USB-C is a universally accepted standard that supports charging, syncing data, and playing audio and video. iPhone 15 models are equipped with a USB-C port for charging and connecting to a variety of devices, including Mac, iPad, AirPods Pro (2nd generation), external storage devices, and displays.
Charge iPhone
You can charge your iPhone using a USB-C cable (such as the one that came with your iPhone) and a power adapter that uses the USB-C standard (including USB Power Delivery). These cables and power adapters are readily available from Apple and other manufacturers.
Connect the cable to the USB-C connector on your iPhone and a compatible USB-C power adapter. Then plug the power adapter into a wall outlet.
If you have a 20W USB-C power adapter or higher (such as the one that came with your Mac notebook), you can use it with your iPhone for faster charging. You can also charge your iPhone by connecting it to a USB-C port on your computer.
Connect iPhone to iPad, Mac, and other computers
You can use a USB-C cable that works with the USB-C standard, such as the one that came with your iPhone, to connect iPhone to iPad, Mac, and other computers to transfer data, such as photos and videos. These cables are readily available from Apple and other manufacturers. Simply connect one end of the included USB-C Charge Cable to the USB-C connector on your iPhone and the other end to a USB-C port on your computer.
Your iPhone will charge while it's connected to these devices. iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max support fast data transfers at USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds of up to 10Gbit/s when using an optional USB 3 cable
Charge other devices with iPhone 15
You can use iPhone to charge AirPods, Apple Watch, or other small devices that support USB Power Delivery at up to 4.5 watts.
- If you have another device with a USB-C connector, connect it to iPhone using a USB-C cable, such as the one that came with your iPhone.
- To charge a device with a Lightning connector, connect it to iPhone using an Apple USB-C to Lightning Cable.
- To charge Apple Watch, connect the Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable directly to iPhone. You can also use an Apple USB-C to USB Adapter to connect the Magnetic Charging Cable to iPhone.
Playing Audio
To play audio on iPhone, you can use its built-in speaker, connect to AirPods or other Bluetooth devices, or use AirPlay. You can also use the USB-C connector to listen to audio through wired headphones or other audio accessories, such as the new EarPods (USB-C), which are sold separately.
If you need to use other speakers or headphones with the USB-C connector to play audio, you can use the Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter or the Apple USB-C to Lightning Adapter to connect them.
Connecting to displays and monitors
You can use the USB-C connector to connect iPhone to an external display so you can watch videos, view photos, and more on a larger screen. Depending on the display you're connecting to, you might need an adapter, such as the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter.
When you connect an external display, it shows what you see on the built-in iPhone display, unless you're using an app that provides a "second screen" experience (such as a video app).
USB-C displays
iPhone uses the DisplayPort protocol to support connections to USB-C displays with resolutions up to 4K at 60Hz
To connect iPhone to a high-resolution display, use a USB-C cable that supports USB 3.1 or later, such as the cable included with the display or the Thunderbolt 4 (USB‑C) Pro Cable (1 meter), which is sold separately
iPhone also supports high dynamic range USB-C displays. You can switch between SDR and HDR modes by going to Settings > Display & Brightness and selecting the connected display. When you turn on Allow Display Mode Changes, iPhone matches the frame rate and dynamic range of the content currently playing.
Some USB-C displays can also charge iPhone when connected.
HDMI displays and TVs
You can connect iPhone to an HDMI display or TV using a USB-C to HDMI adapter or cable. Adapters and cables that support HDMI 2.0 can output video from iPhone at 4K resolution and 60Hz.
The Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter is compatible with iPhone. This adapter can output video from iPhone at up to 4K resolution and 60Hz1, including content in HDR10 or Dolby Vision format (if your display or TV supports HDR).
Connecting to other devices
The USB-C connector on iPhone also connects to a variety of USB-C devices, such as:
- CarPlay-compatible vehicles
- External storage devices
- Monitors and external displays
- Microphones
- External batteries
- USB to Ethernet adapters
- SD cards using an SD card adapter
The USB-C connector on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max supports data transfer over USB 3 when used with a USB-C cable that supports USB 32. iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max also support ProRes video recording directly to external storage devices at up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second.
To connect some devices to your iPhone, you may need to use an adapter. Here are some common connections:
- If the device you’re connecting to has a USB-C connector, use a USB-C cable with a USB-C connector on each end, such as the cable that comes with an iPhone 15.1
- If your car has a USB-A connector, you can use a compatible USB-C to USB-A cable.
- To use your current Lightning accessories, you can use a USB-C to Lightning adapter; this adapter supports charging, data transfer, and audio playback.
Devices and cables that don’t meet the USB-C standard might not work properly. In some cases, USB-C accessories and cables, such as those from third parties, can interfere with wireless connections. If you experience slow Wi-Fi or cellular speeds when using a USB-C accessory, performance should return to normal after you disconnect the accessory. To prevent future interference, disconnect the accessory when you’re done using it, or try using a different cable, such as the Thunderbolt 4 (USB‑C) Pro Cable (1 m), which is designed to minimize interference.