The reliable Apple analyst tweeted on Tuesday that the company will launch cases capable of USB-C charging for all AirPods models in 2022. However, Kuo added that the AirPods Pro 2 slated for launch this year will be still supported by Lightning.
I predict that Apple will launch USB-C compatible charging cases for all AirPods models in 2023. However, the charging case for the new AirPods Pro 2 launched in 2H22 can still support Lightning.
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) August 9, 2022
But this isn’t the first time Kuo has predicted AirPods will switch to USB-C: In a series of tweets posted on May 16, Kuo made the exact same prediction while denying rumors that Apple was getting ready. to create an iPhone without ports. A USB-C port would be bigger and heavier than the Lightning port, but it could offer benefits for a device like AirPods, including faster charging speeds.
Between the iPhone and the AirPods, this could mark a complete switch for Apple from the Lightning connector to the USB-C standard. If Kuo’s prediction is correct and the next AirPods Pro launch this year comes with a Lightning connector, it could mean that users who buy them would have to buy a new charging case (or maybe an adapter) l next year if they want to bring all of their devices under the USB Type-C umbrella.
In the past, the company has vehemently stuck to the Lightning port for iPhone and some accessories despite switching to USB-C for most iPads and Macs. This new shift in focus for the company could be due to new rules from the European Commission regarding a common charging port for all mobile phones.
