USB-C cables that will ship with the iPhone 15 series allegedly will support only USB 2.0. If true, that will limit data transfers to a relatively poky 480Mbps, far below the maximum speed of the more recent USB 3.2 Gen 2.
However, other reports say the actual USB-C port in the iPhone 15 is much faster.
iPhone 15 USB-C cables
The Lightning port has been part of every iPhone since 2012, but that’s all about to change. Numerous leaks indicate that the iPhone 15 series will be the first with USB-C. And that puts a lot of attention on the cables that Apple will ship with the handset.
The cable will support only USB 2.0, according to information shared by a tipster who goes by Majin Bu. This standard comes from way back around the turn of the century, and means a top data transfer speed of 480Mbps, as previously noted.
For comparison, the much-newer USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard has a max data transfer speed of 10Gbps — about 20 times faster.
To be clear, though, the speed limitation is in the cable, not the port Apple supposedly will add to the iPhone 15 lineup. Switching to a better cable could bring a significant jump in performance. The USB-C port in the iPhone 15 series might even support Thunderbolt, so it could move data at up to 40Gbps.
Typical users might not even notice the difference, as Lightning also only supports USB 2.0. Plus, Apple says its cables are for charging, not data. It calls its current one a “USB-C Charge Cable (2 m),” for example.
Good news about iPhone 15 cables
To be honest, Apple’s own iPhone cables have never been very good. They’re cheaply made and wear out fairly quickly. But the iPhone 15 cable might prove more durable. The report from Majin Bu says it will be “thicker and more resistant.” That’s in line with previous leaks that indicated the upcoming cables will be covered in woven/braided cloth. And they might come in a range of colors rather than just boring white
In addition, tests with the iPhone 15 cable turned up “No MFI.” That should help lay to rest concerns that Apple would limit the functionality of charging cables that don’t carry Apple’s MFi certification.
New iPhone 15 USB C Cable Info Confirmed
1.6M long
16Pins
Thicker and more resistant
USB 2.0 20V3A
No MFI pic.twitter.com/WV4unodWPg— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) August 23, 2023
We won’t know for sure whether the cables coming with the iPhone 15 series will be fast or slow until September, the traditional launch window for Apple’s smartphones.
