Apple is switching the AirPods Pro charging case to USB-C

It’d be a little strange for Apple to transition the iPhone lineup over to USB-C only to leave its massively popular AirPods Pro stuck with Lightning charging ports. Predictably, that’s not what’s going to be happening: today, Apple announced that the AirPods Pro will now be shipping with a USB-C charging case. This will let buyers of the new iPhone 15 charge their earbuds using the same cable for both devices. You’ll also be able to charge your AirPods from an iPhone, Apple said during the presentation.

The AirPods’ move to USB-C continues Apple’s gradual embracing of the connector and follows the Mac, iPad, iPhone, and even accessories like the Apple TV 4K’s remote control. During the presentation, Apple also announced a revised pair of its wired EarPods that include USB-C.

But while the company’s earbuds are making the change, the same can’t be said for the regular AirPods or the AirPods Max headphones. Apple made no mention of a USB-C revision for those devices, and rumors have indicated that both products could be in line for an update sometime next year.