The Apple community has had a hard time being content with the Mac lately. First it was the feeling that the Mac line including MacBook Pros weren’t being updated as often as, say, iPhones. A redesigned MacBook Pro helps resolve that with at least one member of the Mac family.
But the new MacBook Pro goes all in on USB-C and drops legacy ports like standard USB-A, and many Mac users believe this move is too aggressive considering the cost attached to this transition. The good news is that Apple is listening and lowering the price of its USB-C adapters in an effort to ease the USB-A to USB-C transition, but you have to act fast…
Apple’s lineup of USB-C accessories is changing in price starting now through December 31 with a few exceptions:
- USB-C to USB Adapter ($19 → $9)
- Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter ($49 → $29)
- USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter ($69 → $49)
- USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter ($69 → $49)
- USB-C to Lightning (1 m) ($25 → $19)
- USB-C Charge Cable (2 m) ($19)
- USB-C to Lightning (2 m) ($35 → $29)
- 29W USB-C Power Adapter ($49)
- 61W USB-C Power Adapter ($69)
- 87W USB-C Power Adapter ($79)
While charging accessories are not dropping in price, Apple is discounting third-party USB-C accessories sold through its retail channels, including SanDisk’s $49 USB-C SD card reader which drops to $29.
It’s unclear how this will affect sales for adapters that have been made recently, but I would advise following up with customer service if you’ve made a purchase in the last week or two.
[Update: Customers who made recent purchases appear to be receiving emails alerting them to credits.]
Apple tells us that this is the reasoning for the change:
“We are extremely excited about the new MacBook Pro, which is the best pro notebook we’ve ever made. It has the fastest CPU, graphics, memory, storage and I/O, best display, the innovative Touch Bar and more. MacBook Pro uses the most advanced industry-standard connector, USB-C with Thunderbolt 3, to provide maximum performance, expandability and compatibility.
“We recognize that many users, especially pros, rely on legacy connectors to get work done today and they face a transition. We want to help them move to the latest technology and peripherals, as well as accelerate the growth of this new ecosystem. Through the end of the year, we are reducing prices on all USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 peripherals we sell, as well as the prices on Apple’s USB-C adapters and cables.”
Third-party companies like Anker, Belkin, and others offer USB-C accessories at competitive prices if you’re looking for cheaper alternatives. Note that Apple’s discount following the new MacBook Pro launch is not permanent.
You can read some of our continuing commentary and coverage of the new MacBook Pro below:
- Comment: People are complaining about the wrong things with the new MacBook Pro
- MacBook Pro Diary: My take on some of the criticisms being levelled at the new models
- Comment: How the 12-inch MacBook prepared us for new MacBook Pros
- Opinion: No SD Card slot? It’s the camera companies you should be upset with, not Apple
- New MacBook Pro owners with USB printers, mics, and audio equipment can avoid adapters with this handy cable
- Phil Schiller addresses new MacBook Pro controversy, explains why Apple dropped the SD card reader but kept the headphone jack
- New MacBook Pros lack iconic Mac startup chime, but they do automatically boot when you open the lid (update: here’s how to enable it)
- 9to5Mac readers narrowly in favor of all-USB-C ports on new MacBook Pro
- How Apple’s stock apps will use the Touch Bar on the new MacBook Pro [Gallery]
- 9to5Mac MacBook Pro Guide
Jordan Kahn contributed to this report.
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