Images Suggest Some iPhone 15 Models Could Feature Thunderbolt Data Transfer Speeds

Some iPhone 15 models will be equipped with a Thunderbolt/USB 4 retimer chip for high-speed data transfer, according to ChargerLab.

iphone 15 thunderbolt retima chip
Following last week's leak of alleged images of the ‌iPhone 15‌'s USB-C port components, ChargerLab has seen further images of the parts and believes that they show an integrated circuit (IC) for Thunderbolt data transfer speeds.

The IC, known as a retimer, rebuilds signals and mitigates jitter. It augments signal transmission stability for high-capacity data ports and extends transmission ranges. Such chips are seen in other Thunderbolt/USB 4 devices, and ChargerLab believes it is clearly identifiable on the ‌iPhone 15‌'s USB-C components.

All four ‌iPhone 15‌ models are expected to feature USB-C instead of Lightning. The ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models with USB-C ports are expected to support higher-speed data transfers, likely up to Thunderbolt speeds, while the standard ‌iPhone 15‌ models will likely continue to feature USB 2.0 speeds – the same as Lightning. For comparison, the iPad Pro features a Thunderbolt port for transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps, while the entry-level iPad's USB-C port is limited to just 480 Mbps.

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday June 12, 2025 8:58 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
iPadOS 26 App Windowing

Apple Explains Why iPads Don't Just Run macOS

Friday June 13, 2025 7:46 am PDT by
iPadOS 26 allows iPads to function much more like Macs, with a new app windowing system, a swipe-down menu bar at the top of the screen, and more. However, Apple has stopped short of allowing iPads to run macOS, and it has now explained why. In an interview this week with Swiss tech journalist Rafael Zeier, Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi said that iPadOS 26's new Mac-like ...
iOS 26 Screens

Here Are All the iOS 26 Features That Require iPhone 15 Pro or Newer

Thursday June 12, 2025 4:53 am PDT by
With iOS 26, Apple has introduced some major changes to the iPhone experience, headlined by the new Liquid Glass redesign that's available across all compatible devices. However, several of the update's features are exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models, since they rely on Apple Intelligence. The following features are powered by on-device large language models and machine...
apple beta 26 lineup

Apple 'Sherlocked' These Apps at WWDC 2025

Wednesday June 11, 2025 7:14 am PDT by
Apple at WWDC previewed a bunch of new features coming in its updated operating systems, but certain changes will have been met with dismay by third-party developers who already offer apps with equivalent or similar features. In other words, their product has been "sherlocked" by Apple. When Apple creates an app or a feature that has functionality found in a third-party app, it is referred...
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

Hate iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design? Here's How to Tone It Down

Wednesday June 11, 2025 4:22 pm PDT by
iOS 26 features a whole new design material that Apple calls Liquid Glass, with a focus on transparency that lets the content on your display shine through the controls. If you're not a fan of the look, or are having trouble with readability, there is a step that you can take to make things more opaque without entirely losing out on the new look. Apple has multiple Accessibility options that ...
maxresdefault

Everything Apple Announced at WWDC 2025 in 10 Minutes

Monday June 9, 2025 5:21 pm PDT by
At today's WWDC 2025 keynote event, Apple unveiled a new design that will inform the next decade of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS development, so needless to say, it was a busy day. Apple also unveiled a ton of new features for the iPhone, an overhauled Spotlight interface for the Mac, and a ton of updates that make the iPad more like a Mac than ever before. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel ...
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

Apple to Let iPhone Users Watch Videos on CarPlay Screen While Parked

Thursday June 12, 2025 6:16 am PDT by
Apple this week announced that iPhone users will soon be able to watch videos right on the CarPlay screen in supported vehicles. iPhone users will be able to wirelessly stream videos to the CarPlay screen using AirPlay, according to Apple. For safety reasons, video playback will only be available when the vehicle is parked, to prevent distracted driving. The connected iPhone will be able to...
iOS 26 Apple Wallet Boarding Passes

Apple Lists 10 Airlines Set to Offer iOS 26's Upgraded Boarding Passes

Wednesday June 11, 2025 11:28 am PDT by
As we previously reported, iOS 26 enhances Apple Wallet app boarding passes in a few ways. First, the passes now support Live Activities, allowing you to keep track of a flight at a glance on your iPhone's Lock Screen, and in the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro and newer. In addition, new shortcuts below the passes provide one-tap access to Apple Maps for airport directions, and to the Find...

Top Rated Comments

jasheeky Avatar
24 months ago
15 years after the release of USB 3.0 in Nov 2008, we are finally getting an iPhone with data transfer speeds in excess of USB 2.0!
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jent Avatar
24 months ago
Instead of being happy about this news, we should be more reflective and realize Apple's decision to artificially cap its modern phones to USB 2.0 speeds shouldn't have happened. I don't understand how their current 2022 model, using a cable they designed (Lightning), is using a standard/speed released in 2000 and that was replaced in 2008. When they switch this year's models to USB-C if they artificially cap even the cheapest model to USB 2.0 speeds, I'll be disappointed but not surprised.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Yujenisis Avatar
24 months ago

15 years after the release of USB 3.0 in Nov 2008, we are finally getting an iPhone with data transfer speeds in excess of USB 2.0!
It is pretty wild. I did a cursory look at Android phones and it appears even with the adoption of USB-C, every phone I looked at still uses USB 2.0 - even the brand new top of the line Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Maybe Apple’s move will lead other manufacturers to follow suit because this is ridiculously overdue.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
johnmarki Avatar
24 months ago
? Please be true! ? I'm one of the few people that still backup my files to a physical drive in my possession. I also have my own NAS that I use as a cloud for my devices, but thunderbolt transfer speeds would be incredible on the iPhone, and would make editing photos and video so much better. I'm very disappointed in Apple that they would shackle (potentially) other consumers to USB 2 speeds just because (for iCloud marketing purposes). There is no excuse for this that can be justified...if the USB 2.0 speeds rumor is true.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TrenttonY Avatar
24 months ago
iOS still doesn’t even allow you to transfer content by wire from the Files.app yet. ?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
24 months ago
It’s hilarious to me that the base iPhone will be upgraded to USB-C but still have the same transfer speed as the Pentium II PC my grandpa bought in 1998 that I learned how to build websites on.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)