Kuo: Only iPhone 15 Pro Models Will Support Higher-Speed Data Transfers With USB-C Upgrade

[MacRumors]

The iPhone 15 Pro models that are planned for next year will support higher wired transfer speeds thanks to the transition to USB-C, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

While all iPhone 15 models are going to feature USB-C ports instead of Lightning ports, the faster transfer speeds will be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models. Standard iPhone 15 models will continue to feature USB 2.0 speeds, the same as Lightning.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1593052344841011201

Kuo says that transfer speeds will likely "improve markedly" on the iPhone 15 Pro models, with support for "at least" USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3. With the upgrade, iPhone 15 Pro models will be able to transfer video files and other file types at quicker speeds, with Kuo predicting a significantly improved user experience.

USB 2.0 transfer speeds are limited to 480Mb/s, while USB 3.2 supports speeds up to 20Gb/s. Thunderbolt 3 supports data transfer speeds up to 40Gb/s, so if Kuo is correct, there will be a major difference in wired data transfer speeds between Pro and non-Pro iPhone 15 models.

Apple is transitioning to USB-C across its product lineup, and the first USB-C iPhones are due next year. Apple is making the change in order to comply with European regulations that require electronic devices to have non-proprietary, common charging methods.

Article Link: Kuo: Only iPhone 15 Pro Models Will Support Higher-Speed Data Transfers With USB-C Upgrade

 

[dantracht]

I most certainly hope at least some models get the higher speeds.

 

[colonel179]

It would be so petty from Apple if they limit the USB-C to 2.0 speeds.

Although it’s very unlikely. Definitely will have Thunderbolt 3 and Pros will have Thunderbolt 4/ USB4 like Macs and iPad Pro

 

[now i see it]

If they weren’t forced to use USB C on iPhones we’d be stuck with the lightning port and slow USB 2.0 speeds forever - and that would be perfectly fine with 

 

[HiVolt]

Thats good but terrible at the same time...

They should support the fastest speeds on the Pro's, but allow at least basic USB 3.0 speeds on the standard models.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I’m just happy we are finally getting USB-C on an iPhone 15 especially on all models.

 

[seek3r]

I most certainly hope so.

You hope the base model phones are stuck with usb 2.0 speeds?

 

[exoticSpice]

So Pro models get USB 3.2 or higher and non-Pro gets USB 2.0. fine, at least it's not portless.

 

[seek3r]

It would be so petty from Apple if they limit the USB-C to 2.0 speeds.

Although it’s very unlikely. Definitely will have Thunderbolt 3 and Pros will have Thunderbolt 4/ USB4 like Macs and iPad Pro

I’d bet the non-pros get usb 3 w’out thunderbolt and the pros get thunderbolt/usb4 personally, I doubt it’ll be thunderbolt across the line, I do hope they dont decide to be exceptionally petty and stick the non pros with usb 2.0, that would be absurd

 

[sully54]

This seems too good to be true. I’m almost expecting another report to come out saying that the iPhone 15 will not include a cable in the box or that the included cable is limited to usb2 speeds and that the high speed cable is another $29.

 

[JPack]

USB 2.0 in 2023? Definitely feels like a Tim Cook decision.

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[bwillwall]

USB 3.0 isn't an expensive or premium feature. This really irritates me. It should be standard in anything with USBC today. 2.0 is ancient and there's no excuse other than they picked a cheap reason to try to make people buy a Pro. I hope this is just a rumor.

 

[siddavis]

Remember when they only made great products?

 

[Kylo83]

Airdrop works fine, I shoot 4k 60 high res videos and it’s fine I wouldn’t ever use the port to transfer data, no one even uses ProRes

 

[Villarrealadrian]

Tell me something new pleaaaasee

 

[cualexander]

People who don’t buy a pro won’t notice about USB 2.0. I literally never connect my phone to a computer. Literally the only people that care are people that do a lot of digital video editing and those people will buy the pro model.

I really don’t get why people get so upset over inconsequential stuff. Want fast speeds? Buy a Pro. Want a feature Apple doesn’t offer? Don’t buy an iPhone. I’ve never been like “Oh no, this company won’t do what I want them to do.” So what? Don’t buy it if you don’t like it.

 

[GMShadow]

You hope the base model phones are stuck with usb 2.0 speeds?

Yes. Poor people deserve to be punished. /s

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

USB 2.0 in 2023? Definitely feels like a Tim Cook decision.

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I absolutely hate that dude

 

[neilw]

Thats good but terrible at the same time...

They should support the fastest speeds on the Pro's, but allow at least basic USB 3.0 speeds on the standard models.

Exactly this.

 

[torontotim]

So what. You need differentiation between the tiers of phones. You pay extra for heated seats to be activated in a car even though in many cases the circuitry is already there.

The last time I plugged my phone into my computer with a cable was to Jailbreak it I think.

 

[progx]

I feel like that would be more work than it’s worth. I could see the non-Pro models being limited to standard USB-C speeds, but I guess we won’t know until the phone is announced. Aside from plugging my iPhone into the wall, I can’t think of the last time I plugged one into my Mac to transfer anything. AirDrop, iCloud and OneDrive are my ways of file sharing between my iPhone, iPad and Mac; plus my Ryzen 7 MSI build.

 

[fwmireault]

Two things:

Why Apple wants to limit some devices to USB 2.0? Is there any technical challenge to raise that to at least 3.0? The difference in cost must be negligible so I can’t believe it is a question of cost control

The other thing is why put Thunderbolt 3 and not 4? It’s the exact same bandwidth, so I don’t get why they would provide older yet very similar technology

 

[ddtmm]

If this is what Apple is doing it's pretty lame. I can't think of any other device that uses USB-C at USB 2 speeds but Apple may land yet another courageous first.

 

[JPack]

Two things:

Why Apple wants to limit some devices to USB 2.0? Is there any technical challenge to raise that to at least 3.0? The difference in cost must be negligible so I can’t believe it is a question of cost control

The other thing is why put Thunderbolt 3 and not 4? It’s the exact same bandwidth, so I don’t get why they would provide older yet very similar technology

$349 Google Pixel 4a from more than 2 years ago has USB-C 3.1. It's definitely not a technical challenge. With Apple, you can certainly believe it's a matter of cost control.

 

[citysnaps]

Airdrop works fine, I shoot 4k 60 high res videos and it’s fine I wouldn’t ever use the port to transfer data, no one even uses ProRes

Same here. Airdrop works fine for all my needs it's speedy and I don't need to fuss with cables.