iPhone 15 certified cable requirement expected to create high USB-C charger demand

Comments

• Reply 1 of 19

  Anilu_777 Posts: 526member

  March 21, 2023 3:01AM

  I prefer slow charging as I charge overnight and slow is better for the battery in the long run. I’ll keep my Anker charger brick. 

  
• Reply 2 of 19

  ihatescreennames Posts: 1,904member

  March 21, 2023 3:22AM

  When I upgrade I’ll have so many USB-A chargers and Lightning cables I need to throw away because they’ll be useless. See how forcing USB-C is reducing e-waste?!

  
• Reply 3 of 19

  payeco Posts: 581member

  March 21, 2023 4:23AM

  So people actually think all these Anker, Belkin, Aukey, etc. USB-C chargers that people have and have been using to charge their iPhones at 18+ watts with USB-C to Lightning cables will suddenly become nerfed and charge at just 5w and/or 12w for the new phones? I’ve never heard such a ridiculous claim. This is not going to happen. I’d be willing to bet $10k the MFi restrictions everyone has their panties in a bunch over will turn out to be limited to accessories like adapter dongles and docks, etc, just like they are today. Apple may go the super shitty route and require MFi USB-C cables, but they’re not going to needlessly nerf millions of existing USB-C chargers. 

  edited March 2023
• Reply 4 of 19

  ZexL Posts: 5member

  March 21, 2023 6:18AM

  Wife and I are set (though not upgrading this cycle), have 4 Apple USB-C cables with 20W chargers setup around our home for our iPad Pros. MagSafes on nightstands for iPhones.
  
  Imagine a great many aren't ready for transition. No reason for Apple not to throw customers a bone and include at least a 2m cable in box (as 1m is a joke…only good for travel).

  
• Reply 5 of 19

  bonobob Posts: 382member

  March 21, 2023 6:29AM

  My plan is to get a few USB A to USB C cables instead.  Less wasteful. 

  
• Reply 6 of 19

  citpeks Posts: 246member

  March 21, 2023 7:46AM

  payeco said:

  So people actually think all these Anker, Belkin, Aukey, etc. USB-C chargers that people have and have been using to charge their iPhones at 18+ watts with USB-C to Lightning cables will suddenly become nerfed and charge at just 5w and/or 12w for the new phones? I’ve never heard such a ridiculous claim. This is not going to happen. I’d be willing to bet $10k the MFi restrictions everyone has their panties in a bunch over will turn out to be limited to accessories like adapter dongles and docks, etc, just like they are today. Apple may go the super shitty route and require MFi USB-C cables, but they’re not going to needlessly nerf millions of existing USB-C chargers. 

  
  

  What I can see happening is an MFi "fast" charging tier above standard PD profiles.  Like how Samsung does with its Fast Charging profile, and any number of other companies do with their high power super fast schemes, particularly the Chinese OEMs.

  
  

  It's something Apple already does with MagSafe, whereby the standard Qi profiles work with no issue, but for the speedier option, you need an MFi-certified wireless source.

  
  

  Nothing is being gimped, or made non-functional with the generic spec-compliant third-party power sources, but for the special, fastest rates, it needs to be a blessed product.

  
  

  A lot of people who read tech blogs and fall for clickbait stories will get their panties in a bunch, but it's really nothing new, or a practice confined to Apple.

  
  

  For most users, it's not something they'll notice, or only discover by reading an Apple Support document, like this one for MagSafe, which subtly points out that Apple's chargers provide extra benefits.

  
  

  Simply put, if the new iPhones detect an MFi-blessed e-marked cable, it will ask for 25W.  If it doesn't, it will only ask for 20W, or some scenario like that.

  
  

  And a long way from something like HP bricking printers when third-party consumables are installed, via their firmware updates.

  
  

  But for now, it's all guesswork anyway.
  

  edited March 2023
• Reply 7 of 19

  payeco Posts: 581member

  March 21, 2023 8:23AM

  citpeks said:

  payeco said:

  So people actually think all these Anker, Belkin, Aukey, etc. USB-C chargers that people have and have been using to charge their iPhones at 18+ watts with USB-C to Lightning cables will suddenly become nerfed and charge at just 5w and/or 12w for the new phones? I’ve never heard such a ridiculous claim. This is not going to happen. I’d be willing to bet $10k the MFi restrictions everyone has their panties in a bunch over will turn out to be limited to accessories like adapter dongles and docks, etc, just like they are today. Apple may go the super shitty route and require MFi USB-C cables, but they’re not going to needlessly nerf millions of existing USB-C chargers. 

  
  

  What I can see happening is an MFi "fast" charging tier above standard PD profiles.  Like how Samsung does with its Fast Charging profile, and any number of other companies do with their high power super fast schemes, particularly the Chinese OEMs.

  
  

  It's something Apple already does with MagSafe, whereby the standard Qi profiles work with no issue, but for the speedier option, you need an MFi-certified wireless source.

  
  

  Nothing is being gimped, or made non-functional with the generic spec-compliant third-party power sources, but for the special, fastest rates, it needs to be a blessed product.

  
  

  A lot of people who read tech blogs and fall for clickbait stories will get their panties in a bunch, but it's really nothing new, or a practice confined to Apple.

  
  

  For most users, it's not something they'll notice, or only discover by reading an Apple Support document, like this one for MagSafe, which subtly points out that Apple's chargers provide extra benefits.

  
  

  Simply put, if the new iPhones detect an MFi-blessed e-marked cable, it will ask for 25W.  If it doesn't, it will only ask for 20W, or some scenario like that.

  
  

  And a long way from something like HP bricking printers when third-party consumables are installed, via their firmware updates.

  
  

  But for now, it's all guesswork anyway.
  

  If they were going to have some even quicker charging speed why would they have held it back for USB-C? Lightning can handle way more than even the 27w the 14 Pro Max peaks at. I think Apple is done innovating with cables. Once the switch to USB-C is completely we’ll get iterative charging speed increases every few years and that’ll be it for improvements with cords from Apple’s side. MagSafe and wireless are clearly where Apple sees the future and where we should expect to see all future improvements. 

  
• Reply 8 of 19

  humbug1873 Posts: 123member

  March 21, 2023 8:34AM

  Well quite simple. If Apple decides, to mess with their customers by requiring off standard USB-C chargers, I'll wait until the EU kicks them in their behind to follow the rules before buying a new iPhone.
  
  

  
• Reply 9 of 19

  avon b7 Posts: 7,665member

  March 21, 2023 8:45AM

  ihatescreennames said:

  When I upgrade I’ll have so many USB-A chargers and Lightning cables I need to throw away because they’ll be useless. See how forcing USB-C is reducing e-waste?!

  What happened to your old phones? The ones the chargers came with. Or did you buy them separately from the phones? 
  
  You should never throw electrical or electronic goods away. They should be sent in for re-use, recycling or safe disposal. 
  
  According to the relevant impact assessments (which factor in the transition from one charging type to another), e-waste is going to be reduced as a result. 
  
  

  
• Reply 10 of 19

  Fidonet127 Posts: 507member

  March 21, 2023 1:48PM

  I don't think Apple will reduce the functionality of existing cables or chargers. The cable and charger space is long overdue for security enhancements. We keep hearing how security researchers made cables or chargers that compromise the security of users by snooping with bluetooth or wifi, or they install software on to the device to do the snooping. There is even bad cables and chargers that are made so cheap, that they cause fires. I can see Apple having an option to not allow non-certified cables or chargers for those that need a much higher security posture.

  
• Reply 11 of 19

  avon b7 Posts: 7,665member

  March 21, 2023 2:15PM

  The logical solution (and safest from a regulatory perspective) would be for Apple to support the standard (obviously certification would mean that) and simply limit any extra functionality to the MFI programme.
  
  If they deliberately went for a lesser certification and withheld higher certification for the MFI programme devices, someone is bound to cry foul (and not without reason).
  
  I'm not sure if that is even possible though. 
• Reply 12 of 19

  nubus Posts: 380member

  March 21, 2023 3:04PM

  Limiting charge speed by using MFI is not going to happen. The legal text from EU demands full functionality of USB Power Delivery if the device is able to handle more than 15W charging: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2022/2380/oj
  
  Part 1:
  

  3.1.	incorporate the USB Power Delivery, as described in the standard EN IEC 62680-1-2:2021 “Universal serial bus interfaces for data and power – Part 1-2: Common components – USB Power Delivery specification”;

  3.2.	ensure that any additional charging protocol allows for the full functionality of the USB Power Delivery referred to in point 3.1, irrespective of the charging device used.

• Reply 13 of 19

  MplsP Posts: 3,924member

  March 21, 2023 4:59PM

  so apple stops including the charger because "everyone already has one and we want to reduce waste." Then they switch to USB C but not just USB C, USB C with specific requirements that people likely don't have so now they are required to buy a new charger for their $1000 phone because Apple is to effin' cheap and hypocritical to actually include one.

  
• Reply 14 of 19

  M68000 Posts: 725member

  March 21, 2023 5:19PM

  ihatescreennames said:

  When I upgrade I’ll have so many USB-A chargers and Lightning cables I need to throw away because they’ll be useless. See how forcing USB-C is reducing e-waste?!

  Try doing a yard sale with the old cables ?

  
• Reply 15 of 19

  Japhey Posts: 1,767member

  March 21, 2023 8:12PM

  That is one ugly phone, imo. 
  

  
• Reply 16 of 19

  citpeks Posts: 246member

  March 22, 2023 12:34AM

  payeco said:

  If they were going to have some even quicker charging speed why would they have held it back for USB-C? Lightning can handle way more than even the 27w the 14 Pro Max peaks at. I think Apple is done innovating with cables. Once the switch to USB-C is completely we’ll get iterative charging speed increases every few years and that’ll be it for improvements with cords from Apple’s side. MagSafe and wireless are clearly where Apple sees the future and where we should expect to see all future improvements. 

  
  

  Apple is, and has been very conservative with regard to charging power levels, so any "fast" charge above and beyond won't necessarily be a large leap or promoted as a big selling point.

  
  

  Just a little "bonus" for those who need/want it and are willing to pay for an MFi-certified, and/or the fastest solution.  Those who aren't concerned with the details, and buy based on brand/reputation will enjoy the benefits, but in an indirect way.  Most users don't know or care who Georg Ohm was, or about what his Law describes.
  

  
  

  Again, MagSafe provides the template as to how I think they'll approach it, and only those who dig into the support documents will discover the nuances.  Apple's marketing sells solutions, not big figures.  "80% in 15 minutes," not "200W SuperHyperFantastic Charge by WidgetCo" kind of thing.  That's also why Apple devices have never had the largest cells, nor do they publish those figures.  Their emphasis is on how long it will last playing music, video, or whatever, not on how many Wh the cell has.
  

  
  

  We'll see in about six months.
  

  
  

  
  

  
• Reply 17 of 19

  igorsky Posts: 754member

  March 22, 2023 7:00PM

  humbug1873 said:

  Well quite simple. If Apple decides, to mess with their customers by requiring off standard USB-C chargers, I'll wait until the EU kicks them in their behind to follow the rules before buying a new iPhone.
  
  

  If Apple decides to mess with their customers find alternative ways to protect their accessory business from EU sabotage by requiring off standard USB-C chargers...
  
  FTFY
  

  
• Reply 18 of 19

  StrangeDays Posts: 12,876member

  March 22, 2023 9:59PM

  igorsky said:

  humbug1873 said:

  Well quite simple. If Apple decides, to mess with their customers by requiring off standard USB-C chargers, I'll wait until the EU kicks them in their behind to follow the rules before buying a new iPhone.
  
  

  If Apple decides to mess with their customers find alternative ways to protect their accessory business from EU sabotage by requiring off standard USB-C chargers...
  
  FTFY
  

  I very much doubt Apple is digging any sort of moats foe their cable accessory business. It’s just too small of a drop in the bucket of revenue. Those claims have always been bogus IMO.