iPhone 15 series tipped to feature super-fast 40Gbps Thunderbolt USB-C port

Published On: August 18, 2023

Highlights

New images have revealed the USB-C sockets of the iPhone 15 series which point towards a major improvement for the device.
A Thunderbolt USB-C port means much faster transfer speeds as compared to a Lightning port.
Information on whether Apple will limit certain functionality to its MFi program accessories is still unconfirmed.

Apple‘s proprietary Lightning connector is being phased out as the brand will now put USB-C ports in the new iPhone 15 series and AirPods Pro. This move is thanks to the EU rules that require all smartphones to launch with a USB-C connection type in the region. Apple is following through but a new leak has revealed that the brand may be going all out by providing the latest standards and fast transfer speeds.

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iPhone 15 USB-C component shown in pictures

New live images of the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max’s USB-C connector and PCB board come from a report by ChargerLab. The publication has also made certain revelations based on what they could find out from these images. All three iPhone 15 models mentioned above seem to feature the same USB-C socket hardware.

iPhone 15 series USB-C ports

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Surprisingly, this socket features a “Retimer chip” which the publication says is commonly found in devices with a USB4 or Thunderbolt-spec USB-C port. This chip provides stability for high-speed transmissions and ensures a smooth transfer between longer distances, all of which point towards the iPhone 15 series featuring these standards.

Thunderbolt and USB4 allow fast transfers but Apple’s MFi program might limit the same

To recall, the Lightning port is based on USB 2.0 standard and allows just 480mbps of maximum transfer speed on the iPhone 14. Thunderbolt or a USB4 specification on the other hand will allow the iPhone 15 series to have wired transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps which is on par with high-end laptops and tablets that feature the same hardware. It would not be surprising if Apple limits the functionality of these ports through its MFi program which allows only certain accessory-makers certified by Apple to make compatible products.

This would mean that your standard USB4 or Thunderbolt-supporting cables might not make full use of the fast transfer speed and other capabilities unless it’s one that is MFi certified. However, you will still be able to charge your new iPhone with most USB-C cables which is beneficial and cost-saving in the long term for most users. Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone 15 series is expected to be unveiled on September 13th with a Periscope zoom camera on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Dynamic Island for the standard iPhone 15.