With the arrival of the iPhone 15, Apple has said goodbye to the lightning port. It was replaced by USB-C so that the company complies with the new European legislation. However, the port has certain limitations and a certified cable is required.
While all iPhone 15 models feature USB-C ports instead of Lightning, the faster transfer speeds will be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models. That’s not the only limitation, though – you’ll also need to use official Apple cables to take full advantage of the USB-C port.
USB-C is the new standard
In the fall of 2023, Apple will begin the transition from Lightning to USB-C to comply with new European legislation. The law requires manufacturers to equip new products with USB-C from 2024.
Thanks to the new law, all ‘portable’ devices will be equipped with the same standard. This means that you only need one charging cable for all your devices, or so you would think. Apple has other plans.
Apple’s own charging cables
Do you already own several USB-C cables? Then you can also use them on future iPhone models. Apple does not have a specific MFi Certification (Made for iPhone) announced for accessories and chargers that connect to the iPhone 15 or later.
Made for iPhone (MFI)
Apple’s Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod (MFI) program is a certification program for manufacturers of accessories designed to work with iPhone, iPad, or iPod. The goal of the program is to ensure that these accessories meet Apple’s technical specifications and performance standards and provide a good user experience for consumers.
To gain access to the MFI program, manufacturers must apply to Apple and meet certain requirements, such as having a business registration and adhering to Apple’s Supplier Code of Conduct. They must also pass technical specifications and performance tests to ensure their products work well with Apple devices.
When a manufacturer is accepted into the MFI program, they gain access to technical support and tools to facilitate the development of accessories. They also gain the right to use the MFI logo on their products to indicate that they meet Apple’s requirements.
Consumers can trust that products with the MFI logo work well with their Apple devices and are safe and reliable. Using non-certified accessories may result in performance issues, damage to the device, and may even void the warranty.
Currently, the MFI program is used for MagSafe and Lightning accessories, among others.
USB-C port not so universal after all
The new iPhone 15 does have a USB-C port, but requires special cables to take advantage of all the benefits. If the cable is not certified, data and charging speeds may be limited. There is also a chance that some accessories will not work.
This makes that universal connection not so universal anymore. Most likely charging at a lower speed will not be a problem, but if you really want to get ‘everything’ out of the port of your iPhone 15 Pro (Max) you will have to buy a more expensive cable.
The iPhone 15 (Plus) has a USB-C port with support for USB 2 (up to 480 Mbps). The Pro models support USB 3 (up to 10 Gbps). To reach this maximum, you will need a more powerful USB-C cable, such as a Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable.