Apple's MFI plan to limit USB-C speed and power has been leaked!

Apple may be planning to limit data transfer and charging speeds on the USB-C ports used on its devices, by introducing MFI certification!

Previously: Apple was forced to adopt the USB-C port!

Apple has been hesitant for years to adopt the superior USB-C port, limiting it to Mac computers and iPad tablets.

The 12-inch MacBook was the first Mac computer to get USB-C in 2015, while the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro tablets made the switch from Lighting to USB-C in 2018. However, Apple has stubbornly refused to migrate its iPhones to USB-C.

The decision to stick with their proprietary Lightning port slipped through their fingers on October 4, 2022, when the European Parliament voted decisively in favor Adopts USB-C (USB Type C) port as the new standard for all portable devices.

By the end of 2024, all portable devices sold in the EU will have to have a USB-C charging port. This directive is more or less aimed at Apple, which is the only brand still using its own Lightning connector.

Read more : EU orders all brands to use USB-C, including Apple!

Apple's MFI plan to limit USB-C speed and power has been leaked!

Now that the EU is firmly forcing everyone to use USB-C, Apple will start using the USB Type-C port on its upcoming iPhone 15 models.

However, Apple apparently isn't going to give up its lucrative side business of selling MFI (Made for iPhone) cables and accessories to its users at exorbitant prices.

According ShrimpAppleProwhich accurately leaked the iPhone 14, Apple will introduce MFI for its USB-C cables and accessories.

And even worse: Cables that lack MFI certification will have their data and charging speeds limited.

MFI-certified cables have a small authenticator chip to verify that they are “certified” to work with Apple devices. If you use cables that do not have this authenticator chip, you will get the message “This accessory is not compatible” warning on your Apple device.

Apple gets paid per authenticator chip, so MFI cables and accessories are priced higher, even if they work just as well as non-MFI cables and accessories.

Apple is already expected to limit the base model of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus to USB 2.0 data transfer speeds of up to 480Mbps (60MB/s), while the Pro models will get much higher transfer speeds of 20Gbps (USB-C 3.2) or even 40Gbps (Thunderbolt 3).

People may not mind Apple limiting data transfer speeds to differentiate its Pro models from non-Pro models, but limiting battery charging speeds for non-MFI cables should bother some. After all, there's technically no good reason why Apple can't allow its devices to benefit from faster charging using non-MFI cables.

Naturally, Apple benefits financially from the introduction of MFI for USB-C, as it will force Apple users to pay the infamous “Apple tax” on top of the “Apple premium” they paid for their Apple devices.

Let's imagine that Apple introduces MFI technology for USB-C and gradually rolls it out to future Mac computers and iPad tablets, as well as the upcoming iPhone 15 smartphones. Even those who have been using regular, non-MFI USB-C cables without any problems will have to switch to MFI cables, and for what purpose?

There is actually no perceptible benefit to Apple users from using MFI-certified cables instead of regular USB-C cables. It's not as if these cables are going to grant magical powers to Apple devices. If there is any reduction in transfer or charging speeds, it will only be because Apple intentionally chose to do so.

Of course, this leak may turn out to be true and Apple may not be so evil as to impose the MFI tax on its loyal users, but I fear that Apple believes its users are more loyal than discerning and will once again quietly pay for MFI cables just because Apple said so.

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