The latest iPhone iPhone 15 models have a USB-C port, and here are some exciting and productive things you can do with this new connector.
1. Single cable for most charging needs
MacBook, iPad, and almost all mid to high-range Android phones have shipped with a USB-C connector for a few years now. iPhone was the only rebel, but now that the iPhone 15 series has joined the USB-C train, you can charge all of them and the new USB-C AirPods Pro 2nd generation with a single cable.
2. Record ProRes video in 4K 60 fps
One of the significant highlights of using the fast USB-C connector on iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max is that it opens the window to record ProRes video in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. If you don’t plug in an external USB storage drive, you’ll be limited to 4K 30 fps!
3. Up to 10 Gbps super-fast data transfer speeds
The ProRes files you record are massive in size. But transferring large files becomes easy thanks to the USB 3.2 Gen 2 port on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max that offers up to 10Gbit per second speeds.
However, note that the USB-C cable you get from Apple in the box only supports USB 2.0 speeds of up to 480 Mbps. Therefore, you’ll have to buy a Thunderbolt cable to achieve gigabit speeds.
Also note that the USB-C ports on the regular iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are unfortunately limited to USB 2.0 speeds.
4. Connect SD cards and other kinds of storage drives
You can connect USB-C thumb sticks, hard drives, SSDs, and similar storage devices to your iPhone directly or using an appropriate adapter. Just remember that the external device may not work with the iPhone 15 if its power requirement exceeds 4.5 watts.
Once the storage device is connected, go to the Files app, select the storage, and copy or paste the files between your local iPhone storage, iCloud, and the external drive.
5. Share power with other devices
USB-C connector on the entire iPhone 15 series supports power sharing, and you can use it to charge your AirPods, Apple Watch, another iPhone, Android phone, and much more.
6. Connect the iPhone to a display, monitor, or TV
You can use an appropriate cable or adapter to connect your iPhone 15 to an external display and watch videos, photos, slideshows, and other content on the large screen.
Using the DisplayPort protocol, your iPhone 15 can connect to a USB-C display at up to 4K resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate. But just like faster data transfers, here, too, you will need a Thunderbolt 4 cable or one that supports USB 3.1 or higher.
You can manage the connection between your iPhone and the USB-C display from the iOS Settings app > Display & Brightness. From here, you can also choose HDR or SDR modes.
Similarly, you can use an HDMI 2.0 cable or dongle and have your iPhone output video at 4K 60Hz in HDR10 or Dolby Vision to a supported TV or display.
7. See your iPhone screen on iPad
With the help of an external video capture card and the free Orion app, you can see your iPhone’s display on your big iPad screen.
8. Use Ethernet on your iPhone
The USB-C port on your iPhone also lets you use Ethernet when using an appropriate USB-C dongle that has an Ethernet port.
9. Record audio with an external microphone
You can use external microphones directly with your iPhone 15 and pair it with the Voice Memos app or another suitable app for audio recording. This will be a handy tool for vloggers and video creators.
10. Enjoy lossless audio playback
Like the now defunct Lightning port, the USB-C port on iPhone 15 supports audio output via Apple’s USB-C EarPods and other third-party earphones. You may also use suitable USB-C to 3.5 mm headphone adapters if required.
Secondly, if you want to enjoy high-quality, lossless music, that’s also possible via the USB-C port as well as the older Lightning port.
Note:Â Lossless audio is not supported via Bluetooth.
11. Use with CarPlay and other USB accessories
The USB-C port on iPhone 15 is not just limited to the above-mentioned accessories. You can use most USB-C-supported accessories like external power banks and keyboards, to cheap, tiny USB fans. You can also use it for wired CarPlay on supported cars.
Important things to keep in mind
- External power: Some devices, like an audio capture device, may need external power and not work if its only power source is the iPhone 15’s USB port.
- Not everything works:Â Some storage devices may not work with your iPhone. For instance, my 1 TB Crucial USB-C SSD doesn’t connect to my iPhone, while my decade-old 500 GB Toshiba hard drive and an equally old 32 GB San Disk pen drive work. So, before purchasing expensive accessories for your iPhone 15, check the product description or contact the manufacturer for clarity.
- Slow internet speeds:Â Some USB-C accessories may cause interference with your iPhone 15’s Wi-Fi and cellular speeds and reduce them significantly. If that happens, change the USB-C cable or adapter and use a different one from a reputable manufacturer.