Rumor Recap: What to Expect From the iPhone 15's USB-C Port

[mrochester]

I suspect the reason the iPhone 15 will have USB 2.0 speeds is because the A16 has a USB 2.0 controller, and that is likely the SOC you’ll find in the iPhone 15.

Whether the A17 has a USB 2.0 or higher controller is yet to be seen.

I suspect Apple don’t value the port on the iPhone being high speed; there’s really very little need for it since few people will ever use it to transfer large amounts of data, plus it isn’t designed to be plugged into external devices such as hard drives or monitors.

In contrast, the iPad is designed for those functions, hence it is designed with a higher speed controller to facilitate that functionality.

Unless Apple radically changes what it wants the iPhone to be (more computer replacement, like the iPad) then I expect it’ll continue to have a USB 2.0 controller to save on licensing costs.

EDIT - I don’t know why the USB controller speed is getting so confused with cable speeds and standards.

 

[Asbow]

Wrong,

Lightning speaks USB to the computer yes, but there are two buses from the lightning chip to the phone, both of which can switch and not speak USB but other stuff instead iirc.

I took a deep dive into lightning a few years back and it is not just plain and simple USB, there’s more to it than that

Cable or port?

 

[Smartass]

It's basically like buying a brand new fully equipped Mercedes S-class, but you're not getting the new laser lights, instead youre getting the old yellowish bulbs. It's just shameful cost cutting

 

[mrochester]

It's basically like buying a brand new fully equipped Mercedes S-class, but you're not getting the new laser lights, instead youre getting the old yellowish bulbs. It's just shameful cost cutting

The speed will be determined by the USB controller that Apple uses in the SOC. If Apple believes the iPhone only needs USB 2.0 speeds, they will save on licensing costs by only incorporating a USB 2.0 controller.

As a consumer, it’s up to you whether you think having a USB 2.0 controller is reason enough to not buy the product.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Apple don’t have much choice, it’s being forced by EU.

Yes. When faced with tyranny, they decided not to fight it.

 

[tipoo]

Could they, like, update the Magic Mouse to be good instead of just dropping in USB C in another update that doesn't touch anything else?

 

[compwiz1202]

That's 100% Apple's fault because they had USB3.0 Lightning on the first two iPad Pros generations.

Yes the next iPhone could be C but still 2.0. Some Androids are still 2.0, but at least there are also others with higher USB. You just need to research if you want higher.

 

[Sebalto]

Lol. If Apple tries limiting the USB-c in any way whatsoever the EU is going to come down on them like a ton of bricks.

Why? The objective of moving to USB-C is not increased speeds, but less wastage. The EU doesn't care what transfer speed its capable of.

 

[currocj]

No offence, but you said that twice...

but the 2nd time there was an extra carriage return. More dramatic

 

[Zaft]

Yes. When faced with tyranny, they decided not to fight it.

Not much fighting Apple can do..

 

[Victor Mortimer]

That‘s not a problem. USB PD already mandates chips in the cables for higher charging power.


USB PD certified, not Apple.


You can’t be serious…


Well, the law (common charger standard) doesn’t address data speeds, so no.


Already solved, see above.


The EU doesn’t have anything to say wrt. data rates, as this is not covered by the legislation.


Correct. Or rather, Apple can apply whatever, but must still support regular USB PD, so that seem pointless.


Yes.


It could, but only with a custom port with 16 pins. The regular cables only have 8 pins connected through, which isn’t enough.


Yes, but in the legal systems used in the EU, the intent of the law tends to matter a lot.


That’s incorrect. For instance, this legislation only applies up to 100W charging, since that was the USB PD limit at the time. It also specifies other power levels.


Did you actually even read the legislation? It isn‘t very long, actually. You don’t seem to fully know what you’re talking about.

Apple has already been warned that they are not to limit data speeds if they want to continue to sell iPhones in Europe.

EU might ban sales of iPhone if Apple limits speeds on non-MFi USB-C cables

The EU plans to release guidelines on "uniform interpretation" of the legislation by Q3 this year.

www.hardwarezone.com.sg

 

[mrochester]

Apple has already been warned that they are not to limit data speeds if they want to continue to sell iPhones in Europe.

EU might ban sales of iPhone if Apple limits speeds on non-MFi USB-C cables

The EU plans to release guidelines on "uniform interpretation" of the legislation by Q3 this year.

www.hardwarezone.com.sg

Speed will be limited by the USB controller in the SOC, not the cable.

 

[DougiePhresh]

Amazing that this is being so highly touted - a feature that probably less than 1% of all iPhone users will care about.

What? < 1%? 100% of iPhone users are going to care when they realize either (a sweet, I have a million other USB-C cables lying around I can use now or b) what the hell, I have a million Lightening cables now that are useless.

 

[cthompson94]

Apple has already been warned that they are not to limit data speeds if they want to continue to sell iPhones in Europe.

EU might ban sales of iPhone if Apple limits speeds on non-MFi USB-C cables

The EU plans to release guidelines on "uniform interpretation" of the legislation by Q3 this year.

www.hardwarezone.com.sg

This just goes to show you that some lawmakers from anywhere really don't know what they are talking about. Directly from your linked article.
"According to German newspaper Die Zeit, EU commissioner Thierry Breton sent Apple a warning letter to not limit the functionality of USB-C cables."

Apple can't limit the functionality of the cable! If anyone releases a cable that can support say 200W stupid fast charging and uses that cable to say charge their toothbrush it will work..but how dare those toothbrush manufacturers for limiting my fancy cable! The limit (if there is one) will come from the chip and EVERYONE does this already. Companies may support the various PD charging, but I even linked a Developer Q+A from Samsung and here I will do it again. "Apply to WPC certification program including Samsung PPDE(Proprietary Power Delivery Extension) safety compliance test and check if the wireless charger is fully compliant to Samsung Fast Charge specification."

Now my link my be specifically for wireless fast charging, but the same thing happens with wired across every company that gives a fancy name to their new advanced charging. So in my above quote if you do not both do/comply with Samsung's requirements you will not be able to have "Samsung Fast Charge" and you will be defaulted to use probably a QI standard or something tiny like 5W wireless charge.

 

[imola.zhp]

Cool, my current phone charges wirelessly 99.999999999999% of the time. That said I skipped the 14 to wait for a USB-C phone. I may even skip 15 and wait for 16 but I'm no longer buying anything that doesn't use USB-C so this is a step in the right direction even if everyone is pissed about crippling the speeds.

That reminds me... I should start slowly replacing existing non-USB-C items with USB-C equivalents. 🤔

 

[The Game 161]

I just hope we see some gains with fast charging speeds. I've heard wireless it will be 20w but be good if fast charging is over 30w.

 

[sunapple]

That‘s not a problem. USB PD already mandates chips in the cables for higher charging power.


USB PD certified, not Apple.


You can’t be serious…


Well, the law (common charger standard) doesn’t address data speeds, so no.


Already solved, see above.


The EU doesn’t have anything to say wrt. data rates, as this is not covered by the legislation.


Correct. Or rather, Apple can apply whatever, but must still support regular USB PD, so that seem pointless.


Yes.


It could, but only with a custom port with 16 pins. The regular cables only have 8 pins connected through, which isn’t enough.


Yes, but in the legal systems used in the EU, the intent of the law tends to matter a lot.


That’s incorrect. For instance, this legislation only applies up to 100W charging, since that was the USB PD limit at the time. It also specifies other power levels.


Did you actually even read the legislation? It isn‘t very long, actually. You don’t seem to fully know what you’re talking about.

This comment actually summarises the USB-C on iPhone discussions quite well.

 

[anselpela]

Don't need to... That's why we elect people that think for us
😆

That's truly, truly sad. But I don't doubt for a minute that you actually think that way.

 

[anselpela]

Uhm they absolutely have the legal authority to dictate things to Apple within the borders of the EU or are you intentionally not remembering the sideloading & usb laws they just enacted?

I'm intentionally remembering how law works, and passing one specific technology related law does not give the EU blanket authority over things not covered in the laws.

 

[anselpela]

Source for that comment?

You need a source for knowing that wired data transfer is not a thing in 2023, nor has it ever been a thing for most of the iPhone market? Lmao.

 

[anselpela]

That’s incorrect. For instance, this legislation only applies up to 100W charging, since that was the USB PD limit at the time. It also specifies other power levels.

Sigh. No. That's not how it works. Not even close. Why is there no accuracy moderation of this forum? It's so damn damaging to allow people to continuously post false information as if it were true.

 

[seek3r]

Just a bit of knowledge to share to enrich the conversation - there has already been a MFi program around USB-connected devices. The "ExternalAccessory" framework and iAP to let hardware makers enable app use on iOS, and has been around since the 30-pin days.

The Yubikey 5ci (as an easy example) has an SDK and program for partner apps to get direct access, which works whether you connect the key via the 'lightning' end to an iPhone or the 'USB-C' end to a iPad. The other USB data protocols it supports beside iAP (smart card and FIDO CTAP) are also accessible regardless of which end is being used, although those protocols are only accessible to the OS and not directly by apps.

That's truly interesting, I didn't know that part. Today I learned something

 

[Naraxus]

You need a source for knowing that wired data transfer is not a thing in 2023, nor has it ever been a thing for most of the iPhone market? Lmao.

No, I need a source for your claim that "most people don't". Your statements don't make it fact.

 

[Naraxus]

I'm intentionally remembering how law works, and passing one specific technology related law does not give the EU blanket authority over things not covered in the laws.

Tell me you don't know how governments or laws work without telling me you don't know.

 

[anselpela]

Tell me you don't know how governments or laws work without telling me you don't know.

Says the person who needs "sources" to prove to him that iPhone users don't do wired data transfer. I don't think you have much left to say that I'm interested in reading. Welcome to ignore.