iPhone 15 USB-C Cables Without MFi Badge May Have Data Transfer and Charging Speed Limits

[Patchwork]

On a day when Xiaomi demo a prototype phone with 300W charging (they already do 210W charging), we get news that Apple may be planning on limiting charge and data speeds if you don't buy their approved cable. While it may not be true, the fact that it sounds the sort of thing that Apple would do says a lot about what we expect from Apple these days.

 

[4odomi]

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.

You forget ONE important fact.....No one forces anyone to buy Apple 😊 The walled garden, has many, many advantages, with very few disadvantages. I'll give you an example; Apple took the pee, with all their upgrades last year, except AirPods Pro 2 and Apple Watch Ultra, sales have been very lack lustre on those devises, You can be assured Apple won't try that again, that's the power of consumers, it never ceased, just that a lot of consumers can't think for them selves these days 😏

 

[pcorrado]

This certainly seems like something that Apple would do but it doesn’t make sense:

(1) usb c is fully unlocked on the iPads (although speed limited on some models)

(2) the MFi program is such a small money maker for Apple v. Every other product (I think I read it’s like 1/2 of a percent) - seems silly to burn good will and potential new iPhone purchases for such a small amount of money that will, quite frankly not change when switching to USB-C. It’s not like generic lighting cable can’t be found literally everywhere (maybe even more places than USB-C) - the people who buy MFi stuff will still keep buying it whether there is a feature advantage or not. Personally I buy MFi stuff because I do not want my phone to explode.

Just seems like a stupid move if true. Or, perhaps, we only have a piece of the picture.

 

[ItsASpider]

So if, for instance, one plugged-in an existing USB-C storage device from a reputable brand like Belkin, the transfer speed would be limited because it doesn’t have an MFI chip in it?

It gets better; if one was to use a USB-C cable from say... Apple, it wouldn't work properly because these don't have MFI chips in them either.

This is just ****** behavior from Apple and lets hope the EU and other governments step in once again.

 

[PauloSera]

So if, for instance, one plugged-in an existing USB-C storage device from a reputable brand like Belkin, the transfer speed would be limited because it doesn’t have an MFI chip in it?

Why wouldn’t a “reputable” cable be MFi certified?

 

[Skiefire]

Here’s the full text on charging from the EU annex. I don’t think there is a way they can get around this for Power. Unless they make it only charge at full speed in Europe and force everyone else to buy their own cables.

SPECIFICATIONS ON CHARGING CAPABILITIES
1. Hand-held mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers, in so far as they are capable of being recharged via wired charging, shall:
(a) be equipped with the USB Type-C receptacle, as described in the standard EN IEC 62680-1-3:2021 ‘Universal serial bus interfaces for data and power - Part 1-3: Common components - USB Type-CTM Cable and Connector Specification’, which should remain accessible and operational at all times;
(b) be capable, in the case of charging power lower than 60 watts, of being charged with cables which comply with the standard EN IEC 62680-1-3:2021 ‘Universal serial bus interfaces for data and power - Part 1-3: Common components - USB Type-CTM Cable and Connector Specification’.

2. Hand-held mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers, in so far as they are capable of being recharged via wired charging at voltages higher than 5 volts or currents higher than 3 amperes or powers higher than 15 watts, shall:
(a) incorporate the USB Power Delivery, as described in the standard EN IEC 62680-1-2:2021 ‘Universal serial bus interfaces for data and power - Part 1-2: Common components - USB Power Delivery specification’;
(b) ensure that any additional charging protocol allows the full functionality of the USB Power Delivery referred to in point (a).

Full docs here: https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/46755

 

[Techwatcher]

Don't care. As long as it's USB C and I can charge my phone quickly I'm happy.

I don't transfer data between my phone over cable like some caveman. I upload to iCloud and if I need it on my PC i'll download it from iCloud.

I'm just tired of having to carry two different cables. A lightning for my iPhone and a USB-C for everything else. I know it's not a huge problem but it's annoying.

I actually agree with this guy lol. I really do use iCloud for everything iPhone wise—we not cavemen. 😭

 

[PauloSera]

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".

Of course you can use your existing cables, are you not able to read?

The EU will have absolutely nothing to say, because there are no rules on charging speed or transfer speed. Nor will there be, could there be, should there be.

 

[blazerunner]

Hopefully they are completely battered on this by the EU.

I don't like calling for people to lose their jobs, but the people who decided this was a good idea should not be employed by Apple.

Sadly they'll probably get a raise. Corporate heads are some of the most unethical.

 

[slizgi]

What a D move, I hope the EU notice this and is able to give them a proper fine.

 

[Aston441]

Hopefully they are completely battered on this by the EU.

I don't like calling for people to lose their jobs, but the people who decided this was a good idea should not be employed by Apple.

Uh.. that would be all of senior management including TC, all of marketing, all of accounting. Thats 99% of Apple. There would be maybe three engineers and the two programmers left. Maybe a fashion designer could stay too.

 

[Kiwamu]

The question is, are current USB-C cables sold by Apple already within the MFi program by default, or is this again an Apple Pencil 1 on the latest iPad only usable with a dongle, but worse.

A lot that have an iPad or a Macbook that came with an USB charching cable, or have acquired cables by Apple will be burnt if they are not MFi certified (read: they get the slower speeds). That is, if they decide to also remove the USB-C cable coming with the iPhone from packaging.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Why wouldn’t a “reputable” cable be MFi certified?

To put it another way - will existing cables (pre-MFI) be bottlenecked?

 

[Zdigital2015]

Apple👏never👏leaves👏money👏on👏the👏table!👏

 

[I7guy]

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.

The article didn’t say the cables wouldn’t work, but functionality will be limited. This could mean anything, but yeah I’m laughing at the outrage in this thread.

 

[mrochester]

What a D move, I hope the EU notice this and is able to give them a proper fine.

You can’t just fine someone/a company for anything you like. They have to have done something wrong first!

 

[I7guy]

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.

It also shows when heavy handed regulation goes into effect what companies need to do. Don’t forget the app store is also being regulated out from under apple. I don’t blame them.

 

[Pakaku]

Maybe people will send Apple a message and vote with their wallets. Eh, maybe not.

 

[I7guy]

If Apple really does this scummy tactic, I really hope they get sued into oblivion for anti-competitive tactics.

They probably won’t or will win. Don’t think they thought this through?

 

[I7guy]

[…].

I'm not the suprised by this move by Apple given [..]

I’m not surprised either given heavy handed EU regulation.

 

[Kiwamu]

I’m not surprised either given heavy handed EU regulation.

Can you elaborate on that point, especially with accounting for their other lineup working unrestricted with non MFi certified cables.

 

[totom_]

Hopefully they are completely battered on this by the EU.

I don't like calling for people to lose their jobs, but the people who decided this was a good idea should not be employed by Apple.

Yeah, Tim Cook should really fire Tim Cook!

 

[Silverado]

They will keep doing this for as long are they are allowed to do it. Tim Cook and company are just too good at maximizing profit.

 

[Skiefire]

Of course you can use your existing cables, are you not able to read?

The EU will have absolutely nothing to say, because there are no rules on charging speed or transfer speed. Nor will there be, could there be, should there be.

Except there are rules about charging speed:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-15-usb-c-cables-without-mfi-badge-may-have-data-transfer-and-charging-speed-limits.2382251/page-4?post=31999238#post-31999238

 

[bob24]

Don't care. As long as it's USB C and I can charge my phone quickly I'm happy.

I don't transfer data between my phone over cable like some caveman. I upload to iCloud and if I need it on my PC i'll download it from iCloud.

I'm just tired of having to carry two different cables. A lightning for my iPhone and a USB-C for everything else. I know it's not a huge problem but it's annoying.

The concern is, it does say the charging speed could be limited.