I am writing to caution users who are specifically interested in the Pro model for its USB 3 connectivity but may not prioritize other upgrades, such as the 5x lens, 8GB RAM, Titanium frame, etc.
It appears that the USB 3 speed (10Gbps or 5Gbps, depending on the paired device) is primarily noticeable when connecting the 15 Pro/Max to an external storage device, such as a portable SSD.
However, if you are hoping for USB 3 to accelerate file transfers using the system file explorer (PC), iTunes (PC and Mac), or third-party file management tools (like i4Tools on PC), or if you expect faster iTunes backup/restore to USB 3 standards, you may be disappointed, as, in most cases, the speed remains at USB 2.0 levels.
I hope to be proven wrong, but currently, this seems to be the prevailing situation.
References:
It appears that the USB 3 speed (10Gbps or 5Gbps, depending on the paired device) is primarily noticeable when connecting the 15 Pro/Max to an external storage device, such as a portable SSD.
However, if you are hoping for USB 3 to accelerate file transfers using the system file explorer (PC), iTunes (PC and Mac), or third-party file management tools (like i4Tools on PC), or if you expect faster iTunes backup/restore to USB 3 standards, you may be disappointed, as, in most cases, the speed remains at USB 2.0 levels.
I hope to be proven wrong, but currently, this seems to be the prevailing situation.
References:
- Discussions related to this issue can be found in the following post: iPhone 15 Pro USB-C Definitely Not Operating at USB 3.2 Gen 1 Speeds (10Gbps); Data Transfer is Still Just as Slow as USB 2.0/Lightning Cable.
- Comment section of this video (https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1WC4y1o7MW/): The video features a user inquiring why he can only achieve USB 2.0 speeds even with a proper 3.0 cable. Someone in the comments suggested that only OTG (with an external storage device) can activate the USB 3 speeds, which aligns with my personal experience.
