Key Takeaways
- The brand new iPhone 15 and 15 Plus fashions use USB-C, however they’re restricted to USB 2.0 speeds, offering little technical profit in comparison with earlier fashions with the Lightning connector.
- The iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max, nonetheless, supply USB 3.0 capabilities and a sooner information switch fee of 10 Gbps, making them higher choices for customers who want greater speeds for duties like RAW photograph taking pictures or 4K video recording.
- The iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max don’t include a USB 3.0 cable, so customers might want to buy a separate cable that helps 10 Gbps information switch charges to take full benefit of the upgraded USB-C port.
With the launch of iPhone 15, Apple is formally phasing out its Lightning connector in favor of USB-C. This transformation brings a brand new stage of comfort to the iPhone, however extra importantly, it opens the door to superior information switch and charging capabilities. There’s only one drawback: Apple is not taking full benefit of the USB-C normal. Those that buy the iPhone 15 or 15 Plus will not see any groundbreaking technical advantages from USB-C, whereas tech-savvy iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max patrons are compelled to go searching for a further accent—an appropriate USB cable.
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Are Caught with USB 2.0 Speeds
Just like the USB-C iPad that Apple launched in 2022, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus depend on the outdated USB 2.0 specification. These telephones are restricted to a most 480 Mbps information switch fee—the identical velocity that we endured on Lightning-equipped iPhones.Apple is all the time tight-lipped about charging velocity, however its technical specs web page states that the iPhone 15 can obtain “as much as 50% cost in round half-hour with 20-watt adapter or greater.” The iPhone 14, which expenses at a most of 20 watts in most third-party assessments, has the identical assertion on its spec sheet, that means that the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus could also be restricted to 20-watt charging.In different phrases, the USB-C connector on the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus is little greater than a quality-of-life improve. The one notable characteristic offered by this connector is DisplayPort Alt Mode, which lets you play 4K 60Hz video from the iPhone on a bigger pc monitor or TV. Apple suggests that you simply use its USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter when connecting the iPhone 15 to a monitor or TV, as this adapter converts USB-C video to HDMI. However for those who’re connecting the iPhone 15 to a monitor with USB-C video capabilities, you may merely use a USB-C cable that helps DP Alt Mode.Limiting the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus to USB 2.0 speeds was an intentional resolution, clearly. Apple most likely hopes that this limitation will assist differentiate the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus from their “Professional” counterparts, which supply correct USB 3.0 speeds. In spite of everything, Apple likes to upsell!
For USB 3.0 Speeds, Purchase the iPhone 15 Professional or Professional Max
In contrast to the usual iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max supply USB 3.0 capabilities (though Apple could also be utilizing USB 3.1 Gen 2, judging by the specs). These telephones pack a ten Gbps information switch fee when paired with an equally highly effective USB-C cable, that means that they are the best choice for purchasers who repeatedly shoot RAW pictures or 4K movies. Regardless of using a Thunderbolt cable in some press photographs, the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max don’t assist the Thunderbolt 3 normal.Charging velocity for the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max is unknown. Nonetheless, a peek on the technical specs reveals the identical discover that is current on the usual iPhone 15’s spec sheet—”as much as 50% cost in round half-hour with 20-watt adapter or greater.” The outdated iPhone 14 Professional can pull 27 watts in third-party assessments, so there is a first rate likelihood that the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max share this limitation (although rumors recommend an improve to 35-watt charging).And naturally, the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max supply the identical DisplayPort Alt Mode capabilities which are current within the primary iPhone 15. You possibly can beam 4K 60 Hz video from the iPhone Professional to an appropriate monitor or TV.However, for no matter purpose, the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max do not include a USB 3.0 cable. As a substitute, they’re bundled with a USB 2.0 cable, which locations a 480 Mbps bottleneck on information transfers. If you wish to benefit from the iPhone 15 Professional’s upgraded USB-C port, it’s good to purchase a USB-C cable that helps a ten Gbps information switch fee. Apple’s technical specs make no point out of MFi and easily state {that a} “USB 3.0 cable with 10 Gbps velocity [is] required” for 10 Gbps speeds, so it is protected to imagine that the majority USB 3.1 Gen 2 cables will get the job accomplished.
Anker USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 Cable (3ft)
Take pleasure in switch speeds as much as 10Gbps and DisplayPort capabilities with Anker’s USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 cable. It additionally helps charging speeds as much as 100 watts, so it is good for charging smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
