Three Questions about the USB-C Port on iPhone 15 It is recommended to take a look before making a purchase

Three important questions about the USB-C port on iPhone 15 please review before buying

At this autumn release event, Apple finally equipped the iPhone 15 series with USB-C ports, which not only simplifies the connection between the iPhone and current Mac devices, but also greatly reduces the inconvenience of only being able to charge the iPhone with a Lightning cable. What benefits and drawbacks will this adjustment bring?

The iPhone 15 series finally features USB-C ports.

Firstly, let’s explain why the USB-C used in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus only corresponds to the USB 2.0 specification, with a transmission speed of only 480Mbps, while the USB-C ports on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max correspond to the USB 3.0 specification, with a transmission speed of up to 10Gbps.

Regarding charging specifications, all models in the iPhone 15 series can charge up to 50% within 30 minutes with a 20W charger. However, the actual charging speed may vary depending on the charger and charging cable used.

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Why are there still differences in specifications despite using the USB-C connector?

The reason is that the European Union only requires phones and other devices to use the same charging interface, initially using the commonly used micro USB as the unified charging interface, which was later changed to USB-C due to market demand. However, this requirement does not specify that the same standard specification must be used. Only when the charging power exceeds 15W, it is additionally required to comply with the USB PD specification. Therefore, even though there are many smartphones, game consoles, and laptops on the market that use USB-C ports, their actual transmission speed and power supply may vary.

On the other hand, the USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum/USB Standardization Organization) has established the USB Unified Design Standard, but it does not require all designed cables to be verified. In addition, there are many optional schemes in the specification design, so even for USB-C cables or ports, the actual transmission and power supply specifications may vary.

Until the recent introduction of the USB 4 2.0 version, because it supports higher charging power, the wattage is marked on the cable and port when outputting high power, for example, it can reach up to 240W. However, since USB-IF has not yet required all cables to be verified, it only indicates that consumers can choose the appropriate product based on the wattage label on certified cables. Therefore, consumers may sometimes use regular USB-C cables to charge devices such as laptops, resulting in the inability to charge properly or burning due to poor cable quality.

In addition, Intel changed the interface design starting from Thunderbolt 3, adopting the USB-C interface. However, compared to the specifications set by USB-IF, Intel considered more specification requirements in the design and added its own certification standards. Even if the specifications for Thunderbolt 3 are open source, devices that do not use Intel chips can still use the Thunderbolt 3 specifications to manufacture cables.

For the later releases of Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 5, they basically integrate the specifications proposed by USB-IF. However, Intel incorporates all specification requirements into the design and ensures that cables meet the standards through its own certification. Therefore, compared to other brands, the price of cables using Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, or even the upcoming Thunderbolt 5 may be higher. In addition, due to the possibility of different materials and designs used by different manufacturers, the actual price may also increase.

Therefore, although they may have the same USB-C interface in appearance, there may be significant differences in functionality and even reflected in the actual selling price due to the different specifications and designs used.

iPhone 15 series has switched to using USB-C interfaces. Many people may wonder if they can use an Android phone’s USB-C charging cable to charge their iPhone 15 series phones.

The answer is yes. This is because regardless of the type of cable, they all follow the specifications proposed by USB-IF. In addition, different specifications of USB cables are backward compatible, so even USB 3.0 cables or standard USB-C cables designed specifically for Thunderbolt 4 can be used for iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus, which only support USB 2.0 specifications. However, they will operate at the USB 2.0 specification for charging and data transfer.

If you want to charge or transfer data on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max at USB 3.0 speed, you will need to use a charging cable that meets the USB 3.0 specification, which naturally comes at a higher price.

Some people believe that they must use cables certified by MFI (Made for iPhone) to avoid problems or damage to the phone during charging. In fact, the more accurate statement is that cables that comply with USB-IF certification specifications should be chosen. In simple terms, choose products made by reputable brands to avoid purchasing cables that are mass-produced in the market, have uneven quality, or are even very cheap (such as cables sold for a few yuan at night markets).

Problematic charging cables are usually made of wires with poor conductivity or poor tensile performance. Although there may be no obvious problems when first used, over time, after being pulled and curled, it may cause internal core breakage in the wire. In milder cases, it may not charge normally, while in severe cases, it may cause short circuits, fires, and other issues.

Therefore, it is recommended that everyone choose charging cables from reputable brands as much as possible. Even the Lightning cables used by Apple in the past have some styles on the market with uneven manufacturing quality, which also pose safety issues.

The first advantage is that it can share a charging cable with Android phones. If you need to borrow a charging cable from someone temporarily, you don’t have to worry about the difference in charging cable specifications. The difference lies only in charging efficiency and file transfer speed.

Another advantage is that it is more convenient to connect iPhone 15 series with Mac models and Windows devices. Just one USB-C cable can solve all wired connection needs. In addition, the iPhone 15 series can also use more peripheral accessories. For example, on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, you can use external storage devices to transfer data, or directly record and edit through USB-C connection to a computer, and save the recorded content directly to the computer. This allows for more flexibility in creative work using the iPhone. Additionally, we can even charge Apple Watch or AirPods using an Apple Watch charger designed with a USB-C interface, directly from the iPhone.

As for the downside, peripherals previously designed with a Lightning interface will no longer be able to be used. Some accessories may still be used through adapter connections, such as headphone accessories originally designed with a Lightning interface, which can still be used with a USB-C to Lightning adapter cable. However, accessories like battery protective cases or external game controllers will not be able to accommodate the space for adapter accessories, so they cannot be used anymore.

Starting from the iPhone 15 series, Apple will be using the USB-C connector, which means many peripherals originally designed with a Lightning interface, such as headphones, cables, and speakers, may gradually stop production or switch to USB-C interface specifications. As Apple gradually phases out older iPhone models, accessory manufacturers may also stop producing Lightning cables.

However, it should not cause too much of a problem in the short term, as Apple is still selling the iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone SE, so Lightning cables will not be phased out quickly. But other peripheral accessories may transition to USB-C interface design more quickly.

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