An established leaker claims that Apple’s iPhone 15 series will only support USB-C accessories certified by its Made for iPhone (MFi) program, potentially limiting the functionality of non-Apple accessories.
First-party and MFi-certified Lightning ports and connectors have had a small integrated circuit that verifies the parts since 2012. Third-party charging cables without this chip often display “This accessory is not supported” warnings on Apple devices.
Apple is expected to replace the Lightning port on iPhone 15 models with USB-C, and earlier this month, a Chinese rumor suggested that the replacement USB-C port would have a Lightning-like authentication chip, unlike Apple’s iPads’ USB-C ports.
“USB-C with MFi is happening,” ShrimpApplePro tweeted on Tuesday, adding that Foxconn is already mass producing Apple-certified accessories like EarPods and cables.
Apple receives a commission on MFi-certified accessories, and the MFi program helps identify counterfeit and dangerous accessories. The authenticator chip encourages customers to buy genuine iPhone peripherals.
Despite these benefits, Apple may use the MFi program to restrict fast charging and high-speed data transfer to Apple and MFi-certified cables. AppleShrimpPro expects that. The leaker later tweeted, “Cables without MFi will be software limited in data and charging speed.”
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus’s USB-C port will only support Lightning/USB 2.0 speeds, while the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will support faster transfer speeds. ShrimpApplePro’s tweets change Kuo’s prediction.
ShrimpApplePro accurately leaked the Dynamic Island hardware design on iPhone 14 Pro models, establishing their rumor track record. The leaker predicted thinner bezels for the iPhone 15 Pro earlier this month. ShrimpApplePro also claimed that one iPhone 15 model will have a titanium frame and curved rear edges to match the curved bezels.
