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

[MacRumors]

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

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.

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

 

[MayaUser]

like i said to the post of week ago with the usbC parts (if the leaks are from iphones parts not from ipads)...its clear it will be thunderbolt probably for both 15 pros

 

[jasheeky]

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!

 

[johnmarki]

🤞 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.

 

[contacos]

Would be insane not to. Imagine synching a 2 TB iPhone

 

[mnsportsgeek]

This will be nice on the rare occasion I take a long video and don’t want to wait for it to upload to the cloud.

 

[PeterKeller]

Yeah, my iPad Pro M1 apparently has a Thunderbolt port and I've never gotten anywhere close to those speeds copying files to/from a Thunderbolt SSD drive (which gives me excellent speeds connected to my Mac).
So call me skeptical.

 

[Yujenisis]

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.

 

[DailySlow]

iPad mini 6 uses USB 3.1 for it's USB C charge/hub port/ And I too back up to an HD via connection to Mac. My phone (12) using lightning/USB takes a long time to backup. The iPad is done in matter of seconds. That's accomplished usual a USB C charging cable running through a converter to USB A.

 

[TrenttonY]

iOS still doesn’t even allow you to transfer content by wire from the Files.app yet. 🤣

 

[therunningman]

GOOD NIGHT that would be cool!

 

[SactoGuy18]

I still wished that the regular iPhone 15 supports USB 3.2 1x1 (5 Gbps Certified) connections and the iPhone 15 Pro models supports USB 3.2 2x2 (20 Gbps Certified) connections.

 

[sunapple]

Even if the average user won’t use it, any increase in speed does sound cool for marketing purposes. A loot cooler than ‘we had to comply with EU regulations’.

 

[Ethosik]

You can’t have it two ways Apple. If you market your phone as a pro device that can record at ProRes, but it takes a day to transfer a video from it, it’s not a good look. WiFi isn’t much better. Even iPhone 13 Pro with WiFi 6 setup my transfer speeds are around 35 MB/s.

 

[jent]

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.

 

[FaustsHausUK]

I still wished that the regular iPhone 15 supports USB 3.2 1x1 (5 Gbps Certified) connections and the iPhone 15 Pro models supports USB 3.2 2x2 (20 Gbps Certified) connections.

Why? USB4 exists - basically Thunderbolt 3, which would give you up to 40 Gbit/s. The Pros, on which you can capture ridiculously high quality photos and videos (i.e. large files) would definitely benefit from that.

 

[Ethosik]

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.

as was posted earlier. This is an industry problem not an Apple problem specifically. Android phones do this too. Maybe not all, I can’t try out every Android out there.

 

[CWallace]

TB4 or USB4 at up to 40Gbps is fine with me. Since I am all TB4, anyway, I'd prefer TB4 "just because".

I do agree with those who say that Apple capping the non-Pro iPhone models at 480Mbps is consumer unfriendly. However, I believe I have read that speed limitation is only with non-MFI certified cables and that MFI-certified will support higher speeds (5GBps?).

And yes, one can argue that Apple demanding their $2 license fee for an MFI cable is greedy, but MFI-certification will help Apple comply with future security-related laws like the EU's upcoming Cyber Resilience Act and considering how scrambled USB-C cable quality can be, one could equally argue that requiring MFI-certified cables for best performance does ensure a positive customer experience.

 

[JosephAW]

Would be happy just to have USB three speeds with lightning connector. What year is it? 2000?

 

[cyanite]

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.

That's not artificial. Lightning only has 8 pins (two lanes), and can't support higher speeds, at least not very much higher. Only the special lightning port and accessory in an iPad could do more.

 

[coffeemilktea]

Transferring cat pictures to the Photos app on my Mac is going to be so fast now. 😎

 

[macduke]

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.

 

[blazerunner]

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!

LMFAO!

And people still pretend like Apple is some kind of tech leader.

 

[TSE]

Pro vs. Non-Pro. Customers will love it! Gotta pay up for that quality and I'm lovin' it. #AAPL

 

[vegetassj4]

Leaked hidden Promo for the iPhone 15 w/ Thunderbolt. Has a retro vibe to it: