Apple makes 2016 MacBook Pro's dongle hell less expensive

With the latest-generation MacBook Pro, Apple made a giant leap forward and fully-embraced USB Type-C. It went so far as to drop all other ports on its new prosumer-oriented laptops, even if the consumer market is not ready for it. The end result is that, if you want to use your existing peripherals and accessories, you will need (quite) a few dongles.

And this creates a problem. The new MacBook Pro does not come with any dongles in the box, so you will have to buy them yourself. This has angered quite a few prospective buyers, so, to make up for it, Apple has decided to do something it rarely does -- cut prices.

"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", says Apple.

This is a sensible move on Apple's part, which is sure to please some prospective buyers. The latest MacBook Pros are expensive enough to begin with, after all, and you really shouldn't have to pay a lot more for dongles -- or have to replace all your peripherals and accessories.

The cheapest -- better said, least expensive -- model, the 13.3-inch version without the Touch Bar, starts at $1,499 -- and it only has two USB Type-C ports. And one of them will be rendered useless while charging the device, because Apple dropped the MagSafe port on the new generation. The top of the line model kicks off at $2,799 -- and if you want all the hardware upgrades you will have to shell out $4,299. Quite costly, indeed.

So, what sort of discounts can you expect to see? Well, it would seem that they range between $6 and $20, depending on the dongle. For instance, a USB Type-C to USB Type-A dongle will only cost you $9 now, instead of $19. A one-meter USB Type-C to Lightning dongle goes for $19, as opposed to $25 prior to this price change (the 2m version is $10 more expensive).

This move affects not only Apple's own accessories but also third-party ones too. Again, that should be well received by prospective buyers, especially considering that the discounts are quite substantial. The Verge says that prices on third-party USB Type-C accessories are roughly 25 percent lower on average.

But, what if you already bought some dongles? The good news is that Apple will automatically credit you the difference, so you will not have to go through any hassles because of this price cut.

If the thought of lower dongle prices may have lead you to reconsider buying a 2016 MacBook Pro, keep in mind that if you go this route you will have to carry all of the dongles you need with you. How many you need depends on your work flow, but if you are not surrounded by USB Type-C accessories and peripherals, chances are you need one for each device you plan to connect to it.

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