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The new iPhone 15, released in the fall of 2023, became the first Apple smartphone with a USB-C port. Among experts and brand enthusiasts, debates quickly ignited: what would happen if a non-original USB-C cable from Android devices is used for charging the device?
What is the essence of the debates?
A bit of background: until recently, iPhones were supplied with a Lightning-USB cable. Apple recommends charging iPhones from the iPhone 14 series and newer with this cable. Unlike cheap Chinese counterparts, the original cable contains microchips that protect the device from voltage spikes.
Certified accessories labeled MFi are also safe to use. MFi stands for Made For iPod, iPhone, and iPad – a certification program launched by Apple in 2005. Participants have a license from the company and produce products that meet its high standards. Such cables will guarantee correct operation with Apple devices.
Now to the point. In the latest iPhone 15 lineup, Apple engineers replaced the Lightning-USB port with the more common USB-C. In the new cables, the microchips used in Lightning-USB are absent. Here, users faced a dilemma: can existing USB-C cables from Android devices be used for charging the iPhone 15 and data transfer? After all, anything can happen: the original cable may get lost or malfunction due to careless use.
What does Apple say?
User doubts are understandable. On one side, there are statements from sellers that the Type-C port in the iPhone 15 has a smaller gap between contacts than in Android smartphones – and this could lead to device overheating. On the other side, there’s the personal experience of users who confidently charge their iPhones and iPads even using a DualSense gamepad cable – and everything is fine. Whom to believe?
Let’s not speculate and turn to a document on the apple.com website. Undoubtedly, Apple’s official support recommends using their branded cables, but the document does not mention any prohibition on third-party chargers for the iPhone 15.
The authoritative online publication Arstechnica, which specializes in expert analysis of technological trends, confirms this information. Apple indeed did not restrict the capabilities of the USB-C interface for non-original cables. The new iPhone 15 models are fully compatible with any Type-C cables.
By the way, for fast charging of all iPhone 15 models, the adapter must have a power of at least 18 watts and support the Power Delivery (PD) protocol. And for fast data transfer at speeds up to 10 Gbps, currently supported only by the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, the cable must comply with the USB 3 standard or higher.
A selection of the best USB-C cables for iPhone 15
It turns out, the main thing is to follow one simple rule: do not buy low-quality cables. Their only advantage – a low price – can result in significant problems for you: the smartphone may not function correctly, damage the battery, catch fire, and even cause irreparable harm to health.
The problem is that visually, it’s almost impossible to determine the reliability of a cable. Therefore, we recommend buying either original Apple cables or third-party ones from reputable manufacturers.
In the iSpace catalog, you’ll find only reliable brands and high-quality accessories that you can confidently use to charge your iPhone 15. These are brands recommended by Apple: Anker, Satechi, Ugreen, Native Union, Ubear, VLP.
Always be aware!
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