Rumor has it that Apple is working on new versions of the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad Finally have replaced their Lightning charging ports with USB-C – at least, according to a code found in the recent iOS 18.1 update. The trend of updating all devices with EU-compliant USB-C ports continues for Apple and its hardware offerings.
As any current Magic Mouse user knows, the Lightning charging port is located right on the bottom, making it effectively unusable while the peripheral is connected, along with a few other drawbacks that you can find in our Apple Magic Mouse review here (which, FYI, starts with the line “Apple doesn’t have a good track record with mice”). Although it is not currently possible to use the Magic Mouse while it is charging, the Magic Mouse 2 could introduce some innovations.
As reported by MacRumorsIn the future, not only will USB-C be the charging port for all the aforementioned peripherals, but the Magic Mouse 2 in particular could potentially put this port in a different location instead of the much-hated placement on the base. The new peripherals will most likely arrive alongside Apple’s Mac M4 models, which are currently rumored to launch sometime this year.
How could Apple improve the Magic Mouse? Is USB-C a good move?
Apple’s Magic Mouse was launched in 2009, making it just over a decade and a half old, and since then a large number of Mac users have opted for other mice depending on their requirements and preferences. With a 2024 or 2025 release on the horizon, many will expect to see accessibility improvements like new side buttons and more control over mouse pointer speed, without the need for any adjustments within macOS itself.
Since other peripherals can normally be used while charging (as any right-thinking designer would point out), it would be great if Apple took a step in this direction, allowing you to stay active even when the battery is low. The rumored change in the location of the charging port could indicate that charging while in use is indeed possible with the Magic Mouse 2, and we should be closer to that soon. A possible alternative could be a mouse pad with wireless charging, like the Logitech PowerPlay, but I’d be surprised if Apple made such a big leap.
As for the move to USB-C, it is ideal for many, as USB-C is getting closer to becoming the standard charging standard for devices in Great Britainthe EU and beyond. On Windows PCs, MacBooks, phones and home consoles, USB-C is widely used – so it’s no surprise that Apple is finally moving away from Lightning cables.