Amid the buzz surrounding the forthcoming iPhone 15 series, a few whispers about certain components have started to circulate. Despite the exciting addition of a USB Type-C port in the standard iPhone 15 variant, Apple has officially confirmed that it will offer the same transfer speeds as Lightning. However, potential disappointment may be in store for iPhone 15 Pro users. Although Apple has stated that these devices support USB 3 transfer speeds, there’s a hint of an unsettling surprise.
To be clear, this is merely a rumor originating from the Japanese news portal Mac Otakara and echoed by media outlet MacRumors. While the USB Type-C port on the iPhone 15 Pro is indeed more robust than that on the iPhone 15, boasting fast charging capabilities, it’s the charging speed that may leave users wishing for more.
Another USB-C Port Camouflaged as Lightning?
The iPhone 14 Pro featured a Lightning connector, an Apple-exclusive connection that, despite supporting fast charging up to 27W, only provided USB 2 speeds. With the introduction of the iPhone 15 Pro’s new physical connection, users anticipated faster charging speeds, potentially reaching 35W. However, it appears that these models might still be limited to the same charging speed as their predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro, despite the updated Lightning connectors.
It’s essential to underline that this information remains a rumor, and MacRumors notes that “it’s unclear where [Mac Otakara] obtained the information.” They further report that “field tests need to be conducted, but at the moment, it appears that the 35W rumor was incorrect.”
iPhone’s USB-C Appearance Hides Lightning’s Reality
The inclusion of a standard connection port in iPhones was driven by European Union regulations. However, the physical connector is one aspect, and its capabilities are another. The USB Type-C standard supports more powerful and versatile ports, yet not all USB Type-C ports come equipped with Thunderbolt capabilities, support connections with all peripherals, or transmit video or audio signals – some are limited to charging.
While there’s a standard in terms of form, there’s no standardization in terms of content within that form. Consequently, Apple has opted to exploit this flexibility, matching the data transfer speeds of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus to be on par with the Lightning connector.
For the iPhone 15 Pro, it seems that the restriction might affect charging speed. Thus, it could be yet another case of a “Lightning disguise,” albeit a more subtle one, with charging speed being the focal point of this potential deception.
