PSA: An iPhone 15 Can Charge Another iPhone

[SirChristopher]

I just bought the new iPhone 15 Pro Max - upgrading from a 13 Pro mainly for the cameras and more screen real estate. My car's charging port is a USB-A. When I searched for USB-A to USB-C charging cables the other day I was surprised to see Apple doesn't sell one. I searched a bit further and didn't find much else out there - does such a cable not exist?

 

[Chuckeee]

This just brings to mind some sort of weird iPhone vampire. A mysterious iPhone that only comes out at night to suck the juice out of innocent defenseless other iPhones, and the only way that this iPhone vampire could be slayed is by driving a stake through its A17 heart.

I guess I should probably get out more.

 

[jaytv111]

I just bought the new iPhone 15 Pro Max - upgrading from a 13 Pro mainly for the cameras and more screen real estate. My car's charging port is a USB-A. When I searched for USB-A to USB-C charging cables the other day I was surprised to see Apple doesn't sell one. I searched a bit further and didn't find much else out there - does such a cable not exist?

An Apple cable does not exist. However, if you search for USB-A to USB-C cable, you can find many such cables (they are also in stores like Best Buy or Walmart).

For example, here’s from Belkin (you don’t need to buy from Belkin): https://www.belkin.com/usb-c-to-usb-a-cable/P-CAB001.html

 

[davidg4781]

I'm curious if I can charge my iPhone via MagSafe then run a cable from iPhone to Apple Watch or AirPods. This way, I just have one port being used on my wall plug.

 

[FeliApple]

Wait, can I charge my iPhone Xʀ with my iPad Air 5 with a lightning to usb-c cable then?

 

[LeeW]

I don't like anyone enough to let them drain my battery.

 

[JitteryJimmy]

I'd much rather ask the Pixel user to charge up all my device, thank you.

 

[kerr]

I just wish Apple sold smaller braided cables, say 12" (0.3m) and/or 20" (0.5m), they would be more convenient to carry with you.

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

You need a USB-C cable to do this?

Meanwhile...

There are sooooo many things that Androids do better these days. So many that it's now simply ridiculous. It's finally becoming untenable for me to stick with the inertia of staying with an iPhone. Waiting to see what the Pixel 8 looks like in the next couple of weeks.

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

It's a female-to-female plug, so they'd have to adopt.

Data might well be binary, but charge is non-binary

 

[svish]

Good to have this feature. Can be useful in case of emergency. Charging speed could have been higher

 

[George Dawes]

Excellent, now I can drain two iPhones instead of one

Progress !?

 

[Wildkraut]

But will it stop at 80%?

When the one is 80% charged, or the other 80% discharged?

 

[pete1]

If you are on a plane that doesn't have smartphone charging capabilities in 2023, you have bigger problems than making a phone call. 😊

I took an Easyjet flight yesterday, and while the plane is clean and modern, it surprisingly doesn’t have any USB ports.

 

[Mother Nature]

In the wireless world of wireless charging this is just embarrassing.

Reverse wireless charging is completely usless unless you allign your phone and other device perfectly and are not going to use them.

This wired way is more versatile.

 

[alexandr]

Reverse wireless charging is completely usless unless you allign your phone and other device perfectly and are not going to use them.

This wired way is more versatile.

Oh, but they could have the MagSafes click together nicely! There could be like a flat ring that sells for $19

I'm sure wired is better — it usually is with everything, but we're in a wireless age now and I don't want to have to carry a cable with me. They could have BOTH, really.

 

[Yandawg]

Does anyone know if you will be able to transfer data between lightning iphone and usb-c iphone? I am just wondering if it will be an option to transfer everything from my 14PM to my 15PM faster than mall wifi or cell will using a usb-c to lightning cable.

 

[bigheaddoug]

So now instead of stealing my charger, my kids will steal my phone.

 

[BrandoCalrissian]

What would happen if the phone were connected to a MagSafe charger while another phone was plugged in?

 

[JeffNT326]

What would happen if the phone were connected to a MagSafe charger while another phone was plugged in?

I tested this using the MagSafe Duo and can confirm this works.

Setup: MagSafe Duo —> iPhone 15 Pro Max —> usb-c to lightning cable —> iPhone 12 Pro

I even received the “trust this computer?” message on the iPhone 12.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I still want to know if the iPhone 15 can charge itself via MagSafe.

Way late but a good point, they probably did built in this safety check. Would drain the battery really fast, I'd think.

 

[jaytv111]

Way late but a good point, they probably did built in this safety check. Would drain the battery really fast, I'd think.

Magsafe needs 12 watts, iPhone 15 supplies 4.5 watts. Therefore it won’t start the Magsafe charging.

 

[bag99001]

I just bought the new iPhone 15 Pro Max - upgrading from a 13 Pro mainly for the cameras and more screen real estate. My car's charging port is a USB-A. When I searched for USB-A to USB-C charging cables the other day I was surprised to see Apple doesn't sell one. I searched a bit further and didn't find much else out there - does such a cable not exist?.

Tons of choices on Amazon. I got some and they work fine in my car.