Here's How Fast USB-C Ports Are on iPads and Macs Ahead of iPhone 15

It's nearly September, meaning that new iPhones are just around the corner. All four upcoming iPhone 15 models are widely expected to be equipped with a USB-C port instead of Lightning, but there may be speed differences across the lineup.

iPhone 15 Blue USB C Feature
In November 2022, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the USB-C port on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max would support at least the USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3 specifications for data transfer speeds up to 20 or 40 Gbps. Kuo said the USB-C port on the lower-end iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models would remain limited to USB 2.0 speeds of up to 480 Mbps, which is the same speed as Lightning on existing iPhones.

All current-generation iPad and Mac models already have USB-C ports with varying speeds:

Device USB-C Specification
All current Mac models
Thunderbolt (Up to 40 Gbps)
iPad Pro (2021 and 2022)
Thunderbolt (Up to 40 Gbps)
iPad Pro (2018 and 2020)
USB 3.1 Gen 2 (Up to 10 Gbps)
iPad Air (2022)
USB 3.1 Gen 2 (Up to 10 Gbps)
iPad Air (2020)
USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Up to 5 Gbps)
iPad mini (2021)
USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Up to 5 Gbps)
iPad (2022)
USB 2.0 (Up to 480 Mbps)

The rumored speeds for the iPhone 15 lineup:

Device USB-C Specification
iPhone 15 Pro Max
USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt (Up to 20 or 40 Gbps)
iPhone 15 Pro
USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt (Up to 20 or 40 Gbps)
iPhone 15 Plus
USB 2.0 (Up to 480 Mbps)
iPhone 15
USB 2.0 (Up to 480 Mbps)
iPhones with Lightning
USB 2.0 (Up to 480 Mbps)

Higher speeds allow for faster data transfer over a USB-C or Thunderbolt cable, such as when exporting photos from an iPhone to a Mac.

Rumors suggest that Apple will include a new braided USB-C cable with all iPhone 15 models, but the cable might remain limited to USB 2.0 speeds. This means that customers purchasing an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max would need to purchase a higher-spec cable separately to take advantage of the faster speeds that are rumored.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 15 series at an event that is rumored to be planned for Tuesday, September 12. Apple has yet to officially announce the event, but invites will likely go out in the next week or two.

Related Roundup: iPhone 15
Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

3530025 Avatar
25 months ago

i

indeed and very strange...or Apple is thinking going port-less after 4-5 years of usbC iPhones
Going portless is against environment.
Wireless charging is very inefficient compared to the cable. And always will be.
Score: 45 Votes (Like | Disagree)
3530025 Avatar
25 months ago

how can be wireless charging very inefficient compared for decades of 5W charging?!
yes if we compare todays usbC to wireless, you are right....but wireless is the way, in the car in the furniture in everything 20 years from now
Physics 101
Copper wire electricity transfer is just very efficient compared to the induction wireless one.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
3530025 Avatar
25 months ago

Im sorry, but the world that works around logic of physics 101 are gone...today people are all about convenient and not caring about the environment , only cave men doesnt see, or know this
Ah sorry then. I did not know physics stopped applying in this world already.

Enough of internet for today I guess...
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fatTribble Avatar
25 months ago

how can be wireless charging very inefficient compared with decades of 5W charging?!
yes if we compare todays usbC to wireless, you are right....but wireless is the way, in the car in the furniture in everything 20 years from now
Wireless charging requires more electricity than wired charging.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fatTribble Avatar
25 months ago

true, very true...but in the cars we all use wireless charging...sorry but the world is not thinking about environment, they are thinking about themselves..
I live in a different world, thankfully.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
centauratlas Avatar
25 months ago

i

indeed and very strange...or Apple is thinking going port-less after 4-5 years of usbC iPhones
Portless is a bad idea for many reasons. Inefficiency, meaning that one is required to use wireless headphones, have the phone against your head or speaker.

Let's hope that doesn't happen.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)