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

iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Coming Next Week With These New Features for Your iPhone

Friday February 14, 2025 6:18 am PST by
The first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner, and the update is expected to include many new features and changes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iOS 18.4 beta to be released by next week. Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far. Apple Intelligence for Siri Siri is expected to get several enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence on iOS...
iPhone 17 Roundup Feature 2

iPhone Design to Change 'Significantly' This Year

Monday February 17, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple is set to "significantly change" the iPhone's design language later this year, according to a Weibo leaker. In a new post, the user known "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone's design is "starting to change significantly" this year. The "iPhone 17 Air" reportedly features a "horizontal, bar-shaped" design on the rear, likely referring to an elongated camera bump. On the other...
Apple Maps 2024

Apple Maps Might Start Showing Ads

Sunday February 16, 2025 7:22 am PST by
Apple is "exploring" the idea of showing search ads in the Apple Maps app, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Back in 2022, Gurman said software engineering was "already underway" to display ads in the Apple Maps app, but Apple did not move forward with the idea at the time. Today, he said Apple is "giving this notion more thought" again. This time around, he said Apple has yet to...
apple launch feb 2025 alt

What to Expect From the 'Apple Launch' Next Week

Thursday February 13, 2025 11:48 am PST by
Apple has yet to announce any new devices this year, but that could change starting next week. Apple CEO Tim Cook today said to "get ready" for a "launch" on Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," said Cook, in a social media post. The post includes an #AppleLaunch hashtag, along with a short video featuring an animated Apple logo inside of a circle....
m2 pro mac mini

Apple is Now Selling a Refurbished Mac Mini for Just $319 (!)

Saturday February 15, 2025 9:58 am PST by
A few days ago, we reported that Apple's refurbished Mac mini pricing had a problem, and it appears that Apple has taken note. Apple was offering a refurbished Mac mini with the M2 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for $559, which was $50 more than a refurbished Mac mini with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. All other key specifications were equal. That's no longer...
iPhone 17 Pro Render Front Page Tech

iPhone 17 Pro With All-New Camera Bar Design Allegedly Revealed

Thursday February 13, 2025 5:49 pm PST by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro will feature three rear cameras arranged in a familiar triangular layout, but the cameras will be housed in an all-new rectangular camera bar with rounded corners, according to YouTube channel Front Page Tech. iPhone 17 Pro camera design render created by Asher for Front Page Tech In a video uploaded today, Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser said the camera ...
Tim Cook Apple Park

10+ Announcements Apple Could Have Rolled Into a February Event

Saturday February 15, 2025 8:00 am PST by
Apple appears to have enough upcoming product announcements to justify a full event this month, yet all signs indicate these reveals will be handled through a series of press releases instead. There are a multitude of rumors from reliable sources about specific announcements in the coming weeks, so here's everything that Apple could have feasibly included in a hypothetical February event: ...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

Apple's Next iPhone SE Launching on Wednesday - Here's What We Know

Friday February 14, 2025 4:04 pm PST by
Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an Apple announcement that's coming on Wednesday, February 19, and it's looking like that mystery announcement will be the next-generation iPhone SE. We've been hearing about the iPhone SE 4 for quite some time now, and we essentially know everything to expect. If you want a sneak peek at what's coming, read on. Naming Apple first introduced the iPhone SE in...

Top Rated Comments

jasheeky Avatar
20 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
20 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
20 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
20 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
20 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
20 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)