USB-C on iPhone 15 might still require MFi certified cables

AppleInsider · February 10, 2023 1:01PM

The EU's new law about USB-C is intended to make all charging cables interchangeable, but an iffy rumor about the iPhone 15 says Apple will put its own spin on what that means.

New regulations requiring a common charging standard, specifically USB-C, were finalized by the European Union in October 2022. The date the law comes into affect, plus what devices it applies to, means that the iPhone 15 may have USB-C, but the iPhone 17 will definitely have to have it.

Now an unverifiable rumor posted on Chinese social media site Weibo says that Apple may stick to the letter of the law, but not the spirit of it.

"Apple has made its own type C, lightning interface IC which will be used on this year's new iPhone and MFI-certified peripherals," posted a user calling himself or herself Mobile Phone Chip Expert.

"MFI" in this case, stand for Apple's "Made for iPhone" certification program. In the program, Apple approves accessories, sells parts like connectors, and provides a chip for authentication purposes. As long ago as 2014, Apple cut the fees it charged for this licensing system, and it's now little known -- but still in force.

"The program gives you access to the technical specifications and resources needed to create accessories that communicate with Apple devices using MFi technologies and components," says the current version of Apple's "Made for iPhone" page.

If the Weibo poster is correct, it's possible that Apple will require USB-C cables that have been certified through the MFI program. When a user tries to connect a USB-C cable that is not certified, they may be told that it's not certified, and be limited in power delivery, data speed, or both.

But, there is already USB-C charging on the iPad lineup. There is no sign of any similar limitation on which cables can be used for that.

AppleInsider has previously criticized EU lawmakers for how this new rule is drafted, and Apple has argued that it will create more e-waste. But the aim is to make a common standard, not to have manufacturers work around it.

The leaker in question has no history, and the claims that they make about experience in the industry are impossible to confirm. Apple's MFi program has shrunk in earnings importance over the years, and as previously mentioned, there's nothing enforcing it for chargers and USB-C cables on the iPad lineup.

Read on AppleInsider

genovelle · February 10, 2023 1:42PM

Even on iPhone now. There is nothing forcing the use but encouraging it

maltz · February 10, 2023 2:21PM

This seems REALLY unlikely, especially since there is no such limitation on iPad. All this would do is infuriate customers who have a pile of cables they can't use, and can't easily tell the difference between which ones work and which ones don't - as if USB-C isn't bad enough about that already for various functionality...

lkrupp · February 10, 2023 2:33PM

Once again we are treated to an ‘unverifiable rumor” and we’re off to the races. Tech blogs are ablaze with hate, indignation, recrimination, factual errors, and misinformation. Another day in the la-la land of make-believe and the continuous mantra drum beat of the Evil Apple Empire.

avon b7 · February 10, 2023 2:33PM

The key issue is that it will meet USB-C certification standards and that is what counts.

If Apple throws up warnings or limits performance in some way for non-licences items, then market forces will either lead to people accepting the situation or see them getting fed up with it.

Personally, I would be surprised to see Apple go down that road if no other USB-C implementation on Apple devices suffers from the rumored 'requirements'.

mr. h · February 10, 2023 2:52PM

I think something has been lost in translation here; much more likely that this is a USB-C to Lightning adapter for backwards compatibility with existing peripherals.

larryjw · February 10, 2023 3:14PM

lkrupp said:

Once again we are treated to an ‘unverifiable rumor” and we’re off to the races. Tech blogs are ablaze with hate, indignation, recrimination, factual errors, and misinformation. Another day in the la-la land of make-believe and the continuous mantra drum beat of the Evil Apple Empire.

All social media is ablaze with BS.

The job of an editor is to NOT print everything. Transparency does not mean repeating transparently dubious articles.

charlesn · February 10, 2023 4:18PM

If Apple continues its policy--as I expect it will--of keeping older iPhone models in the lineup to sell at reduced prices, then the switch to USB-C has to happen with the iPhone 15. (Keep in mind that Apple STILL sells new iPhone 12s on its website.) If Apple waits until 2024 to switch to USB-C on the iPhone 16, then it would not have any previous models that it could continue to sell in the EU.

charlesn · February 10, 2023 4:23PM

JP234 said:

I always looked for that "Made For" label on cables and adapters. About ten years ago, there were floods of really, really cheap and defective Chinese made accessories in every store in America. You can still buy a USB charger or cable at most gas station stores. Yeah, they're cheap, but if they aren't dead on arrival, they soon will be. Or worse, they'll catch fire or short out, or damage your phone.

You get what you pay for. That said, I've had good results with the "Amazon Basics" line of products. So far…

I wouldn't feel all that confident about AmazonBasics. Just search "AmazonBasics cables catch fire." Back in late 2020, this headline appeared in The Verge for a story that originally broke on CNN: "AmazonBasics products are going up in flames, but not enough for Amazon to stop selling them." Cables and chargers were on the list of more than 70 items reported as fire hazards by buyers.

netrox · February 10, 2023 5:27PM

I don't think Apple or any company is allowed to change or use USB-C interfaces differently other than what it's already specified for their purposes. To deviate that would would probably threaten Apple's liability. Imagine a class action lawsuit against Apple for deceiving consumers to think they're getting the standard USB-C slot only to find out that cable has to be specific.

elijahg · February 10, 2023 5:28PM

lkrupp said:

Once again we are treated to an ‘unverifiable rumor” and we’re off to the races. Tech blogs are ablaze with hate, indignation, recrimination, factual errors, and misinformation. Another day in the la-la land of make-believe and the continuous mantra drum beat of the Evil Apple Empire.

This is a rumour site. This is a rumour. Rumours are by definition unverifiable, otherwise it is not a rumour. However, if there are other sites reporting it as fact then yes, that is wrong.

lkrupp · February 10, 2023 5:34PM

elijahg said:

lkrupp said:

Once again we are treated to an ‘unverifiable rumor” and we’re off to the races. Tech blogs are ablaze with hate, indignation, recrimination, factual errors, and misinformation. Another day in the la-la land of make-believe and the continuous mantra drum beat of the Evil Apple Empire.

This is a rumour site. This is a rumour. Rumours are by definition unverifiable, otherwise it is not a rumour. However, if there are other sites reporting it as fact then yes, that is wrong.

The problem is PEOPLE accepting rumors as fact and then commenting as if the rumor is true

wood1208 · February 10, 2023 5:37PM

You don't want some cheap low quality USB-C cable/adapter burn iPhone and blame Apple.

netrox · February 10, 2023 5:57PM

wood1208 said:

You don't want some cheap low quality USB-C cable/adapter burn iPhone and blame Apple.

That's not the issue. The issue is the other side. Apple attempting to subvert the standards of USB-C can make them liable for any damages or violations. When a company sells a cable that is causing the fires or malfunction, the company is likely not following the specs set by USB-C. That is why all USB-C cables MUST follow the specs or they can be sued or shut down.

Apple's cables are cheap - they fray all the time.

anonconformist · February 10, 2023 6:09PM

When the law goes into effect (not affect, wrong word) well, the thought of a government regulating this seems like a good idea initially, as it should in theory make things more interchangeable and reduce waste.

But long-term, what about when technology advances? Will the government adapt and move to the superior standard?

darkvader · February 10, 2023 6:12PM

I've always had better luck with Lightning cables that were NOT Apple approved. The ones I get are much more durable, they've lasted a LOT longer than Apple approved cables and Apple's own cables.

If Apple pulls this stunt with USB-C cables, they can expect a big class action suit in the US, and probably class actions in multiple countries as well as prosecution in the EU. It will not end well for them.

mac_dog · February 10, 2023 6:14PM

1) it’s a rumor;
2) is there any possibility the phone security may be compromised and apple is building their own version for that (and possibly other) scenario(s)?

Fidonet127 · February 10, 2023 6:22PM

It is extremely unlikely that apple will require certified cables, as I think that would break the standard. I think they might warn of non-certified cables and they might have a high security mode that will allow you to restrict cables used to secure or certified cables. We have seen several stories, where security researchers have made cables that look normal, however have circuity that allows traffic to be snooped and sent back out wifi or bluetooth. To make it the default for all phones will simply get Apple in trouble.

You will not have full capabilities of USB-C/Thunderbolt on any phone, Apple or otherwise. You are not going to be able to pump a full 100W in to a phone, even with a full capable cable and charger. the phone cannot handle the heat and the battery will not last long. Similarly, you are not going to get full USB-4 or Thunderbolt speeds out or in to the phone. You need the right chips, and the chips must have the bandwidth.

mikethemartian · February 10, 2023 6:46PM

Fidonet127 said:

You are not going to be able to pump a full 100W in to a phone, even with a full capable cable and charger.

The impedance of the load (in this case the charging phone) determines the power draw. The source (charger) doesn’t pump more current/power into it (even if it has the capability) than the load’s impedance dictates at a given voltage level.

Fidonet127 · February 10, 2023 7:58PM

mikethemartian said:

Fidonet127 said:

You are not going to be able to pump a full 100W in to a phone, even with a full capable cable and charger.

The impedance of the load (in this case the charging phone) determines the power draw. The source (charger) doesn’t pump more current/power into it (even if it has the capability) than the load’s impedance dictates at a given voltage level.

Absolutely, however you will have people who will complain that they can't get the 100W from the charger and cable in to the phone. They will blame Apple for that.

tht · February 10, 2023 8:10PM

mikethemartian said:

Fidonet127 said:

You are not going to be able to pump a full 100W in to a phone, even with a full capable cable and charger.

The impedance of the load (in this case the charging phone) determines the power draw. The source (charger) doesn’t pump more current/power into it (even if it has the capability) than the load’s impedance dictates at a given voltage level.

There are already and will be phones that will draw 200 and even 300 W.

As for this MFI USBC rumor, I was expecting it. It's just going to be a "superset" of the USBC standard, which is already hyper convoluted with its support of a gazillion different protocols. It will be Apple's way of guaranteeing a cable will work with iPhones. There will be USBC cables out there that won't be compatible. If the Pro models support Thunderbolt, which I'm expecting, that definitely means there will be USBC cables that won't support TB or other power profiles.

USB-C on iPhone 15 might still require MFi certified cables

Comments