iPhone 15 rumored to limit features with non-official USB-C cables
Apple is rumored to be planning to limit the functionality of the USB-C port on the upcoming iPhone 15 in the same way as the Lightning port, with a chip for authentication of accessories.
As per EU regulations, it is widely anticipated that Apple will switch to a USB-C port for the iPhone 15 lineup, replacing the current proprietary Lightning port.
According to a rumor shared on Weibo, the USB-C port and charging cables for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro may come with a Lightning-style authenticator chip, which may restrict their compatibility with accessories not approved by Apple.
Apple's USB-C variant for iPhone series will be unique compared to standard USB-C variant
According to a rumor, Apple has created its own version of USB-C for the upcoming iPhone 15 lineup. The source of the rumor is a user who claims to be an expert in integrated circuits, with 25 years of experience working on Intel's Pentium processors.
The information sharing between devices is managed by integrated circuit (IC) interfaces which are semiconductor chips. Since their inception in 2012, Lightning ports and connectors that are manufactured by Apple or have MFi certification come with a small IC chip that confirms the authenticity of the parts involved in the connection.
In contrast, third-party charging cables that are not MFi certified, for example, do not contain this chip, which often results in Apple devices displaying a warning message that reads "This accessory is not supported."
This implies that the firmware may restrict the way the USB-C port interacts with the devices that are connected to it. This could result in Apple retaining control over its proprietary Made-for-iPhone Lightning ecosystem, even though the physical connector shape has changed.
It should be noted that this would be a departure from Apple's current practice, as the USB-C ports found in the 10th-gen iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro do not include an IC chip for authentication.
