iPhone 15 Pro rumored to get Thunderbolt connectivity
As part of a larger move to the USB-C connector for the iPhone 15 lineup, Ming-Chi Kuo is predicting that the Pro models might get speedy Thunderbolt connectivity.
![IPhone 15 might get a Thunderbolt port](https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/51426-101735-6A82FDBE-3F79-4EBF-BD03-6F3393CB096F_1_102_o-xl.jpg)
IPhone 15 might get a Thunderbolt port
While the iPhone has been able to shoot 4K video for a while now, getting the giant files off requires a great deal of patience. That may all change if what Ming-Chi Kuo is predicting for the iPhone 15 pans out.
In a series of Tweets on Wednesday night, the analyst and prolific leaker from Apple's supply chain says that his latest supply chain checks indicate that the entire iPhone 15 lineup will move to USB-C of some flavor or another.
However, what he's calling the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus will retain USB 2.0 speeds, the same as what shipped on the 2022 10.9-inch iPad -- and the same as Lightning.
He's also guessing that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will be at least the 20 gigabit per second USB 3.2 and possibly the 40 gigabit per second Thunderbolt 3.
Wednesday's Tweets are not Kuo's first prediction of USB-C on the iPhone 15. In May 2022, Kuo discussed it as a real possibility for the first time.
Apple has been periodically rumored to migrate from Lightning to USB-C for a forthcoming iPhone over the last few years. The EU has mandated it on all smartphones made by any manufacturer by the time the iPhone 16 rolls around.
If correct, a 2023 launch would mark the end of the Lightning connector as Apple's primary charging cable, after 13 years. USB-C was launched shortly after Lightning in 2012, but it wasn't until the 12-inch MacBook in 2015 that Apple used it in a shipping product.
Read on AppleInsider
![IPhone 15 might get a Thunderbolt port](https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/51426-101735-6A82FDBE-3F79-4EBF-BD03-6F3393CB096F_1_102_o-xl.jpg)
IPhone 15 might get a Thunderbolt port
While the iPhone has been able to shoot 4K video for a while now, getting the giant files off requires a great deal of patience. That may all change if what Ming-Chi Kuo is predicting for the iPhone 15 pans out.
In a series of Tweets on Wednesday night, the analyst and prolific leaker from Apple's supply chain says that his latest supply chain checks indicate that the entire iPhone 15 lineup will move to USB-C of some flavor or another.
(5/7)
My latest survey indicates all 2H23 new iPhones will abandon Lightning and change to USB-C, but only two high-end models (15 Pro & 15 Pro Max) will support the wired high-speed transfer, and the two standard ones (15 & 15 15 Plus) still support USB 2.0 same as Lightning.-- (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo)
However, what he's calling the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus will retain USB 2.0 speeds, the same as what shipped on the 2022 10.9-inch iPad -- and the same as Lightning.
He's also guessing that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will be at least the 20 gigabit per second USB 3.2 and possibly the 40 gigabit per second Thunderbolt 3.
Wednesday's Tweets are not Kuo's first prediction of USB-C on the iPhone 15. In May 2022, Kuo discussed it as a real possibility for the first time.
Apple has been periodically rumored to migrate from Lightning to USB-C for a forthcoming iPhone over the last few years. The EU has mandated it on all smartphones made by any manufacturer by the time the iPhone 16 rolls around.
If correct, a 2023 launch would mark the end of the Lightning connector as Apple's primary charging cable, after 13 years. USB-C was launched shortly after Lightning in 2012, but it wasn't until the 12-inch MacBook in 2015 that Apple used it in a shipping product.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
If you want to drive up the cost of iPhones excessively, then go right ahead and put Thunderbolt in them.
USB-C as a connector and USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 or USB 4 are much more appropriate for these devices.
Sadly, I've had the opposite experience. I was hugely pro-Lightning because it's such an elegant connector, but experienced three iPhones in a row where the cable would just stop connecting properly. I now rarely connect a cable to my iPhones thanks to Qi charging.
When USB-C infiltrated my life, I've had zero problems. It's an excellent connector. Lightning's days are done.
I predict the same for Thunderbolt, made even worse through that whole cabelling mess. It all uses the USB-C plug and in the end it's the cable that 'decides' the protocol being used. Since the cables are literally indistinguishable from the outside, bad experiences are to be expected (all those cheapo cables and you are lucky to get USB2.0 speeds out of them).
Givens them more control and more volume to use it instead of a 3rd party USB-c chip.
as far as the cost of TB chips, well, it’s not relevant. Apple has designed the ports into the M series of SoCs, and there’s no reason why they can’t use them for an A series chip as well, if they want to.
The speed between iPad Pro M1 and MBP with TB is only 130 MB/s.
Physical SSD limitation on iPad Pro is about 500 MB/s (which can be reach with external SSD drive, but not with a direct connection to MBP. Physical limitation of MBP is around 2300 MB/s, which also can be reached with external SSD).
So even if the iPad Pro has a TB connection the speed it provides is max 500 MB/s. And in a usual use case for me - only 130 MB/s.
Not excited about TB on iPhone Pro….