Apple introduced iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models along with iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. The USB-C port that comes with the new iPhones seems to be a hot topic of discussion.

Reaching millions of viewers at the live broadcast event, Apple also introduced the USB-C port, which it used for the first time with the new iPhones. Of course, using this port is a positive development for Apple and users, but there is also a trick. We share that issue with you.


USB-C but which USB-C?

As those who are interested know, USB is the abbreviation of "Universal Serial Bus". USB, which stands for "Universal Serial Bus", is a serial connection format that allows external equipment to be connected to computers or iPhone 15s, which are the regulars of our subject. A group of seven companies started developing USB in 1995: Compaq, DEC, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, NEC and Nortel. The first integrated circuits supporting USB were produced by Intel in 1995. The USB 1.0 version, released in January 1996, offered users 1.5 Mbit/s speeds. After intermediate revisions, USB 2.0 was released in April 2000, enabling higher speeds of 480 Mbit/s. After further interim revisions, the USB 3.0 specification was released in November 2008, opening the door to theoretical speeds of 5 Gbit/s. This was followed by USB 3.1 with 10 Gbit/sec in 2013, USB 3.2 with 20 Gbit/sec in 2017 and USB4 with 40 Gbit/sec in 2019.

In smartphones, we have been seeing USB 3.1 speeds in the Premium segment for some time. USB 3 is only available on iPhone 15 Pro.

Back to Apple, we see that the company uses the USB-C connector in the USB 2 standard (up to 480 Mbps) on the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models use the USB 3 (up to 10Gbps) standard.

It's unclear exactly why Apple stuck with the USB 2 standard on the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. However, this may be related to the A16 Bionic chip used in flat iPhone 15s. Because the Lightning connector in the previous generation, i.e. iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, actually had data transfer rates of 480 Mbps at USB 2.0 level. On the other hand, the transfer rate in the previous generation iPhones was also limited to 480 Mbps. Whatever the excuse, it is ridiculous that the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, which appeal to the premium segment, now have USB 2 speeds.