Apple can still limit it to 2.0 on the base phones if they wanted to in order to differentiate between Standard and Pro
models.
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All iPhone 15 Models Support DisplayPort for Up to 4K HDR Video Output to External Display
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models.
For all intents and purposes, Apple could’ve just limited the feature to video and limited applications only, as long as they firmly believe iPhone should not be used as an all-purpose computer, no matter how much customers are asking for. As we all know, Apple customer base is extremely loyal and has very low bar in terms of how little Apple delivers. This “DisplayPort“ thing I reckon gonna be one more of those “sigh, it could’ve done so much more”.
From ST Micro:
Each lane is capable of 10 Gbps.
4K 60Hz needs around 12 Gbps. Which should only need 2 lanes.
That leaves the other two lanes for USB 3.1 speed of 10 Gbps.
As far as the DP spec goes, 5K (iPhone can't do this) would push beyond 20 Gbps which would then require all 4 lanes. Which then forces the need to use the dedicated USB 2 pins in the USB-C connector.
So no mux required. The iPhone only needs 2 of the 4 lanes to push 4K60 video.
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After looking at pics of the board, I agree. The A16 board from iPhone 14 Pro only has a USB 2.0 controller on there.
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Good that even the non Pro models are supported
I think that you do need all four lanes for 4K60 with an older DisplayPort 1.2 display, but newer 4K60 displays with DisplayPort 1.4 or DisplayPort 2.0 will work with just two lanes, as you said.
Given that Apple states HDR compatibility, they’ve implemented at least a DisplayPort 1.4 interface, and so there’s very little reason for them to introduce the complexity of a mux.
To put a further nail in the coffin of my mux speculation, the Apple Digital AV adapter also supports 4K60 and 5Gbps SuperSpeed USB, which necessitates splitting the USB Type-C lanes between DisplayPort and SuperSpeed functionality.
Interestingly, the last update to that adapter was just after DisplayPort 1.3 hardware (which supports dual-lane 4K60 but not HDR) hit the market, which may explain why the iPhone 15s can’t output 4K60 HDR through that adapter.
That’s why they are calling it the A17 Pro chip this year. So that they can cut down the feature of the non Pro iPhone 16 next year which will have an “A17” chip. Probably it will only have USB2.0 too. Who knows.
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This is how you’ll play your AAA games on your phones lads. This adapter, along with a xbox/ps5/backbone controller effectively turns your iPhone into the ultimate Nintendo Switch.
Most people didn’t use smartphones until the iPhone, GPS until maps on iPhone, voice control until Siri, etc. If people aren’t using a useful feature it could be because there’s no good implementation out there, and while I’d love a feature like DeX on my iPhone, I’m not going to switch to Android to get it!
I mean Apple’s whole business since the beginning, has thrived off this sort of thing - take a device (e.g. mouse, mp3 player) or feature (e.g. GUI) that’s genuinely useful but no one uses because all the existing implementations are badly designed / user unfriendly, and do it right.
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This. At least some part of the value prob is clear too - take less stuff with you, travel lighter. It doesn't even need to be "perfect", it just needs to be good enough.
I’m interested about what the difference will be between this year’s A17 Pro vs next year’s A17 in the iPhone 16.
Hold your breath waiting for Apple to give the iPhone a desktop mode LOL.
It’s too bad Apple dragged their feet with USB-C and it took the EU to push them. They could’ve replaced lightning a few years ago, perhaps starting with the 11 Pro.
I would say there’s one last software piece of the puzzle to be implemented, “clamshell mode”. When using an external monitor on iPad OS some things still only appear/work on the built in display. This frustration needs to be removed.
To all those thinking that Apple doesn’t implement a DeX-like feature because it would cannibalize Mac and iPad sales, and they don’t innovate anymore, etc… maybe you should ask yourselves why DeX has been here for years and it’s a non-feature for basically everyone.
In reality, connecting your phone with a cable and having an available keyboard + mouse in a context where there’s not a computer is not a feasible scenario. And there are also many functional problems which would be a nightmare: how to handle storage, switching between totally different desktop and phone interface (you don’t want to suddenly loose the context when disconnecting the phone right), etc.
It’s totally different from Stage Manager, because the good thing about SM is that it has the same interface for both touch and mouse interaction, because the size of the display allows that; you can use it with or without a connected display, apps work exactly the same, so basically it works as the same device.
There are so many things to evaluate and test in real world before shipping a feature, and a great idea in mind might just turn out to be a good demo, as in this case.
In reality, connecting your phone with a cable and having an available keyboard + mouse in a context where there’s not a computer is not a feasible scenario. And there are also many functional problems which would be a nightmare: how to handle storage, switching between totally different desktop and phone interface (you don’t want to suddenly loose the context when disconnecting the phone right), etc.
It’s totally different from Stage Manager, because the good thing about SM is that it has the same interface for both touch and mouse interaction, because the size of the display allows that; you can use it with or without a connected display, apps work exactly the same, so basically it works as the same device.
There are so many things to evaluate and test in real world before shipping a feature, and a great idea in mind might just turn out to be a good demo, as in this case.
Well I was holding my breath from 2010 when the square iPod nano was released till 2015 when the Apple Watch was released 😅 It may take a while, but it feels inevitable.
There are already people using stage manager with an iPad, external monitor, keyboard and trackpad. The feature has already shipped in the real world on iPad OS. Bringing it over to iOS isn’t a big leap.
Glad to hear Apple is using one of many features that USB-C offers. I can absolutely see stage manager coming to iOS and that the iPhone will offer what many Androids are doing today, a full desktop experience once docked.
This is exciting stuff, imagine just taking your phone to work and docking it in and being able to continue to work.
Microsoft/Nokia offered this with Windows Phone, Android offeres it and I can only hope Apple packages this into a useful solution.
Have been using stage manager and iPad for a while in a docked solution there is some work that's needed before its working propery. Its getting there but needs better mouse support and a bit of polishing to work.
This is exciting stuff, imagine just taking your phone to work and docking it in and being able to continue to work.
Microsoft/Nokia offered this with Windows Phone, Android offeres it and I can only hope Apple packages this into a useful solution.
Have been using stage manager and iPad for a while in a docked solution there is some work that's needed before its working propery. Its getting there but needs better mouse support and a bit of polishing to work.