USB-C Charging: Apple iPhones to support USB-C charging: Why the change, what it means for iPhone users and speeds
The new iPhones are here. One of the biggest changes, that many term monumental, is support for USB-C charging. Here’s all that the support for USB-C charging in new iPhones means for users and more.
Why Apple has moved to USB-C charging
To comply with the demands of European regulators who last year passed a rule mandating USB-C charging across electronic devices. The EU made USB-C charging mandatory citing environmental reasons. Apple initially resisted, but soon kinda gave up. Apple senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak told the Wall Street Journal the company will comply with the mandate as it has “no choice.”
Which all Apple products support USB-C charging
All Apple’s latest-generation devices support USB-C charging. These include iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max; Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2; Earbuds; and Apple AirPods 2.
What the move to USB-C charging means for iPhone users
For the average iPhone user, change means that when Apple customers buy their next iPhones, they will no longer be able to plug in all the Lightning accessories they have including charging cables, speaker docks and earbuds with them. They will have to replace those with new products that use USB-C connectors to plug into the new iPhones. But yes, they can use any Android USB-C charging cable, they no longer require the proprietary Apple cables.
What about the speeds
During the event, Apple did not disclose any details about the transfer speeds for iPhone 15. However, technical details on Apple’s website show that the USB-C speed for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will be equivalent to USB 2.0, which translates to a data transfer speed of 480 Mbps, just like the Lightning port. It is higher for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple states that the high-end models will be capable of transfer speeds up to 10GB via USB-C 3.2, which is the format the company is following.
Can you buy a USB-C cable from Apple
Yes, you can. There are several first-party and third-party options available on Apple’s online store.
Why Apple has moved to USB-C charging
To comply with the demands of European regulators who last year passed a rule mandating USB-C charging across electronic devices. The EU made USB-C charging mandatory citing environmental reasons. Apple initially resisted, but soon kinda gave up. Apple senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak told the Wall Street Journal the company will comply with the mandate as it has “no choice.”
Which all Apple products support USB-C charging
All Apple’s latest-generation devices support USB-C charging. These include iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max; Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2; Earbuds; and Apple AirPods 2.
What the move to USB-C charging means for iPhone users
For the average iPhone user, change means that when Apple customers buy their next iPhones, they will no longer be able to plug in all the Lightning accessories they have including charging cables, speaker docks and earbuds with them. They will have to replace those with new products that use USB-C connectors to plug into the new iPhones. But yes, they can use any Android USB-C charging cable, they no longer require the proprietary Apple cables.
What about the speeds
During the event, Apple did not disclose any details about the transfer speeds for iPhone 15. However, technical details on Apple’s website show that the USB-C speed for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will be equivalent to USB 2.0, which translates to a data transfer speed of 480 Mbps, just like the Lightning port. It is higher for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple states that the high-end models will be capable of transfer speeds up to 10GB via USB-C 3.2, which is the format the company is following.
Can you buy a USB-C cable from Apple
Yes, you can. There are several first-party and third-party options available on Apple’s online store.
