Summary
With the launch ofiPhone 15, Apple is officially phasing out its Lightning connector in favor of USB-C. This change brings a new level of convenience to the iPhone, but more importantly, it opens the door to advanced data transfer and charging capabilities. There’s just one problem: Apple isn’t taking full advantage of the USB-C standard. Those who purchase the iPhone 15 or 15 Plus won’t see any groundbreaking technical benefits from USB-C, while tech-savvy iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max buyers are forced to go shopping for an additional accessory—a suitable USB cable.
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Are Stuck with USB 2.0 Speeds
Like theUSB-C iPadthat Apple launched in 2022, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus rely on the old USB 2.0 specification. These phones are limited to a maximum 480 Mbps data transfer rate—the same speed that we endured on Lightning-equipped iPhones.Apple is always tight-lipped about charging speed, but itstechnical specifications pagestates that the iPhone 15 can achieve “up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with 20-watt adapter or higher.” The iPhone 14, which charges at a maximum of 20 watts in most third-party tests, has the same statement on itsspec sheet, meaning that the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus may be limited to 20-watt charging.In other words, the USB-C connector on the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus is little more than a quality-of-life upgrade. The only notable feature provided by this connector is DisplayPort Alt Mode, which allows you to play 4K 60Hz video from the iPhone on a larger computer monitor or TV. Apple suggests that you use itsUSB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapterwhen connecting the iPhone 15 to a monitor or TV, as this adapter converts USB-C video to HDMI. But if you’re connecting the iPhone 15 to a monitor with USB-C video capabilities, you can simply use aUSB-C cable that supports DP Alt Mode.Limiting the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus to USB 2.0 speeds was an intentional decision, obviously. Apple probably hopes that this limitation will help differentiate the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus from their “Pro” counterparts, which offer proper USB 3.0 speeds. After all, Apple loves to upsell!
For USB 3.0 Speeds, Buy the iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max
Anker USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 Cable (3ft)
Enjoy transfer speeds up to 10Gbps and DisplayPort capabilities with Anker’s USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 cable. It also supports charging speeds up to 100 watts, so it’s perfect for charging smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
