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Apple's iPhone 15 series will officially only support USB-C accessories that have been certified by Apple's own Made for iPhone (MFi) program, potentially limiting the functionality of accessories not approved by Apple, an established leaker has now claimed.

iPhone-15-to-Switch-From-Lightning-to-USB-C-in-2023-feature.jpg

Since being introduced in 2012, first-party and MFi-certified Lightning ports and connectors have contained a small integrated circuit that confirms the authenticity of the parts involved in the connection. Non-MFi-certified third-party charging cables, for example, do not feature this chip, often leading to "This accessory is not supported" warnings on connected Apple devices.

Apple is widely expected to switch out the Lightning port for USB-C on iPhone 15 models, and earlier this month, a rumor out of China suggested that the replacement USB-C port would continue to have a Lightning-like authentication chip, despite USB-C ports on Apple's iPads having no such chip.

In a tweet posted on Tuesday, ShrimpApplePro appeared to corroborate the rumor by claiming that "USB-C with MFi is happening," and that Foxconn is already mass producing accessories like EarPods and cables that conform to the Apple certification.

The authenticator chip is there to encourage customers to buy genuine iPhone peripherals, while Apple receives a commission on MFi-certified accessories and the MFi program makes it easier to expose counterfeit and potentially dangerous accessories.

Despite these advantages, the concern from a user perspective is that Apple could use the MFi program to limit features like fast charging and high-speed data transfer to Apple and MFi-certified cables. And that is precisely what AppleShrimpPro believes we should expect. "Cables with no MFi will be software limited in data and charging speed," said the leaker in a follow-up tweet.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the USB-C port on the ‌iPhone 15‌ and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus will remain limited to Lightning/USB 2.0 speeds, while faster transfer speeds will be exclusive to the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ Max models. ShrimpApplePro's tweets add a new complexion to Kuo's prediction.


ShrimpApplePro accurately leaked the hardware design of the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro models, giving them an established track record for rumors. Earlier this month, the leaker said the iPhone 15 Pro will feature even thinner bezels around the display. ShrimpApplePro also previously claimed that at least one iPhone 15 model will feature a titanium frame and curved rear edges, which could mirror the curved bezels.

Article Link: iPhone 15 USB-C Accessories to Have Limited Data and Charging Speeds Without Apple's MFi Certification
I can't see this being true, unless the chip goes on the MacBook Pro & iPad cables (and they haven't done it with those products) otherwise you can't use one cable to charge all 3 devises, which is the whole point of this! Personally I'm not fussed, as it adds additional security, I've always bought my charging accessories from Apple anyway, because I can't afford cheap! As long as all the USB C cables from Apple are the same, I'm fine with that IF it happens
 
I like my Apple stuff, but it's tactics like this that really show that Apple is more than happy to screw over its customers to press every last cent out of you. It adds very little for consumers and is entirely designed to profit from every little thing even if it means designing specific hardware to shut out the competition unless they pay up.

It's also stuff like this that, although almost inconsequential to me personally, has made me far more accepting of heavy-handed regulation than I might be otherwise.

We know everyone needs to make a profit, but we've become far too accepting of putting individual profit above everything else.
 
'Purchase genuine official part to make your device/purchase perform at it is best'. Car manufacturers got stopped from doing this and continue to get stopped doing it, making sure their cars only perform best when genuine official parts from the manufacturer was purchased. Therefore what makes Apple think they can get away with it?
 
This is an incredibly shady, anti-competative, and anti-consumer practice from Apple, I'm surprised they haven't been censured on this before now. We'd be up in arms if Samsung put restrictions on their TVs so you could only use overpriced Samsung manufacturered HDMI cables on Samsung TVs and all other HDMI cables wouldn't work or only allow a 480p SD picture unless cable manufacturers paid royalties to Samsung to make them. All this "it is to ensure a high quality standard and to make sure damage isn't done to your devices" is all marketing BS to cover corporate greed. This practice needs to stop.
🤣 U do realise it's just an unsubstantiated rumour?
 
No, because these type of companies will always pay the certification to Apple. Like they currently does with Lighting.
The issue it is extremely abusive and makes Apple a lot of money while reducing the margin of good manufacturers because they have to pay certification to Apple. And for the consumer it makes the price less attractive.

I'm not the suprised by this move by Apple given how greedy they are with Lighting certification. Doing the same with a non proprietary port is even more shaddy and if it happens, I honestly think they should be fined and stop this kind of corporate BS greed and anti competitive behaviour, they are milking hard both consumers and their partner manufacturers.
Agree. MFI certification should be royalty-free as long as the third-party manufacturer meets Apple' specifications. If meeting Apple' specifications implies buying proprietary chips from Apple, then it is clearly abusive and anti competitive behavior.
 
If Apple really does this scummy tactic, I really hope they get sued into oblivion for anti-competitive tactics.
Wouldn't call that anti-competitive actually. MFi has been working great so far, you can get a certified lightning cable for 5 bucks, a really nice braided long one for 10 and you're still far off the 30 bucks you spend on the Apple cable that will turn yellow and break in no time. I don't even use the Apple supplied charging cables anymore because I've had such terrible experience with them, I just keep it wrapped in the box and then re-sell the phone with it.

Apple is essentially making their phones more expensive which puts them at a disadvantage from a competitive point of view. People still buy them.

They can cripple the USB-C port all they want, currently the laws only state that the phone can be charged via USB-C, no mention of charging rates either so Apple is in their full right to only allow slow charging and no data, display or power out connection (to run a USB C dock) on non-certified cables. I'd love to hook up a little battery case that also adds HDMI, headphones out and a microSD slot to offload my music, pics and videos, but that ain't gonna happen.
 
Wired will always be faster than wireless.

Wtf are u saying. Wired transfer is up to 40gbps on Apple's devices. AirDrop is piss slow for large files in comparison. There is a reason why Apple includes Thunderbolt on iPad Pros and Macs.
What he's saying, like most of us he doesn't transfer data by wire, so we don't care about it!
if u're in the minority that needs it?, u will just have to pay $10 dollars extra 😊 Having said I can't see this happening, otherwise they would have done it with iPad & MacBook
 
Honestly, I kind of like this restricted stuff. Gives me peace of mind that I cannot **** up my device with some bogus cable or accessory.

Like I almost fried my old MacBook Pro after trying to use a concoction of a fake MagSafe cable soldered to a genuine apple ac adapter - yes I'm stupid.

Restrictions like this one should prevent anything like that from happening, even if intentional.
 
LMFAO Classic Apple

Stick your current USB-C cable in and it'll charge and data transfer real slow, so buy our OFFICIAL SUPER CABLE FOR $50 AND GET HIGH SPEEDS!!!!

I'm expecting no cables in the box this time, the greed this year will be off the charts and I hope people walk away in the current financial climate.

Tim and his crew need a wake up call.
 
Wonderful idea ! USB-B shaped connector that is not USB-C, since it does not have regular USB-C compatibility.

I would almost laugh if the EU rules this does not count as USB-C support since you cannot use your existing USB-C charger and expect it to work unless it is "Apple certified".

As long as Apple meets the minimum charging requirements with a generic cable the EU's rules are met.

Apple trying to slap EU’s face by making a type c version of lightning

I doubt Apple's execs are worried about slapping the EU in the face; they simply want to keep control over how devices can interact with the iPhone, if the rumor is true.

Actually that's not allowed. Manufacturers are not allowed to "pair" a cable or charger to a device according to the regulations. So any charger that can output 5V 20W should be able to charge the device at 5V 20W no matter the chip it has.

Actually, it does. As long as the device allows charging at the minimum levels in the rule, manufacturers are free to incorporate other ones. Apple can allow any cable to charge as required by the rule, with MiFi cables incorporating different charging profiles or capabilities.

Data is not covered by the rule, and the referenced USB-C spec allows for proprietary implementations and even has specific features to support them. Personally, I think MiFi makes more sense for data to ensure cables meet specs for high speed transfer.
 
🤣 U do realise it's just an unsubstantiated rumour?
Oh yeah totally, but Apple "have form" as they say with their current lightning cables, so the comment was as much addressing their current practices as well as the rumour... and it's not as if this rumour is in isolation as I'm sure I've seen another article that purports to show the new security chip that will be embedded into the cables.
 
does this means we wouldn't be able to use 3rd party cables ?
No, it simply means they will not charge or transfer data as quickly, it may also mean that they may damage your phone, because the market is flooded with cheap Chineese knock off's on the USB C side. People forget the peace of mind mfi gave them! I'm all for it as long as they do it with Macs & iPads, so that I can use 1 cable
 
I’ve never understood why some people put so much faith in regulation being the silver-bullet that gets them everything they want and desire.

You can’t blow a hole in Apple‘s revenue and not expect them to somehow plug that gap; you are incredibly naive if you think Apple would just allow that to happen. You also shouldn’t expect any company to go above and beyond what the regulations require unless it is financially advantageous for the company to do so; for Apple there is no financial benefit to allowing any cable to offer high charging and data transfer speeds, but for a competitor who doesn’t make any money from accessories that could become their competitive advantage. And if enough people value that competitive advantage, that company will succeed in attracting customers.
 
Everyone is acting like this rumor is a fact. Let’s just wait and see.

No way the EU was going to force Apple to give up all the accessory money they make from Lightning cables and move to USB-C without any of us paying the toll.
This (the rumor) would not be in compliance with the E.U. legislation.

Yeah, now I am moving to Android. I am sick of getting penny-pitched by Apple.
You’re making such decisions based on rumors?

It is not unlikely that they will also require MFI cables to get full charge speed, while "generic" type-C cables will get barebone charge speed down to like 10W.
It’s pretty unlikely as it’s not compliant with the E.U. legislation.

Exactly, expect 15 W max for regular USB-C cables (no PD negotiation, so will be limited to 5V/3A).
Not in compliance with E.U. legislation. Devices must support USB PD if they can charger at faster than basic speeds.

Did anyone around here read the legislation? Maybe you should. Maybe MacRumors should as well.
 
Tim Cook is a stingy, greedy, and mediocre MBA suit. Isn't it enough for him to charge absurdly high prices for the iPhone? Cook gets rid of headphones in the iPhone box, then raises the iPhone's price. He gets rid of the charger in the iPhone box, and then raises the iPhone's price again. And now he wants to purposely limit the functionality of third-party USB-C cables in order to make even more money through MFi licensing! Man, I wish Steve Jobs had made Scott Forstall CEO instead of Tim Crook!
 
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Oh yeah totally, but Apple "have form" as they say with their current lightning cables, so the comment was as much addressing their current practices as well as the rumour... and it's not as if this rumour is in isolation as I'm sure I've seen another article that purports to show the new security chip that will be embedded into the cables.
Even IF True?, only EU would be to blame for drafting the regulation incorrectly.
People also forget the good MFI did, protecting us from cheap knock off's in damaging our devises and still get lightning cables at a 3rd of the cost. Having said that, I've always paid the extra for an apple cable, except in my car, because they don't do short ones, it's still MFI acredited, so no worries. Ultimately this is a storm in a tea cup
 
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