Apple updates 'Magic' accessories to USB-C, included with M4 iMac

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware

Apple has updated its Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad to feature USB-C -- and that includes the new color-matched accessories shipping with the M4 iMac.

A sleek wireless keyboard with a numeric keypad, featuring white keys on a silver base, including function keys and a command key layout.
Apple's updated Magic Keyboard - Image Credit: Apple



On Monday, Apple opened preorders for the brand-new M4 iMac, which is set to ship out on November 8. Like the M1 and M3 iMacs before it, it will come in an array of fun colors -- seven to be exact.

And, like its predecessors, the new iMac will ship with color-matched accessories. Buyers can choose between a standard Magic Keyboard or a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and a numeric keypad for $80 more.

Buyers will also be able to select either a color-matched Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad. The Magic Trackpad option increases the price by $50.

The new accessories will feature USB-C ports rather than the M1 iMac's lightning ports. This has been done to bring the device into compliance with the European Union's requirement that consumer electronics must use a common charger by 2024.

It will also come with a color-matched power cable as well as a color-matched USB-C to USB-C cable for charging the accessories.

Like the M1, there is no option to purchase the color-matched accessories standalone, so you'll need to grab them at checkout. There also doesn't appear to be a way to select both the Magic Mouse and the Magic Trackpad.

However, Apple has updated its standalone Magic accessories to USB-C. The accessories are available in white or black.

A sleek black computer mouse with an Apple logo next to a white, rectangular trackpad on a white background.
Magic Mouse in Black, Magic Trackpad in White - Image Credit: Apple



The new Magic Keyboard that features Touch ID and a numeric keypad is available for $199.00. The new Magic Trackpad is available for $149.00, while the new Magic Mouse can be purchased for $99.99.

Currently, the standalone accessories are expected to ship out by October 31.



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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 18
    AfarstarAfarstar Posts: 79member
    Have they redesigned the Magic Mouse so you can charge it whilst using it - no I thought not. 
    williamlondonentropysappleinsideruserbeowulfschmidtgrandact73
  • Reply 2 of 18
    RobJMurphyRobJMurphy Posts: 8member
    Why can't we have the Magic Keyboard (TouchID) without numeric keypad with black keys? Why? Why? Why? 😭
    williamlondonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 18
    lotoneslotones Posts: 107member
    Why can't we have a backlit keyboard? Why? Why? Why?
    williamlondonsphericnubusgrandact73watto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 18
    bonikingofnowherebonikingofnowhere Posts: 2member
    No usb-c Magic Keyboard with TouchID and without numeric keypad. Full stop.  No matter what color of keys. 
    williamlondon
  • Reply 5 of 18
    AniMillAniMill Posts: 193member
    So the new iMac doesn’t support Thunderbolt at all?!
    williamlondon
  • Reply 6 of 18
    neilmneilm Posts: 1,001member
    AniMill said:
    So the new iMac doesn’t support Thunderbolt at all?!
    Huh? It certainly does. 2xTB4 ports on the base model, 4xTB4 on the others.
    williamlondongregoriusmTomEappleinsideruserwatto_cobra
  • Reply 7 of 18
    Fidonet127Fidonet127 Posts: 601member
    AniMill said:
    So the new iMac doesn’t support Thunderbolt at all?!
    Of course it does. The upper models are all Thunderbolt ports that can do USB devices. 
    williamlondonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 8 of 18
    MarvinMarvin Posts: 15,491moderator
    Afarstar said:
    Have they redesigned the Magic Mouse so you can charge it whilst using it - no I thought not. 
    It wouldn't take much of a design change for this. The port would only need to be recessed enough to allow a flat USB-C cable to sit below the runners. These have a 2mm depth:

    https://www.amazon.com/USB-Cable-3-3ft-High-Speed-Compatible/dp/B0CCJLS4R5/
    Alex1Nwatto_cobra
  • Reply 9 of 18
    entropysentropys Posts: 4,312member
    Requiring the mouse to be unusable while charging is a productivity unfriendly design. And you can bet it needs recharging just when that urgent bit of work needs to be done yesterday.
    At least the internal battery lasts a long time, but so do those of other mice from other brands.  And this is the really important bit: you can keep using them while charging.

    Basically, I’ve switched to Logitech MX backlit keyboards and mice.  And keep shaking my head at one of the world’s greatest mysteries: why Apple, the design king, can’t do a decent peripheral. 

    edited October 28 Alex1Ngrandact73
  • Reply 10 of 18
    sphericspheric Posts: 2,705member
    No usb-c Magic Keyboard with TouchID and without numeric keypad. Full stop.  No matter what color of keys. 
    Huh? I can order one right now on the German Apple Store. It’s 50€ more than the variant without TouchID. 
    edited October 28 watto_cobra
  • Reply 11 of 18
    nubusnubus Posts: 623member
    Wonder why Apple kept the bad charging for the mouse. And if USB C really is all (like AirPods Max) then why didn’t it happen in 2017 or 2023. Too many products or not enough focus?
    Alex1N
  • Reply 12 of 18
    TomETomE Posts: 174member
    Marvin said:
    Afarstar said:
    Have they redesigned the Magic Mouse so you can charge it whilst using it - no I thought not. 
    It wouldn't take much of a design change for this. The port would only need to be recessed enough to allow a flat USB-C cable to sit below the runners. These have a 2mm depth:

    https://www.amazon.com/USB-Cable-3-3ft-High-Speed-Compatible/dp/B0CCJLS4R5/
    Not many of the users have flat USB C cables .  It would not be difficult to design but it would not be worth it.  Only takes a short time to charge the USB C Mouse.  I would not be able to use the Mouse if a cable were attached.  I use the trackpad if I need to charge the mouse.  

    I never thought I would be able to use a trackpad, but I learned to do it.  I cannot do precision work be it design of FileMaker Databases, graphics or much of anything without the mouse.  I really don't care for a touch screen Mac.  I know whey they have not done it.  If you want a Touch Screen Mac, get a 13" iPad with a keyboard and a trackpad.  That is as close as it gets - right now. 

    Or you could get a windows tablet or computer.  It is not that Apple cannot do something, they don't do it because they have researched it to the n'th degree and it is not financially practical. 

    The Mouse is just 99$ retail.  Just buy a 2nd Mouse to use while you are charging the 1st one.  Surely , Guys.

    thedbawatto_cobra
  • Reply 13 of 18
    charlesncharlesn Posts: 1,179member
    spheric said:
    No usb-c Magic Keyboard with TouchID and without numeric keypad. Full stop.  No matter what color of keys. 
    Huh? I can order one right now on the German Apple Store. It’s 50€ more than the variant without TouchID. 
    Same for US Apple Store -- $149 for USB-C Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and no numeric keyboard. It doesn't show up under "Featured Mac Accessories," you have to look under Accessories > Mac > Mice and Keyboards. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 14 of 18
    jetpilotjetpilot Posts: 42member
    Afarstar said:
    Have they redesigned the Magic Mouse so you can charge it whilst using it - no I thought not. 
    If you want a wired mouse, then buy a wired mouse. 🙄
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 15 of 18
    AppleZuluAppleZulu Posts: 2,182member
    entropys said:
    Requiring the mouse to be unusable while charging is a productivity unfriendly design. And you can bet it needs recharging just when that urgent bit of work needs to be done yesterday.
    At least the internal battery lasts a long time, but so do those of other mice from other brands.  And this is the really important bit: you can keep using them while charging.

    Basically, I’ve switched to Logitech MX backlit keyboards and mice.  And keep shaking my head at one of the world’s greatest mysteries: why Apple, the design king, can’t do a decent peripheral. 

    If they put the port so you could use it while charging, people would just leave it plugged in all the time. Then they’d get complaints about frayed charging cables and worse, complaints about damaged charging ports, all from repetitive torque and twisting of the port and wire, while using your wireless mouse plugged into a wire. Then there’d be a class-action lawsuit, claiming Apple knew all along that people would leave it plugged in and damage the port. 

    By putting the port in the bottom, they get no complaints about damage. Instead they just get complaints from people being too daft to charge the mouse for two minutes to get enough for the rest of the day, then leave it overnight to use it for a month or two. 
    Fidonet127watto_cobra
  • Reply 16 of 18
    AfarstarAfarstar Posts: 79member
    jetpilot said:
    Afarstar said:
    Have they redesigned the Magic Mouse so you can charge it whilst using it - no I thought not. 
    If you want a wired mouse, then buy a wired mouse. 🙄
    Not the point. Apple are THE design experts and having a charging point underneath rather than at the front is frankly pathetic. 
  • Reply 17 of 18
    thedbathedba Posts: 790member
    TomE said:
    Marvin said:
    Afarstar said:
    Have they redesigned the Magic Mouse so you can charge it whilst using it - no I thought not. 
    It wouldn't take much of a design change for this. The port would only need to be recessed enough to allow a flat USB-C cable to sit below the runners. These have a 2mm depth:

    https://www.amazon.com/USB-Cable-3-3ft-High-Speed-Compatible/dp/B0CCJLS4R5/
    Not many of the users have flat USB C cables .  It would not be difficult to design but it would not be worth it.  Only takes a short time to charge the USB C Mouse.  I would not be able to use the Mouse if a cable were attached.  I use the trackpad if I need to charge the mouse.  

    I never thought I would be able to use a trackpad, but I learned to do it.  I cannot do precision work be it design of FileMaker Databases, graphics or much of anything without the mouse.  I really don't care for a touch screen Mac.  I know whey they have not done it.  If you want a Touch Screen Mac, get a 13" iPad with a keyboard and a trackpad.  That is as close as it gets - right now. 

    Or you could get a windows tablet or computer.  It is not that Apple cannot do something, they don't do it because they have researched it to the n'th degree and it is not financially practical. 

    The Mouse is just 99$ retail.  Just buy a 2nd Mouse to use while you are charging the 1st one.  Surely , Guys.

    I would classify the mouse charging as a minor annoyance in the overall scheme.
    But there’s always posters here that complain just for the sake of complaining.

    I too purchased a trackpad but in my case, it was to alleviate my carpal tunnel problems.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 18 of 18
    kdupuis77kdupuis77 Posts: 160member
    I've used 3x different MacBook Pros with a Studio Display and Apple Keyboard & TrackPad. While I love my trackpads, I sure wish they'd fix whatever the heck cause the insufferable cursor lag with my trackpad. At this point I just leave the stupid thing connected via lighting full time for smooth operation. Haven't found a a solution in years, but assuming it has something to do with Bluetooth or MacOS.
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