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

[Macropanda]

So the Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable Apple sells for £129 that could connect a brand new MacBook Pro and a brand new iPhone will be limited in speed (probably to USB 2.0 knowing Apple)?
Apple, seriously... y u do dis?

 

[cyanite]

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 let’s hope the EU and other governments step in once again.

This is all just a rumor.

The EU will have absolutely nothing to say, because there are no rules on charging speed

There certainly are. If you support fast charging (faster than basic USB), you must support USB PD as well.

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.

Apple uses standard USB C cables presently.

 

[Kiwamu]

So the Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable Apple sells for £129 that could connect a brand new MacBook Pro and a brand new iPhone will be limited in speed (probably to USB 2.0 knowing Apple)?
Apple, seriously... y u do dis?

 

[bob24]

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 one person who downvoted the above post has to be an Apple PR person

Before, Apple could argue they believed Lightning was a better connector and delivering better user experience (questionable but there was an actual point).

But now there is literally no benefit to the user in supporting the USB-C standard but deliberately crippling cables which are compliant with the standard but not blessed by Apple.

 

[Kiwamu]

Apple uses standard USB C cables presently.

If the rumor would turn out to be true, then this would be one heck of a PR nightmare.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Android is looking more and more appealing by the day

Can’t wait to see the catch for sideloading when they’re forced to comply with that

 

[d686546s]

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.

This is all still unconfirmed so let's wait and see, but the next step obviously is even more heavy-handed and prescriptive legislation and regulation. Followed by big business crocodile tears and outraged shareholders.

 

[amartinez1660]

After those news about USB dongles and cables with integrated circuitry being able to hack into your devices, I guess there’s a future security angle to this too.

 

[fourthtunz]

Yeah, now I am moving to Android. I am sick of getting penny-pitched by Apple.

Wanna get a height Adjustable monitor, pay more...

Wanna get a more ports on a MacBook, pay more...

Wanna get an iPad with 120hz pay more...

Too much for me.

Don’t forget the wheels on the Mac Pro🤪

 

[I7guy]

This is all still unconfirmed so let's wait and see, but the next step obviously is even more heavy-handed and prescriptive legislation and regulation. Followed by big business crocodile tears and outraged shareholders.

There is going to be a limit (which I think has already been reached) where the EU will become the place NOT to do business.

 

[I7guy]

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

I think Apple is set to lose billions due to EU regulations surrounding the app store.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

There's no reason to do this at all. Some accessory makers are gonna find a way around this just like Fake AirPods do.

But hey this is Tim Cook era, where they'll happily screw their customers over just to make a quick buck

 

[jonnysods]

Yeah, now I am moving to Android. I am sick of getting penny-pitched by Apple.

Wanna get a height Adjustable monitor, pay more...

Wanna get a more ports on a MacBook, pay more...

Wanna get an iPad with 120hz pay more...

Too much for me.

I'm buried neck deep in the ecosystem for my business and for personal life with our family. They got me man. But now the way I buy Apple gear has changed because of their extreme pricing. I don't buy their new stuff, I just wait for refurbs or second hand phones because I can't justify paying $1600 for a cell with the features I'd like.

 

[Kiwamu]

I think Apple is set to lose billions due to EU regulations surrounding the app store.

Why are you argueing Apple with Oranges? This does not make any sense at all.

I asked why they would allegedly limit just the iPhone with the MFi program and you counter with the App Store, which would also touch the iPad and is already touching the Mac. So maybe for you to understand better: Why would they restrict they allegeldy restrict the USB-c charching and transfer speeds of the iPhone if it is not an MFi cable, which would include cables provided with iPads and Macs and that they don't ship with this feature? Why is this warranted because of US regulation that they would take one device from their line up.

 

[blazerunner]

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.

Yes but what also needs to stop is the Apple fanboyism and letting Apple just keep doing this kind of ****. Consumers aren't innocent when they just roll with it and sing high praises of Apple knowing how scummy the company is.

 

[I7guy]

Yes but what also needs to stop is the Apple fanboyism and letting Apple just keep doing this kind of ****. Consumers aren't innocent when they just roll with it and sing high praises of Apple knowing how scummy the company is.

This doesn't affect me in least nor am I outraged. It's irrelevant for a cable I usually end up keeping for 5 to 10 years if the price is $2.50 or $3.00.

 

[3224932]

It's unfortunate if this is true. I was ready to start shopping for an Android phone upon reading the article, then I started thinking about the things I like about having an iPhone with all of its integrations into my other Apple products. Suffice to say, they got me...

That being said, I don't blame people who want to jump ship. It seems like a very shortsighted move from a company that plays the long game in other areas of its business. I'm going to see how things play out with the next iPhone launch... Who knows, I may still vote against Apple with my dollar the next time around.

 

[NagasakiGG]

I couldn't care less tbh. My phone hasn't been attached to a PC since the iPhone 7, and is barely attached to a cable in rare cases such as CarPlay.
That's still a mobile phone, and not a working device. If you wanna work with it, just get an iPad or MacBook. For me they can ditch all ports and introduce web recovery as they are using on Macs.

 

[I7guy]

The one person who downvoted the above post has to be an Apple PR person

Before, Apple could argue they believed Lightning was a better connector and delivering better user experience (questionable but there was an actual point).

But now there is literally no benefit to the user in supporting the USB-C standard but deliberately crippling cables which are compliant with the standard but not blessed by Apple.

The above is not true. They are not crippling but providing extra support for MFI cables. The article says non-MFI cables will work. But exactly what that means is unclear.

 

[mrochester]

Yes but what also needs to stop is the Apple fanboyism and letting Apple just keep doing this kind of ****. Consumers aren't innocent when they just roll with it and sing high praises of Apple knowing how scummy the company is.

I don’t view a company looking to make money by selling me a product/feature as scummy. I see that as just a normal transaction.

 

[I7guy]

It's unfortunate if this is true. I was ready to start shopping for an Android phone upon reading the article, then I started thinking about the things I like about having an iPhone with all of its integrations into my other Apple products. Suffice to say, they got me...

That being said, I don't blame people who want to jump ship. It seems like a very shortsighted move from a company that plays the long game in other areas of its business. I'm going to see how things play out with the next iPhone launch... Who knows, I may still vote against Apple with my dollar the next time around.

If people don't like that stuff, they should vote with their $$$. Personally I don't care as it doesn't affect me.

 

[d686546s]

There is going to be a limit (which I think has already been reached) where the EU will become the place NOT to do business.

You think Apple will leave a relatively rich market of almost 450 million people entirely to Google and Android manufacturers?

When has Apple ever given up on a market in light of regulation? They haven't in China.

Plus Europe's not alone in this. Are they going to pull out of every market?

 

[I7guy]

You think Apple will leave a relatively rich market of almost 450 million people entirely to Google and Android manufacturers?

When has Apple ever given up on a market in light of regulation? They haven't in China.

Plus Europe's not alone in this. Are they going to pull out of every market?

If one looks at history anything is possible, so I don't know. And assuming that governments will just jump on the bandwagon for this is a bad assumption.

 

[geartau]

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

IEC 62680-1-3:2021 was withdrawn.

IEC 62680-1-3:2021 | IEC Webstore

IEC 62680-1-3:2021 Standard | Universal serial bus interfaces for data and power - Part 1-3: Common components - USB Type-C® Cable and Connector Specification

webstore.iec.ch

regardless, USB-PD doesn't state device must always draw max current. Device can throttle as it sees fit to preserve temperatures of the battery.

Apple can throttle charge for non-MFi cables for whatever reason they see fit.

 

[sammo123321]

Don't they already do this with lightning adapters? I feel like this is just a wash.