USB-C

Nomad is out with its latest creation today, a unique USB-C GaN charger with a fast-charging Apple Watch puck integrated on top. Here’s a close look at the convenient new Apple accessory that’s fantastic for travel and more.

Nobody likes a port transition. When Apple moved the iPhone and iPad to Lightning, and the Mac from USB-A to USB-C, it was painful. Most recently, the iPhone 15 line dropped Lightning for USB-C. Each transition makes your old peripherals more or less useless, unless you want to resort to endless adapters.

But port transitions are made much easier once every device supports the new connector.

Apple has gotten us most of the way toward the dream of an all-USB-C life. But there are still a handful of products lagging behind. Here are the products still in need of a USB-C update.

At CES, Samsung unveiled an updated version of its popular 32-inch Smart Monitor. The latest iteration features the same iMac-like design of the previous generation with features like a 4K resolution, USB-C single cable connectivity, AirPlay 2, 4K AI upscaling, and more.

Update 6/4/24: After a January reveal, the 2024 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 is now available direct from Samsung priced at $699. Read below for all the details.

Keychron has built a strong reputation for mechanical keyboards over the last seven years and now the company has jumped into the slim keyboard market. The new B1 and B6 Pro Ultra-Slim models come in Apple’s Magic Keyboard style with some added features and an affordable price.

Last fall Apple launched an Apple Pencil with USB-C and a mix of features from the premium Apple Pencil 2 while holding some back to keep the price tag at $50 below the high-end model. Now the Apple Pencil Pro has arrived. Here’s how Apple Pencil Pro vs USB-C, 2, and 1 compare.

India is planning to copy the European Union’s USB-C charging port law, requiring all smartphones to adopt the standard, which poses three big problems for Apple – and not just in India.

A new report today says that Apple is lobbying either for an exemption for older models still manufactured in the country, or delayed enforcement of the proposed legislation …

We’ve seen some impressive new Thunderbolt and USB-C monitors launch over the last year to compete with Apple’s Studio Display and Pro Display XDR. However, most monitors aimed at Mac users don’t support the MacBook Pro’s 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates, even Apple’s displays. Now the Spectrum One arrived from Dough that offers an enticing 27-inch, 4K monitor with 144Hz refresh, USB-C with 100W power, an allegedly advanced glossy finish, and more.

When Apple introduced the new iPhone 15 lineup with USB-C, we knew that it was going to unlock a lot of new hardware and software use cases – especially when you consider that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max also have support for much faster USB3 speeds. You can now use USB-C hubs, external SSDs, USB-C peripherals, and even charge other devices with the correct cable. However, I think we just got the best use case so far for USB-C on iPhone – let me tell you about it.

iPhone 15 may be the first to charge over USB-C, but it’s hardly the first Apple product to use the port. From MacBooks and iPads to the Apple TV remote, USB-C ports exist on many devices. Still, it’s only now that the iPhone 15 has launched that Apple has added a USB-A to USB-C cable to its store.

One of the new iPhone 15 Pro features is somewhat niche but incredibly useful to video enthusiasts using their iPhone as a B-camera or C-camera: You can shoot directly to an SSD.

But a reviewer learned of one problem the hard way: If your cable doesn’t support USB 3 speeds, the iPhone won’t warn you – it will simply drop frames. Lots and lots of frames …

Prior to Apple’s launch event, there had been numerous suggestions that the iPhone 15 USB-C port might be restricted in some way, with only Apple-certified cables and accessories able to take advantage of full data transfer rates and charging power.

This would have mirrored the situation with the Lightning port in previous iPhone models, but a new report today says that Apple itself has indirectly confirmed that there are no such restrictions with the USB-C port in iPhone 15 models …

iPhone 15 went USB-C, and so did the wired earbuds that used to come in the box. Nothing weird about that. Something perhaps more unexpected? Apple’s $19 USB-C EarPods apparently support lossless audio playback that works with Apple Music.

Apple announced its next-generation iPhone lineup today, and unsurprisingly, it marks the end of the road for Apple’s long-running Lightning connector in favor of USB-C. Not only does USB-C further streamline the wired cable connections across Apple’s vast product lineup, but it also brings faster USB 3 speed capability, alongside other special features, to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

Apple has officially announced the iPhone 15 lineup, and with the new hardware comes the first charging port change since the iPhone 5 in 2012. To help ease the transition from Lightning to USB-C for iPhone accessories, Apple is selling a $29 adapter.

Leaker yeux1122 says that Apple Store staff have been told to make sure iPhone 15 buyers know about the change from Lightning port to a USB-C one, when they make their purchase.

Staff will advise them that the box includes a USB-C to USB-C cable, but not a charging brick, so they may need to buy one …

Philips is out with a new Creator Series 4K display that looks to offer a range of valuable features at an affordable $500 price. Coming with this 27-inch 4K monitor is USB-C with 96W passthrough, DCI-P3 support, an IPS Black panel, KVM switch, an I/O hub, and more.

We figured AirPods would go USB-C as soon as the iPhone does, and that’s what Bloomberg reports will happen. Mark Gurman drops this line in his coverage of Apple’s September event announcement: “To match the new iPhones, Apple will introduce updated AirPods at the event that include a USB-C charging port.”

After teasing its Apple Studio Display competitor in January and releasing the full specs and price details in July, the ViewFinity S9 5K monitor is now available. Here’s what makes it an interesting Apple Studio Display alternative.

This week has seen three iPhone 15 cable rumors, which serve to underline the mess around USB-C cables in general. While that’s not a mess of Apple’s making, it is one the company could and should solve for its own customers.

The first of the three rumors appeared to be good news. It suggested that the charging cable included in the iPhone 15 box might be longer than usual and perhaps also more durable…

It’s only three weeks until Apple announces the next generation iPhone, and we’ve been hearing more details about the new phones. Last week, a rumor claimed that some iPhone 15 models will support Thunderbolt for faster data transfer speeds. While this may still be true, a new rumor suggests that the USB-C cable included in the box will be limited to USB 2.0 speeds.

Apple is rumored to announce iPhone 15 next month. At this point, multiple sources agree that the new phones will all be equipped with a USB-C port instead of Lightning. It’s no secret that USB-C has a bunch of advantages over Apple’s proprietary connector, but more than that, it seems that iPhone 15 will have Thunderbolt support.