USB-C iPhone speed will be limited if you use non-MFi cables, claims the leaker

Those of us who have waited impatiently for the USB-C iPhone, so we can finally use one set of cables for all our Apple devices, will have our wish in this year’s iPhone 15 lineup. But a leaker with a proven track record warns that there may be a catch.

ShrimpApplePro, who got the hardware details right for the iPhone 14, says we’ll need to use MFi’s new line of USB-C cables to get full functionality…

Apple’s switch to USB-C

Apple began the transition to USB-C with Macs, the MacBook 12-inch was the first model to return the new port in 2015. The company joined the USB-C ports in the MacBook Pro a year later. before stepping back a bit in 2021 by bringing back MagSafe, HDMI, and SD card slots.

The iPad switched from Lightning to USB-C in 2018, with the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models.

But the iPhone continued to use the Lightning port until the current iPhone 14. This is about to change with the iPhone 15, when Apple will replace lightning with USB-C for phone charging and data transfer.

USB-C iPhone connector

However, ShrimpApplePro – who established credibility with Dynamic Island and iPhone 14 RAM leaks – said that there will be a catch.

Yes usb-c with MFI is happening. Foxconn is already into consumer electronics like EarPods and cables […] Cables w no MFI will be software limited in data and charging speed.

We already expect the base model of the iPhone 15, and the iPhone 15 Plus, to have their data transfer speed to USB 2.0 – while the Pro models will have a speed transfer.

Kuo said the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will retain the same USB 2.0 transfer speeds as Lightning. This means that the data transfer speed can be taken at 480 Mbps. This continues Apple’s strategy of further diversifying the iPhone lineup between Pro and non-Pro models.

So, Kuo reports that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max (or Ultra?) will feature “at least USB-C 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3” data transfer speeds. USB-C 3.2 can increase data transfer speeds to over 20 Gbps, while Thunderbolt 3 will increase that to 40 Gbps.

But if this new report is true, then Pro models will have these speeds only if you use official Apple cables, or third-party cables with MFi certification. Phone charging speeds will also be limited without proper cables.

This may possibly mean that we he can’t use all our USB-C cables if we want to get the full power from the two Pro models.

9to5Mac’s Title

USB-C has always been hot, both for data transfer and charging. It has a balance body format, but access to USB-C ports and cables is nothing more than an example.

When it comes to data transfer, the same physical ports and cables can give you anything from zero (in the cable connected for charging but not data) through 480Mbps to 40Gbps. For power, you need to know if your cable supports USB-C Power Delivery (USB-C PD) – and if so, which version?

Apple offers limited data transfer speeds to Pro models, as Kuo points out, it seems possible. But requiring an MFi-chipped USB-C cable to get full speed on these models would seem like a step too far to me. There is considerably Apple customers who have third-party USB-C cables we happily use with our Macs and iPads, so Apple has turned around and required us to replace them in order to enable the new iPhone 15 Pro light will be . a slap in the face.

We hope this report is wrong, but it sounds like Apple-like worries these days…