The iPhone 15 is to come onto the market with a USB-C connection instead of a Lightning port – so far, so known. However, the high data transfer speeds enabled by the standard will reportedly be reserved for the Pro models.

Although Apple wants to equip all iPhone 15 variants with USB-C, there should still be big differences between the Standard and Pro models: while the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will continue to offer the data transfer speed of the Lightning port the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max aka iPhone 15 Ultra can transfer data much faster. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims this via Twitter.

This is how fast iPhone 15 Pro & Pro Max should transfer data

Kuo speaks of a "significant improvement" in transmission speed – but only with the Pro models. These should support at least the speeds of USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3. USB 3.2 supports data transmission of up to 20 Gbit/s, Thunderbolt 3 even up to 40 Mbit/s. For comparison: The USB 2.0 speed, which the current Lightning connector also supports, is a maximum of 480 Mbit/s.

Such an upgrade should significantly improve the user experience. Videos and other large files could then be transferred noticeably faster. However, only with the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, if Ming-Chi Kuo is right.

EU law ends Lightning

With the switch from Lightning to USB-C, Apple is implementing an EU law that will come into force in 2024. This makes USB-C mandatory as a charging port for all new electronic devices. The aim is to reduce the amount of e-waste and make life easier for consumers. Apple confirmed in October that it would bow to the law – but criticized the fact that it was no longer able to determine the date for the change, which was planned anyway.