With the introduction of the iPhone 15 and its incorporation of the USB-C port, Apple enthusiasts were quick to speculate about the new possibilities this connectivity option would offer. Beyond the obvious function of charging, the USB-C port has proven to be a versatile addition, enabling a range of unexpected uses. After several months of exploring its capabilities, it’s time to delve into some of the practical scenarios where the USB-C port on the iPhone 15 Pro proves invaluable.
Juicing Up Your Apple Watch on the Go
As an Apple Watch Ultra user, I typically enjoy enough battery life to last a day or two, even with extended workouts. However, on occasions when I push my workouts to the limit, my Watch might send low battery warnings by day’s end. While at home, recharging is not an issue, but when I’m on the move, finding a charging opportunity can be challenging.
In such situations, the solution is surprisingly simple. If you have a charger for your Apple Watch, a quick fix is to connect it to the USB-C port on your iPhone for a few minutes, providing enough power to keep your watch ticking. If your iPhone battery has significantly depleted during the day, a Magsafe-compatible power bank can quickly replenish both devices.
Reviving a Magic Mouse
The Magic Mouse is known for its compact design but not for its portability. It only takes a few minutes to gain extra battery life, but what if all your MacBook‘s ports are in use, leaving no room for the mouse charger?
No worries; your iPhone can come to the rescue. Using the standard mouse charging cable, connect it to your iPhone’s USB-C port and give your Magic Mouse a boost. This simple workaround ensures you can continue working without interruption.
Expanding Your Display
When you want to display photos or content to family or colleagues on a larger screen and escape the confines of your iPhone’s display, the USB-C port becomes a powerful ally.
To achieve this, connect your iPhone to a monitor through a compatible hub. Without any complex configuration, you can start viewing your content on the larger monitor screen. Keep in mind that black bars may appear on the sides of the screen as your iPhone’s aspect ratio may not match the monitor’s, preventing full-screen utilization without distortion.
Turning Your iPhone into a Power Bank
While reverse charging has been a feature in other devices for some time, Apple users have recently gained the ability to explore its potential. Now you can use your iPhone to charge other mobile phones, whether they are Apple devices or Android counterparts.
Simply connect the secondary device to your iPhone, and it will automatically initiate the charging process. When connecting another iPhone 15, the devices will determine which one has the greater battery capacity, with the higher-capacity device assuming the role of a power bank. When connecting an older iPhone model, the iPhone 15 will automatically become the power bank, sharing its charge to revive the other device.