“Hey, do you have a charging cable? The one for iPhone.”
Chances are, you had a similar conversation at one point in time, and it can prove to be quite troublesome to keep track of different cables for different phones. This is especially the case if your circle of friends (or family members) use both iPhone and Android devices.
But with the introduction of the latest iPhone 15 lineup with USB-C connectors instead of Apple’s proprietary Lightning port, you only need a USB-C cable now to recharge a wide range of phones. With Malaysia Day taking place this Saturday on 16 September, we thought it would be good to talk about how the USB-C port is (essentially) uniting both iPhone and Android users.
One Port to Rule Them All
The USB-C standard has been around for a while now, and it is widely used across many device categories. It has just taken Apple…well, quite some time to make the transition to the connector for its smartphones. Granted, this isn’t the first time the Cupertino company is making use of USB-C – the port can already be found on its other products, including the MacBooks and iPads.
That being said, the iPhone 15 series’ switch to USB-C is certainly a big deal. With the transition, you can now use the very same USB-C cable to charge your iPhone, MacBook, and a wide range of other devices (including Android phones) from many different brands. Gone are the days where you need to specify which charging cable you need for your phone.
Well, to some extent, given that many iPhones in the market now still use the Lightning port – more on this later.
Can Any USB-C Cable Work With the iPhone 15?
In theory, yes, but it’s a bit more complicated than that. Not all USB-C cables are made equal, and poorly manufactured ones can even be detrimental to the device it is connected to, iPhone or not. With that in mind, it’s important to get a cable that’s properly certified.
One easy way to identify if a particular USB-C cable would work with the iPhone 15 – outside of just getting one directly from Apple, of course – is to look for the Made for iPhone (MFi) label on the packaging of the product. Such a cable should work with the new iPhone without issue, provided it’s from a reputable brand.
Without going too deep down the rabbit hole, pay attention to the rated charging capability of the USB-C cable to ensure that your iPhone 15 can charge…well, normally. Apple still uses a 20W adapter to gauge the charging time of the new iPhones, so look for a USB-C cable that can do at least 20W charging.
If you plan to transfer huge amounts of data from your iPhone 15 – especially the Pro models – to another device with a USB-C cable, get one that is rated for fast data transfers. While the base iPhone 15 only supports USB 2, the Pro models feature USB 3, which can transfer data at up to 10Gbps – that’s the magic number you have to look for.
Needless to say, this applies to Android phones as well. Look for a USB-C cable that’s rated for the charging speeds and data transfers that suit your needs.
The Transition Will Take Time
As with any changes in the smartphone industry, it will take some time before the USB-C standard becomes more widespread among iPhone users. As mentioned, there are still many, many iPhones in the market now with a Lightning port, so the demand for Lightning cables is still very much there.
For folks who still have a lot of Lightning cables they want to use with the new iPhone 15, it’s worth looking into a USB-C to Lightning adapter of sorts, such as this one from Apple for a cool RM159.
All in all, it’s a great move from Apple to transition to the USB-C standard with the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The four new iPhones will all be available for pre-order in Malaysia next week on 22 September, and local deliveries will begin the following week on 29 September. Not too long of a wait until we can get our hands on the latest and greatest iPhones.