With the iPhone 15, Apple has moved from the decade-old Lightning connector to USB-C. While some might be upset that their Lightning cable and accessory collection is obsolete, the USB-C port brings new capabilities to iPhones.
Here are all the different ways Apple lets you use the USB-C port on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro.
1. Charge Your Other Devices
USB-C has become a standard charging cable for most electronic devices these days. Most modern smartphones, tablets, laptops, game controllers, and mirrorless cameras use USB-C to charge.
During Apple’siPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro introduction, the company even boasted about the iPhone’s new ability to charge your Apple Watch or AirPods, as long as you have a USB-C cable.
But it turns out that the port can charge more than iPhone accessories. The USB-C port on the iPhone 15 can charge other devices that support USB Power Delivery. So, you can now charge someone else’s iPhone or Android phone, a game controller, or any other portable USB-C accessory.
Unfortunately, the iPhone 15 only supports charging other devices at 4.5 watts, so it might take a while to charge, and it will drain your iPhone’s battery, but it can help in a pinch.
2. Shoot Videos Directly to External Storage
With the iPhone 15 Pro, you can record videos directly to an external storage device plugged into the USB-C port. This means you don’t have to worry about your iPhone’s storage limitations when shooting lengthy videos.
While most people won’t need to do this, aspiring filmmakers can now shoot more ProRes 4K/60FPS footage oramazing Cinematic mode videos on an iPhone. Plus, you won’t have to wait to transfer the video files from your iPhone to start editing your footage on a computer using advanced tools likeFinal Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro.
3. Connect to High-Resolution Displays
Thanks to the USB-C port, you can now connect an iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro to a monitor more easily. Previously, you neededApple’s Lightning Digital AV adapter, which limits the display resolution to Full HD 1080p.
Since iPhone 15’sUSB-C port uses DisplayPort technologyfor audio/video output, you can connect it to 4K HDR monitors with just a USB-C cable. This can be great for watching movies, playing games on a bigger screen, or showcasing a presentation to an audience.
However, it’s worth noting that you’ll need a USB-C cable that supports USB 3.1 or higher, and the cable Apple provides in the box only supports USB 2.0 speeds.
If you don’t have a monitor with a USB-C port for input, you may useApple’s USB-C Digital AV Multiport adapterto connect with an HDMI cable. You’ll still achieve 4K and 60Hz with the adapter.
4. Other USB-C Perks
Of course, a USB-C connection brings several other perks you would typically expect. For one, you can now probably cut down a cable to bring with you when you need to charge. Having one cable that can charge your MacBook, iPad, and iPhone allows you to bring fewer chargers and cables.
While not included in the box, a high-speed USB-C cable will allow you to transfer data at 10Gbps when connected to a Mac, PC, or other USB-C device, which is a huge jump from Lightning’s 480Mbps cap. External drives will even show up in the Files app so you’re able to easily access and move your documents, media, and other files.
USB-C Lets You Do More With Your iPhone
As you’re able to see, USB-C brings a host of benefits to iPhones. Of course, most users may throw away their old Lightning cables, which could end up in landfills, but Apple’s switch to a universal port lets you do things that were never possible on an iPhone before.
