The new iPhone 15 models make the switch from lightning to USB-C. The port supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps). The included USB-C cord, however, is rated to USB 2 (480 Mbps). On a $1000+ phone!
My thoughts about it : First i thought , do we really need 10Gbps on a phone ? But then i looked up the specifications on the support site form apple :
USB-C is a universally accepted standard that enables charging, syncing data, and playing audio and video. iPhone 15 and later models have a USB-C connector, which allows you to charge and connect to a variety of devices, including Mac, iPad, AirPods Pro (2nd generation), external storage...
support.apple.com
Excerpt:
"
Published Date: September 15, 2023
The USB-C connector on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max supports USB 3 for data transfer when used with a USB-C cable that supports USB 3-2. iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max also support
recording ProRes video directly to an external storage device, up to 4K at 60 frames per second.
"
and
"
- The USB-C cable that comes with your iPhone supports charging and USB 2 speeds. If you want to use a USB 3 device, use a compliant USB 3 cable that supports 10Gbit/s.
- The Thunderbolt 4 (USB‑C) Pro Cable (1 m) has a Thunderbolt symbol to distinguish it from a USB-C cable. The Thunderbolt 4 (USB‑C) Pro Cable (1 m) is backward-compatible with USB 3 and DisplayPort protocols.
I would agree that such a USB3 capable cable would be a good standard cable. Perhaps the certification of the cable was delayed or the right cable or connectors or the or the marker chip was not available yet and with that the official USB and EMC certification.
Some background information :
Anyway, usb3 cable can have a marker IC inside the connector to tell the device what the cable is capable of with respect to maximum power delivery current and voltage capabilities and media connection capabilities like how thunderbolt may work over usb3. ( I though it was like a single pair PCIe but i am not sure anymore , can somebody fill me in ? )
"
An Electronically Marked Cable Assembly (EMCA) is a USB Type-C cable that uses a marker chip to provide the cable’s characteristics to the DFP.
"
These cable are prone to very critical specifications. The USB wires are in essence the same as transmission lines or twisted pair cable. These cables have impedance that is critical for USB3 to properly function and since USB3 is a differential signal , which means there are 2 signals (TX+ & TX-) or (RX+ & RX-), also critical trace length matching applies. Add the electronic behavior of the connectors, and the pcb combined with the cable. It is all a critical design and certification is demanded. Also for the cables.
As a side note :
Inside Apple USB extension devices one can often find the TPS65981 ,TPS65982 or TPS65987D from Texas Instruments, A power delivery chip that is also capable with the right USB3 multiplexer to send different high speed signals over the pins designated for USB3TX and USB3 RX. USB3 multiplexers like for example one can find at the ON semiconductor website, Microchip website. Or Texas Instruments website, like for example the HD3SS460.
Lingo :
USB is Universal Serial Bus.
EMC is electromagnetic compatibility which roughly translates to : Allowed electromagnetic interference compliance.