event on September 12.
The modified version of Apple’s wireless earbuds are part of a general move away from Lightning.
Lightning will never strike again
After nearly a decade of dragging its feet, Apple is finally switching iPhone to USB-C. The transition away from Lightning is being forced by the European Union, and this fall’s iPhone 15 series will almost certainly be the first with USB-C.
Those handsets are expected to be announced September 12. And they apparently won’t be the only Apple hardware making the port transition.
“To match the new iPhones, Apple will introduce updated AirPods at the event that include a USB-C charging port,” Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman said Tuesday.
AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C plus more?
Notice that Bloomberg doesn’t get specific about which AirPods model is expected. A previous report indicated that Apple is prepping an AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Charging Case with USB-C, but there has so far been no mention of any other models.
That doesn’t mean Apple won’t also introduce a USB-C case for AirPods 3 or AirPods 2, but so far there’s been no evidence of it.
To be clear, there has been no hint that Apple’s September Wonderlust event will bring AirPods Pro 3. The leaks point only to a tweaked charging case.
Consider convenient wireless charging
Anyone buying an iPhone 15 won’t need a Lightning cable to charge it, but that doesn’t mean they must purchase a new USB-C charging case for their existing AirPods. Nor is it necessary to travel with a Lightning cable for just the wireless earbuds.
The AirPods Pro 2 case can be juiced up on any wireless charger. A wireless charging case is also an option with AirPods 3. And nearly all recent iPhone models support wireless charging. Those wanting to travel light can carry a single wireless charger for both.
That said, anyone buying an iPhone 15 and AirPods probably should get the USB-C version of the earbuds.
