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iPhone 15 Models Support USB-C to Ethernet for Faster Internet Speeds

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Following the launch of the iPhone 15 series today, a few readers of our website have reached out to highlight that the devices support USB-C to Ethernet adapters, allowing for a wired internet connection with faster download speeds than Wi-Fi.

iPhone-15-Pro-Ethernet.jpg
iPhone 15 Pro connected to an Ethernet cable via former MacRumors editor turned car reviewer Jordan Golson​

Apple confirmed this information in a support document last week, with USB to Ethernet adapters listed as compatible with iPhone 15 models. When an iPhone is connected to an Ethernet cable, an otherwise hidden Ethernet menu appears in the Settings app with IP-related information and various configuration options.

One reader informed us that their iPhone 15 Pro connected to Ethernet achieved a peak download speed of over 800 Mbps in a speed test.

iPhone-15-Pro-Ethernet-Setting.jpg

While this is one of the various clever ways that the USB-C port on the iPhone 15 models can be used, it should be known that previous iPhones with the Lightning connector also supported Ethernet with an adapter. Nevertheless, we have decided to highlight this information as a helpful tip since it is getting attention.

All four iPhone 15 models launched today in the U.S. and more than 40 other countries.

Article Link: iPhone 15 Models Support USB-C to Ethernet for Faster Internet Speeds
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/22/iphone-15-usb-c-to-ethernet/
Last edited:
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Not a bad solution as many people might have a usb-c laptop docking station, so during setup and sync you can plug in your phone to keep charged and get Ethernet speed with something you might already have set up.
At the same time it can output display through the dock. I noticed there was a new display options setting that shows your external monitor in settings too.
 
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sack_peak said:
iPads with USB-C can also connect to a LAN or Internet via Ethernet as well.
Click to expand...
A neat trick I tried once was connecting a raspberry pi 4 by a single usb C to the iPad Pro. It powered the pi and opened an Ethernet connection so I could VNC/ssh directly into it.
Didn’t really have a use to it, but it could be used for a good mobile solution to having a more flexible device like a pi on hand. Assuming with external power the iPhone 15 could do this too.
 
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There are reports that the USB-C 10gbps speeds are NOT working on Windows computers - can somebody please look into this
 
I wonder if iPhone 15 Pro will support thermal camera from TOPDON over USB-C.
 
> it should be known that previous iPhones with the Lightning connector also supported Ethernet with an adapter.

The interesting thing is that technically previous iPhones supported a lot of different devices with an adapter. Ethernet interfaces, USB thumbdrives, audio interfaces, keyboards, etc. all could theoretically work, using the iPhone to USB camera adapter.

The problem was that nearly every device, even stuff that draws very little power like thumbdrives, would produce a "this device requires too much power" dialog and wouldn't work. So the feature wasn't all that useful. It was an artificial limitation too; the phone would ask the device how much power it needs, then fail to work if it asked for even 100mA. I was able to bypass it by using a small unpowered USB hub I have that "pretended" to be a powered hub, and all my thumbdrives worked just fine with it.

It looks like Apple has corrected this finally with USB-C, allowing a full amp to be drawn from the port without a problem. The old power restriction made no sense, either; lightning could support plenty of current for charging; why couldn't it power a lousy thumbdrive?
 
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This does not surprise me at all. Cause this was meant to be an alternative for this years Apple own built modem if the reception was not as expected. (Luckily they did not released it with this years iPhone).

They even prepared the support document that tells customers to buy an Apple USB-C adapter (now being released when the Apple modem gets released in 2027) if they have wireless connectivity issues.

This USB-C Ethernet was an alternative method if people experienced connectivity issues.
 
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