It is now official, the newly-launched iPhone 15 features the industry-standard USB Type-C (USB-C) port. However, this begs the question, does the iPhone 15 come with a charger in the box? Unfortunately no, the iPhone 15 does not ship with a charger.
As a matter of fact, the packaging for all iPhone 15 models only includes the phone itself and a USB-C to USB-C cable. The USB-C cable that comes with your iPhone 15 is only good for charging and up to USB 2 speeds. Starting with the iPhone 15, Apple is now ditching the lightning charging cable for the universally-accepted USB-C standard.
Just as is the case with other devices, you can use the iPhone 15 USB-C port to charge the phone and other devices, sync data, as well as play video and audio content. Throughout this guide, you’ll learn why Apple went with USB Type-C for the iPhone 15, what it can do, and whether you need to purchase a charger for the iPhone 15 separately.
iPhone 15 Charging Port Type
If the pricing is anything to go by, most users were expecting the iPhone 15 to come with a charger, or at least a number of accessories. Unfortunately, this is not the case. While the iPhone 15 has a Type-C charging port, it won’t be shipped with a charger.
Since the iPhone 12, Apple has not been shipping iPhones without the charger–in a move meant to cut on shipping waste and costs. Much like the iPhone 14 that came with a USB-C-to-Lightning cable, the new device comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable.
Well, that’s about it as far as iPhone 15 accessories are concerned. This is to say that the iPhone 15 packaging will only include a Type-C charging cable, but no power adapter. Despite this, you’ll find the iPhone 15 USB-C port to be rather versatile.
So, what can the USB-C port on iPhone 15 do?
- Charge the iPhone
As you can expect, the type-C port on the iPhone 15 is the charging port. So, how do you charge your iPhone 15? Simply connect one end of the cable that comes with your iPhone to the USB-C port. Connect the other end of the cable to a USB-C standard-compliant power adapter. Now plug the adapter into a wall outlet.
For a faster charging experience, use a 20W, or higher wattage, USB-C power adapter–much like the power adapter that comes with a Mac laptop.
- Charge Other Devices
You could use the iPhone 15 USB-C port to charge smaller accessories–only the ones that require up to 4.5 watts of USB Power Delivery. In this regard, you can use an iPhone 15 to charge such devices as an Apple Watch or AirPods.
If the other device uses a Lighting connector, use a USB-C to Lightning cable by apple to connect it to your iPhone 15.
- Pair the iPhone to a Computer
You can use the included USB-C cable to pair your iPhone to a computer, including iPad and Mac, and transfer files. Just connect one end of the USB-C cable to the Type-C connector on your iPhone and the other end to a USB-C port on the computer.
Note: The USB-C cable that comes with your iPhone 15 only supports charging and up to USB 2 speeds.
For faster charging and transfer speeds, especially with an iPhone Pro or iPhone Pro Max, you should use a compliant USB 3 cable–with up to 10Gbit/s
- Connect the iPhone to Monitors and Displays
Using the USB-C connector, you can pair your iPhone 15 to an external display and view your photos and videos on a larger screen. Depending on the type of display you are connecting, you may need to use an adapter, such as the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter.
In this regard, you could use the USB-C port to pair your iPhone 15 to the following display types:
- HDMI Display or TV
Using a USB-C to HDMI adapter or a cable. Adapter, you can pair your iPhone 15 to an HDMI display or TV. You could even use cables that support HDMI 2.0, such as the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter, to output a video from the iPhone at 60Hz and 4K resolution.
- USB-C Displays
Thanks to the DisplayPort protocol, your iPhone 15 supports connections to USB-C displays and can output videos at 60Hz and 4K resolution. To connect your iPhone to such a high-resolution, use a USB-C that supports USB 3.1 at the very least.
A good example is the Pro Cable (1 m) or the Thunderbolt 4 (USB‑C), which are sold separately.
Note: iPhone 15 also supports high-dynamic-range USB-C displays. In this case, you can easily change between HDR and SDR modes from the Settings menu. Some USB-C displays may even charge the iPhone while the device is connected.
- Play Audio
Normally, you can play audio on your iPhone 15 via the built-in speakers, paired Bluetooth speakers, AirPlay, or AirPods. What’s more, you can now play audio through the USB-C connector as well. In this case, you should just connect wired headphones or such accessories as the new EarPods (USB-C), though the USB-C port on your iPhone 15.
- Pair the iPhone 15 to Other Devices
The USB-C port on the iPhone 15 allows you to pair the device to a host of othe rUSB-C standard compliant devices, including:
- CarPlay compatible cars
- External display Microphones
- External storage devices
- External battery packs
- SD cards through a SD card adapter
- USB to Ethernet adapters
How Fast is the USB-C on iPhone 15?
Similar to the Lighting cable on the iPhone 14, Apple claims that the new Type-C connector can charge the iPhone 15 up to 50% in 30 minutes–provided you are using a 20W or higher power adapter. For the iPhone 15, wired connection remains to be the fastest charging option.
With the USB-C cable that comes with the iPhone 15, the charging speeds are pretty much the same across all the four iPhone 15 models. Generally, the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus models support USB PD 18W charging that is capable of charging the battery halfway in 30 minutes.
However, you may have to charge the iPhone 15 Plus and 15 Pro Max models for about 35 minutes to get them to 50%. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand support charge rates of to 29W with, especially with a USB 3.2 cable.
What of Data Transfer Rates?
While using the USB 2.0 cable that comes with your iPhone 15, you can achieve a transfer speed of up to 480 Mbps. The iPhone 15 USB-C connector supports USB 3 for data transfer when you use a USB-C cable that supports USB 3.2.
This is to say that the charging and transfer speeds for the iPhone 15 vary significantly depending on the USB-C cable you use.
Why is Apple Switching to USB-C?
The change from Lightning to USB-C by apple was largely influenced by the recently passed European regulation. The new European regulation requires all phone manufacturers to apply USB-C charging on their devices.
Final Verdict
For the iPhone 15, Apple has ditched the Lightning charger for USB Type-C. As you have learned throughout this guide, there is plenty you can do with the iPhone 15 USB-C connector. Even so, many potential buyers are still concerned whether the iPhone 15 will come with a charger.
No, none of the iPhone 15 models comes with a charger. Instead, the new iPhone only comes with a USB 2.0 Type-C charging and data transfer cable. For faster charging and transfer speeds, you need to invest on a USB 3.2 cable, which you have to buy separately.
