Before Apple’s launch event, many people speculated that the iPhone 15 USB-C port would have some limitations, and only Apple-approved cables and accessories could use its full data transfer and charging capabilities. This would have been similar to the Lightning port in previous iPhone models, but a new report today says that Apple has indirectly confirmed that there are no such restrictions with the USB-C port in iPhone 15 models.
Arstechnica says the USB-C port in iPhone 15 models is completely standard, with no Apple certification requirements for cables or accessories. As evidence, it points out that Apple has updated the compatibility tables for existing Mac and iPad USB-C chargers and cables to state that they are also compatible with the iPhone 15.
Those existing chargers and cables are also 100% standards-compliant. They don't contain authentication chips. So, just like Macs and iPads, the USB-C port in the iPhone 15 does not require any authentication.
We’ll have to wait for confirmation from reviewers when they test the phones with third-party chargers and cables, but certainly Apple has provided a strong indication that the rumors were false. And you might have more options for cables to use.
However, you’ll still need to ensure your cables have the necessary capabilities to get the most out of them. For example, if you want to use the 10Gbps data transfer speeds of the iPhone 15 Pro models, you’ll need a USB 3.0-compliant cable; the supplied cable in the iPhone 15 box won’t do the job (that particular rumour seems correct).