Some USB-C Power Banks Fail to Work With iPhone 15

[LilNasX]

It looks like the Anker nano power bank seems to be charging the 15PM - just tried it. Just as a datapoint.

Edit: This is the one that I tried:

I have this power bank too and it has connection issues. Am I holding it wrong? 😂

 

[adam1080]

Just realized my last/oldest power bank I tried was the exact same one mentioned in the article. Worked fine for me using both the USB-C from the iPhone box and a random TB3 cable.

Sooooo, what cable this dude using...

 

[dampfnudel]

I’m sure things will be sorted out by the time the iPhone 16 lineup is released a year from now. These companies may have to discontinue some of their models earlier than they expected to prevent customer confusion over which power banks are compatible with their new USB-C iPhone.

 

[CapitalIdea]

This is most probably software fixable.

Not unless software literally adjusts the hardware on the Anker power bank and turns that inbound power port to an outbound one.

 

[iStorm]

It literally says INPUT on the UBC C port... WTF were you expecting?

View attachment 2283950

View attachment 2284021
The USB-C port on the Anker mentioned in the post is only for input.

It’s working exactly as it’s supposed to.

Guys...you're not looking at the right power bank. The power bank in your images is the "PowerCore Slim 10K" and isn't what the article is talking about.

The article is talking about the "PowerCore Slim 10K PD" (and other power banks with USB-C PD). The USB-C port on the PD version can be used to charge other devices, hence the "PD" in its name...for USB-C Power Delivery.

 

[coolfactor]

This is just one of the reasons I no longer buy a iPhone on launch day. I wait and see what issues come up. Sad to hear this but hope it gets a fix.

This is not the fault of the iPhone. Power Banks that have an "Input" USB-C connection will reverse-charge from the iPhone. That's the expected way it works. Not broken.

 

[You’re not me]

This shows why standards are so great, there are so many to choose.

 

[Linkinsadler]

I recently reached out to Anker with this exact problem with the PowerCore slim 10000 PD… they are sending me a replacement let’s see if that helps. The usb A didn’t even work with my current one. Super frustrating.

 

[eifelbube]

And therein lies the problem. People think USB-C is standardized...and they are both right and wrong about that. The shape of the plug...yes, that's standardized. The capabilities of that cable...not even close. I have multiple USB-C cables in my house and I'm pretty sure each and every one of them has different specs and what works and what doesn't. If people want "standardized" cables...USB-C definitely isn't that.

The EU wanted to throw its power-hungry weight around and it's leaving us with problem after problem now. The EU did what governments do best: take something that worked just fine...and break it. It really seems like with the more things the EU forces...the more the quality drops. This is what happens when people who don't understand technology try to regulate it. Things might be different if they actually had to fully understand the things they want to exert their power over instead of just throw their weight around because they like making rules and don't know what else to do.

The EU is responsible for the fact that USB-C cables are not standardized? Is that the implication?

 

[zzrwood]

I literally just ordered this.

Anker Portable Charger, Power Bank, 10,000 mAh Battery Pack with PowerIQ Charging Technology and USB-C (Input Only) for iPhone 15/15 Plus/15 Pro/15 Pro Max, iPhone 14/13 Series, Samsung Galaxy

Anker Portable Charger, Power Bank, 10,000 mAh Battery Pack with PowerIQ Charging Technology and USB-C (Input Only) for iPhone 15/15 Plus/15 Pro/15 Pro Max, iPhone 14/13 Series, Samsung Galaxy

www.amazon.com

is this the model they are talking about? (it doesn't say "PD" in the title). But it has input/output USBC ports.
You think I should return without even opening it or try it?

Where is the "output" USB-C port?

 

[zzrwood]

This is most probably software fixable.

Pretty sure it's not Apple's problem, they will be conforming to the PD specs...

 

[corinthos]

i'm sure it will work perfectly with the Apple one when they come out.

 

[zzrwood]

,,You're charging it wrong"

No, you're trusting third party equipment makers to bother to be compliant with PD spec...

 

[zzrwood]

Anker does know how to do it properly, as seen on some of their devices...

 

[zzrwood]

They only have to test the power banks with type-C connections, and only from the major brands. They didn't do that, apparently.

This is not Apple's problem - Anker is the one you need to be concerned with...

And they do know how to implement PD properly, as they do on some of their more expensive power banks...

 

[XMI]

Just tried an Anker PowerCore II 10000 USB C charger (from 2019) with an iPhone 15 Pro, and it worked as expected - Anker was full, iPhone was at 80%, and when plugged in, the iPhone started charging.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

The Apple iBattery Case is the only supported option here.

 

[iStorm]

I literally just ordered this.

Anker Portable Charger, Power Bank, 10,000 mAh Battery Pack with PowerIQ Charging Technology and USB-C (Input Only) for iPhone 15/15 Plus/15 Pro/15 Pro Max, iPhone 14/13 Series, Samsung Galaxy

Anker Portable Charger, Power Bank, 10,000 mAh Battery Pack with PowerIQ Charging Technology and USB-C (Input Only) for iPhone 15/15 Plus/15 Pro/15 Pro Max, iPhone 14/13 Series, Samsung Galaxy

www.amazon.com

is this the model they are talking about? (it doesn't say "PD" in the title). But it has input/output USBC ports.
You think I should return without even opening it or try it?

This is the one you need if you’re wanting to charge from the USB-C port. Not everyone is affected, but you can always return it if it doesn’t work for you.

Anker Portable Charger, USB-C PortableCharger 10000mAh with 20W Power Delivery, 523 Power Bank (PowerCore Slim 10K PD) for iPhone 14/13/12 Series, S10, Pixel 4 and More (Black)

Model Number: A1244

www.amazon.com

 

[FranApple]

Oh god, I have that Anker battery. This sort of sucks. I don’t mind buying another one (actually yes I do), but I’m concerned about those times when I’m out and about and desperately need a charge. Now I can’t just use any power bank.

 

[FranApple]

Have that exact model listed in the article...mine is charging without an issue via the USB-C on the Anker 🤟


View attachment 2283960View attachment 2283959

Weird, then what’s this article talking about? Is it charging consistently as far as you can tell?

 

[caesarp]

And therein lies the problem. People think USB-C is standardized...and they are both right and wrong about that. The shape of the plug...yes, that's standardized. The capabilities of that cable...not even close. I have multiple USB-C cables in my house and I'm pretty sure each and every one of them has different specs and what works and what doesn't. If people want "standardized" cables...USB-C definitely isn't that.

The EU wanted to throw its power-hungry weight around and it's leaving us with problem after problem now. The EU did what governments do best: take something that worked just fine...and break it. It really seems like with the more things the EU forces...the more the quality drops. This is what happens when people who don't understand technology try to regulate it. Things might be different if they actually had to fully understand the things they want to exert their power over instead of just throw their weight around because they like making rules and don't know what else to do.

It's not the EU I blame. It's the stupid USB consortium (called USB-IF). They are horrible. The confusion they cause with how they name stuff and then they don't enforce standards with manufacturers or require them to label things clearly. I mean, look at what a port shaped like a USB C port will now accept, and what they originally called it and what they call it now. Yet they all look the same and most people will have NO clue what version will work on something that looks like it is USB C -- or if the cable they are using is up to snuff:

USB 3.2 Gen 1x1	SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps	USB 5Gbps	5
USB 3.2 Gen 2x1	SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps	USB 10Gbps	10
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2	SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps	USB 20Gbps	20
USB4 Gen 2x2	USB4 20Gbps	USB 20Gbps	20
USB4 Gen 3x2	USB4 40Gbps	USB 40Gbps	40

Oh, and guess who is on the board -- Apple and MicroSoft, and all the heavy players in the industry:

Board of Directors​

The USB-IF, Inc. Board of Directors is composed of the following companies and their designated representative Directors:

• Apple - Dave Conroy
• HP Inc. - Isaac Lagnado
• Intel Corporation - Abdul R. Ismail
• Microsoft Corporation - Matt Chung
• Renesas Electronics - Philip Leung
• STMicroelectronics - Gerard Mas
• Texas Instruments - Anwar Sadat

About USB-IF | USB-IF

www.usb.org

And take a look at this document - these are GUIDELINES, not requirements. You think those Chinese companies selling USB crap on Amazon care about the Guidelines?? Hah!:

https://www.usb.org/sites/default/files/usb_type-c_language_product_and_packaging_guidelines_20230320.pdf

 

[davidf18]

I don’t think USB-C iPads can charge other devices?

I charged my iPhone 14 PM and my iWatch with my M1 iPod Pro. I just upgraded to the 15 PM, so not certain it works with that, but I guess it would.

 

[caesarp]

Yes they can. I’ve charged my phone from my iPad Air.

You are right! Your post just made me test this. I just connected my iPad Air (4th Gen) to my iPhone 15 Pro, using an Apple C to C cable. My iPad is at 97% battery and the iPhone at 67%. The iPad is now charging the iPhone!

My understanding is the device with the least battery percentage accepts the power/charge. (not sure what happens if they are both at 50%).

 

[PLin]

When Apple announced reverse charging, I immediately thought of my Anker battery's USB-C port and wondered how the direction would be determined, but I hadn't had a chance to try it. I actually have the same Anker PowerCore Slim 10K PD that is mentioned in the post. My iPhone 15 Pro Max is currently at 50%, and the Anker battery is full, and sure enough, attaching them with 2 different USB-C cables results in no charging at all!

I did have it swapped under warranty earlier this year, and I remember that the replacement was slightly thicker than the original even though both had the same exact product name underneath, which I just assumed was due to a slight manufacturing change. Maybe only one of the revisions has issues.

 

[reedog117]

Apple added a USB-C port to the iPhone 15 lineup this year, allowing it to work with USB-C cables, USB-C power banks, and more. It turns out that some USB-C battery packs are not working properly with Apple's iPhone 15, resulting in charging issues.

As highlighted on Reddit and the MacRumors forums, not all existing USB-C power banks can be used with the iPhone 15 models, perhaps due to the iPhone's reverse charging feature. In some cases, the iPhone 15 will fail to charge, or the iPhone 15 will charge the power bank.

A range of different power banks are affected, and because of the wide number of them on the market, it is impossible to list the models that are non-functional. One version that fails to work is the Anker PowerCore Slim 10K PD, and a customer who contacted Anker was told that the only way to get the power bank to charge the iPhone is to use the USB-A port.

The iPhone 15 models are able to charge an Apple Watch, AirPods, or another iPhone through the USB-C port, and there is a possibility that this functionality is what's impacting some power banks. Most USB-C power banks with Power Delivery seem to be working as intended, including a number of models tested by MacRumors, but iPhone 15 owners should be aware that some could be incompatible.

Article Link: Some USB-C Power Banks Fail to Work With iPhon