A Tale of Two Speeds: USB-C and Charging on the New iPhones

 

A Tale of Two Speeds: USB-C and Charging on the New iPhones

The switch to USB-C has brought new capabilities to the iPhone lineup, but not all USB-C ports are created equal. This blog post breaks down the charging and data transfer differences between the new iPhone models.

USB-C: A Shared Port, Different Speeds

All new iPhones now feature a USB-C port, a welcome change that allows you to use a single cable for your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. However, Apple has created a clear distinction between the Pro and standard models regarding data transfer speeds.

• iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max: The Pro models support USB 3, which allows for a massive increase in data transfer speeds, up to 20x faster than the other models. This is crucial for professionals who shoot high-resolution ProRes video and need to quickly offload large files to an external drive or computer.

• iPhone 17/iPhone Air: The standard models are limited to USB 2 speeds. This means that data transfers will be much slower, similar to the speeds of the old Lightning connector. For users who primarily charge their phones or use iCloud for file transfers, this won't be a major issue. However, for those who regularly transfer large files, this difference is substantial.

Wireless Charging: MagSafe's Power

MagSafe continues to be a core feature of the iPhone's charging ecosystem, offering a convenient magnetic connection for a variety of accessories.

• MagSafe Wireless Charging: The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max support MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with a 30W adapter or higher. This allows for faster wireless charging speeds.

• MagSafe on Other Models: The iPhone 17 also supports 25W MagSafe charging, while the iPhone Air supports MagSafe wireless charging up to 20W. All models are compatible with the full range of MagSafe accessories, including cases, wallets, and wireless chargers.