Apple lowers prices of peripherals following MacBook Pro concerns

'We recognize that many users, especially pros, rely on legacy connectors to get work done today and they face a transition,' says Apple spokesman

Apple chief executive Tim Cook unveils the latest Macbook Pro range during an event at the Apple Headquarters in Cupertino, California (EPA)

Last week Apple revealed its latest Mac computers: three new MacBook Pro models. All of them have dispensed with any connectors apart from a headphone socket and either two or four of the new USB-C sockets. And nothing else.

Some would-be customers have been vocal in their criticisms, as it meant they would have to buy adaptors on top of the powerful but far-from-cheap MacBook Pro.

Last week, Apple exec Philip Schiller told The Independent that he considered it part of Apple’s job to help customers through these kinds of changes.

And this evening Apple has made big price cuts across a range of peripherals that will fit the new machines. Some of the cuts are more than 50 per cent off, many others at least 25 per cent reductions.

So an Apple-branded USB-C to USB adapter – pretty essential, really – has been cut from £19 to £9. A Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter which until now has cost £49 will now be £29.

Similarly, a USB-C to Lightning cable costs £19 for a one-metre version instead of £25 and a two-metre cable drops from £35 to £29.

These new prices are applicable now and will run until the end of December.

An Apple spokesman said: “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.”

After all, though the retention of the headphone socket had been cheered, given that it has been taken off the iPhone 7, the loss of the SD card slot which photographers, especially, prized was disliked.

That, as Apple exec Philip Schiller told the Independent was partly because it was a “cumbersome slot” which didn’t serve all camera users and partly because many cameras now have wireless transfer capabilities.

But if your favourite SLR isn’t wireless-compatible, something like the SanDisk Extreme Pro SD UHS-II Card USB-C reader will come in handy. That’s not an Apple product but it’s also been reduced in price from its previous £44.95 price point.

Apple says it’s cutting the price of al third-party USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 peripherals in its online and retail stores by 25 per cent.

There’s a limit of five Apple-branded items and two third-party items per customer.