Apple has replaced the Lightning port with USB-C on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, paving the way for expanded compatibility with various devices and accessories. This transition brings many benefits, such as faster data transfer speeds on the Pro models, which support USB-3 speeds of up to 10 Gbps, and the ability to use a single cable to charge and connect multiple devices. In other words, you can connect more devices to the iPhone 15 via USB-C than ever before.
So, with the switch to USB-C, if you own an iPhone 15 or the upcoming iPhone 16, you can easily connect your phones to external monitors, external storage devices and cameras, benefiting from advanced functionality without the need for special adapters. For example, using a USB-C to HDMI cable, you can connect your iPhone directly to a 4K TV or monitor to play movies or presentations. The USB-C port also allows the connection of a wide range of accessories, from hardware keyboards to Ethernet adapters and wired headphones.
Another major advantage of USB-C is the ability to use your iPhone to charge other devices, such as AirPods or even another iPhone. You can also expand your phone's storage space by connecting an external hard drive, flash drive or SD card reader, which is very useful if you have an iPhone 15 Pro, and record ProRes 4K video. They can be stored directly on the external storage drive, thus freeing up the storage space of the iPhone.
In addition, USB-C brings a high degree of flexibility and universal compatibility, allowing users to use the same accessories with iPhone, iPad, Mac and other devices that have this type of port. This makes the user experience much more convenient and efficient, eliminating the need for multiple adapters and cables. In the link below you will find a wide range of Apple devices that can be powered and charged with the same adapter.
Related: How to quickly charge the iPhone or iPad battery - Apple Food Adapter Compatibility
Table of Contents
Devices and accessories you can connect to iPhone 15 via USB-C.
External monitors
You can connect iPhone 15 Pro or future iPhone 16 models to an external monitor or TV using a USB-C to HDMI cable for 4K playback and presentations. Basically, you can play any video content from your iPhone directly to your TV or monitor.
External storage
You can expand your iPhone's storage or save your new 4K recordings directly to external hard drives, portable SSDs, flash drives or SD card readers. You can also access files from storage devices connected via USB-C from your iPhone.
Photo and video cameras
You can connect almost any video or photo camera to the iPhone 15 via USB-C. Thus, you can transfer photos and videos directly from your camera to your iPhone.
USB-C chargers and reverse charging devices
Stop depending on a specific type of adapter to charge your iPhone. 20W, 30W or even larger chargers, such as those for MacBooks, which automatically adapt to the required power. You will also be able to charge other devices from the iPhone 15 or iPhone 16. For example, from the iPhone 15 you can charge AirPods, another iPhone or small accessories that support USB-C charging.
Hardware keyboards, game controllers and wired headsets
The introduction of the USB-C port on the iPhone also makes it possible to connect hardware accessories, such as keyboards or Xbox and PlayStation controllers, for a better experience when writing or playing games.
Ethernet adapters
I don't know if this is necessarily useful for anyone, but if you need a wired Internet connection on your iPhone, you can do it with the help of an Ethernet adapter with USB-C.
MIDI devices
MIDI keyboards and other music production tools can connect to iPhone 15 via USB-C.
Hub-uri USB-C
I think this is the most interesting part, especially if you need to connect via USB-C several devices at once. You can connect to iPhone 15 via USB-C and multi-port hubs that allow multiple accessories to be connected simultaneously, such as external displays, charging and storage.
In conclusion, the introduction of the USB-C port on the iPhone 15 brings several important advantages. This innovation not only simplifies the connection to various accessories and peripherals, but also greatly expands the options available to users.
It remains to be seen if future iPhone 16 Pro models will expand on these USB-C connectivity capabilities.
