Thunderbolt 5 reveal makes Apple’s archaic iPhone 15 USB-C choice even more insulting
Forget the iPhone 15 – Intel’s Thunderbolt 5 is the real future of USB-C
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
To the surprise of very few people,Applefinallyannounced the iPhone 15lineup at itsSeptember Event 2023, which will be the first of the Cupertino company’s handsets to have USB-C ports – but there’s a major catch.
While theadoption of the popular USB-C port, which is used in a huge variety of tablets, smartphones and laptops, with the new iPhones is certainly welcome, the reveal that the standardiPhone 15’s USB-C port will use the USB 2.0 standard – which was first introduced way back in 2001 – is, to be blunt, a bit of an insult.
Apple’s decision to put 20 year-old hardware in an expensive, modern smartphone that starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,499 is initially baffling. Well, until you realise that for a start, it seems thatApple’s embracing of USB-C in the new iPhonesisn’t through choice – but because in 2022 theEuropean Union passed legislationto combat “significant amounts of electronic waste caused by unused chargers and the inconvenience suffered by… users who need different cables for different devices.”
By including USB-C, but using very old tech, it really feels like Apple is only begrudgingly dropping its proprietary Lightning ports.
Also, while the iPhone 15 andiPhone 15 Plusare lumbered with USB 2.0, which has support for data transfers of just 480Mbps, the much more expensiveiPhone 15 ProandiPhone 15 Pro Maxcome with the more recent USB 3.0, which supports data speeds of up to 10Gbps.
So, it feels like Apple is essentially saying that if you want a new iPhone with decent data transfer speeds, which is important if you want tomove photos from your iPhone to MacBook, for example, then you’re going to have to spend more money on a more expensive iPhone model.
Interestingly, the Lightning port of previous iPhones, including theiPhone 14, supported data transfers of around 480Mbps, the same as the USB 2.0 port in the iPhone 15. This might be another hint at Apple’s reasoning, as it may not want its previous insistence on using the Lightning interface to appear like it was disadvantaging its customers.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Thunderbolt 5 is coming
What makes the USB 2.0 tech inside the new iPhone 15 look evenmoreoutdated, is that –as VideoCardz reports–Intelhas announced Thunderbolt 5, the next-generation of USB-C interface.
According to Intel, Thunderbolt 5 will have a potential max speed of 120Gbps – a huge increase over USB 2.0, and potentially up to 12 times faster than the USB 3.0 ports of the iPhone 15 Pro models.
Thunderbolt 5 will also be around three times faster than Thunderbolt 4, which tops out at 40Gbps, and six times faster thanUSB 4.
We’re still a while away from seeing Thunderbolt 5-compatible devices, with Intel-based PCs and laptops likely supporting it in 2024 with Intel’s upcomingMeteor Lake processors.
Even so, this makes Apple’s inclusion of USB 2.0 in its latest iPhones look even more archaic – especially if we’re going to have to wait until 2043 to see Thunderbolt 5 on iPhones.
You might like
Matt is TechRadar’s Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there’s no aspect of technology that Matt isn’t passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. He’s personally reviewed and used most of the laptops in our best laptops guide - and since joining TechRadar in 2014, he’s reviewed over 250 laptops and computing accessories personally.
You can try new Apple Intelligence features like Genmoji, Image Playground, and ChatGPT in Siri today with launch of new public betas
5 must-have iPhone apps
What to do after a data breach?
