iPhone 15 Pro Rumors: USB-C Port May Support External Displays, But Expect Limitations

According to recent leaks, the upcoming iPhone 15 series from Apple is set to replace its Lightning connector with USB-C, which is already widely used by most Android device manufacturers. This marks a major shift for Apple, which helped create the USB-C port and has already embraced it on Mac and iPad devices. However, not all USB-C ports will be equal on the iPhone 15 series, as the Pro models are expected to offer Thunderbolt 3 for much faster data transfer speeds than the regular iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.

In addition, a new leak suggests that the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max will have the ability to connect to external displays via the USB-C port. Meanwhile, the USB-C connectors on the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are expected to be limited to USB 2.0 speeds, which is consistent with the USB-C connector found on the 10th-generation iPad tablet. This information has been shared by Twitter user @analyst941, who is a relatively new leaker in the tech industry.

According to the anonymous leaker, the iPhone 15 Pro models will not only support USB-C but also Thunderbolt 3 data transfer speeds, which will be especially beneficial for photographers. These professional iPhone users have previously complained that the Lightning connector isn’t fast enough for transferring photos and videos.

The leaker also suggested that Apple is prioritizing video recording this year, rather than stills, and the Thunderbolt 3 speeds should improve data imports to workstations. This aligns with Apple’s recent focus on improving the video capabilities of its devices, such as adding ProRAW support to the iPhone 12 Pro models.

If the information leaked is accurate, Apple might introduce a new feature in iOS that resembles Samsung’s Dex, a feature that Samsung introduced for its flagship smartphones a few years back. However, despite iterative upgrades, Dex failed to gain popularity.

Samsung Dex allowed users to transform their smartphone into a desktop Android PC, but it seems that Apple won’t follow suit. According to the description, it appears that Apple intends to use the iPhone 15 Pro’s USB-C only for connecting to a monitor in specific use cases.

However, Apple already allows users to extend their workspace by connecting the iPad to external displays. So, Apple has some experience in offering such functionality on mobile devices. Nevertheless, it’s unlikely that Apple will let users convert iOS 17 into a complete computer with the release of the iPhone 15 Pro.