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October 6th, 2024

Apple is still limiting the iPhone 16 to slow 24-year-old USB 2.0 speeds

Apple's iPhone 16 has faced criticism for using outdated USB 2.0 speeds despite featuring a USB-C port, disappointing consumers compared to faster options available in other devices.

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Apple is still limiting the iPhone 16 to slow 24-year-old USB 2.0 speeds

Apple's recent unveiling of the iPhone 16 has sparked criticism due to its continued use of USB 2.0 speeds, a technology that dates back 24 years. Despite the introduction of a USB-C port, the standard model of the iPhone 16 retains the same slow data transfer capabilities as its predecessor, the iPhone 15. While the iPhone 15 Pro featured a more advanced USB controller allowing for faster data transfer speeds, the base model iPhone 16 does not follow suit, leading to disappointment among consumers and tech enthusiasts. This decision appears to be a cost-cutting measure, as Apple has been gradually transitioning its devices to USB-C, with most of its other products already supporting higher speeds. The criticism is compounded by the fact that even budget Android devices typically offer faster USB capabilities. The article suggests that while Apple has made strides in adopting USB-C, the lack of modern data transfer speeds in its flagship smartphone is seen as a significant oversight, especially given the company's resources and market position.

- The iPhone 16 continues to use outdated USB 2.0 speeds despite having a USB-C port.

- The iPhone 15 Pro had faster data transfer capabilities, which the base model iPhone 16 lacks.

- Critics view this as a cost-cutting measure by Apple.

- Most other Apple devices have already adopted higher-speed USB standards.

- The decision is seen as disappointing given the competitive landscape of smartphones.

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Link Icon 9 comments
By @jmpman - 6 months
Bought an iPhone 16 pro max on launch day. Went to the Apple Store with my iPhone 15 pro max, and was encouraged to transfer my data in the store. I sat there for 7 hours, with both phones connected via hard wired Ethernet, and was still not successful. The only use case I can come up with for higher speed physical is direct phone to phone data transfer during these upgrade cycles. I’m appalled by how much doesn’t work on my new phone - passwords that need to be re-established, music that needs to be downloaded. It’s not a traditionally clean “it just works” Apple experience. I’d like to plug a USB cable into both phone, and within 15min, have my new phone exactly like my old phone - exactly the same. It was so bad, I may skip future refresh cycles - and the reason Apple may thing about actually fixing the experience.
By @chrsw - 7 months
They want you to use wireless as much as possible. Their dream is 0 physical ports. And I say this as an iPhone user and someone who generally likes using Apple products.
By @catlikesshrimp - 7 months
>"Maybe to save space"

You see, this is the one size fit all argument they can use when nothing else sticks properly

By @blackeyeblitzar - 7 months
This is a limitation of the non Pro models. Feels a bit like the money grab Apple has going on the memory upgrades.
By @dzhiurgis - 6 months
And iCloud is even slower than this. Around 10mbps if it’s cold archive.
By @mattl - 7 months
By using a USB 2.0 port.
By @metalman - 6 months
there is a cross platform push to go all wireless a lot of the how to's that are about useing usb,then give instructions for wifi.....so.... ......just getting a new cheap wallmart android phone to plug in and transfer files to a linux box is a chore now,but once it's working it's fast and whole photo albums jump from one device to another my internet is strictly through a wifi hotspot on one phone with mass data,and then a second phone for general use and a semi broken laptop and an old hdmi screen running mint,which refuses to connect to more than one wifi thing at a time and the second phone is devoid of googlish apps and does not play nice with any web sites doing multiple redirects(etc),but it is my main camera so,usb is in constant use