The iPhone 15 and 15 Pro are the first iPhones to feature USB-C, which was Apple’s chance to address the slow wired connection that has plagued the product line for years. Despite Lightning supporting USB 3.0 speeds, previous iPhones were limited to USB 2.0 transfer rates. So, one of the big questions with the big connector switch is if iPhone 15 and 15 Pro support USB 2.0 or 3.0 speeds.
Does the iPhone 15 support USB 2.0 or 3.0 transfer speeds?
Unfortunately, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are limited to USB 2 speeds. That means file transfers on these devices are capped at 480Mb/s. It seems strange that Apple would use a USB 2 controller for the base iPhone 15 models, but that’s the case according to the specs on the official site.
Does the iPhone 15 Pro support USB 2.0 or 3.0 transfer speeds?
Unlike the base model, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max support USB 3 speeds. You can expect to transfer files at up to 10Gb/s, which is excellent for anyone who wants to record 4K ProRes videos straight to external storage. You can also drop RAW photos directly from your iPhone to Mac with the connection, and regular wired backups and media transfers will be much faster as well.
The decision to provide the Pro models with USB 3.0 speeds and not the base iPhone 15 has raised eyebrows in the tech community. Many wonder why Apple would differentiate the devices in such a manner, especially when USB-C is now standard. The faster transfer speeds on the Pro models offer a significant advantage for professionals or heavy media users. However, casual users who prioritize other features may not find this limitation a deal-breaker. Still, consumers need to be informed and choose based on their specific needs.
iPhone 15 and 15 Pro USB 2 or USB 3 support FAQ
A: Yes, both the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro are the first iPhones to feature USB-C. This was Apple’s opportunity to address the previous slow wired connection issues.
A: It’s a decision by Apple that has surprised many. Despite having a USB-C port, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus only support USB 2.0 transfer speeds, capping file transfers at 480Mb/s. This is confirmed by the specs on Apple’s official site.
A: The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max support faster USB 3.0 transfer speeds, allowing for file transfers of up to 10Gb/s. This is especially beneficial for tasks like recording 4K ProRes videos directly to external storage or transferring RAW photos directly from the iPhone to a Mac.
