Apple officially made the shift from its proprietary Lightning port to USB-C with the introduction of the iPhone 15 series, and now this standard is carried forward to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models. However, despite this change in port type, there’s been no improvement in data transfer speeds for some of the new devices.
iPhone 16: USB-C Transition with Familiar Data Speeds
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus still support data transfer rates of up to 480 Mbps, which is based on the older USB 2.0 standard. This is the same speed that the previous Lightning port offered. On the other hand, Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models support much faster data transfer speeds. Reaching up to 10 Gbps using USB 3.0. However, it’s important to note that to achieve these higher speeds, users will need a compatible USB-C cable specifically designed for USB 3.0.
Although these Pro models offer improved data speeds, it’s still worth mentioning that they don’t match the speeds offered by Apple’s iPad Pro lineup, which features Thunderbolt support. The Thunderbolt standard allows for blazing-fast data transfer rates of up to 40 Gbps. A significant leap from what’s available in the iPhone 16 Pro models. This difference highlights a potential opportunity for future iPhone models to adopt even faster data standards.
Beyond the USB-C transition, Apple has made some other notable enhancements to its latest iPhone 16 Pro. For instance, the iPhone 16 Pro now supports the JPEG-XL image format. Offering improved compression and image quality over previous formats. Additionally, Apple is rolling out new features in iOS 18. Such as the ability to pause video recording mid-shoot, which brings more flexibility and control to content creators.
Apple’s announcement of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro was a highlight of its recent product event. Showcasing its continued innovation. Packaging for these new models was also revealed, featuring sleek, minimalistic designs that reflect the brand’s iconic aesthetic.
As Apple continues to refine its devices, the move to USB-C is a welcome change for many, though the limitations in data transfer speeds in some models could leave power users hoping for even faster improvements in the future.
