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Despite online rumors, using Android USB-C cables for the iPhone 15 series does not pose any damage to the device, AppleInsider reports.
A Chinese retailer has started to circulate a rumor that quickly went viral and terrified iPhone 15 owners. He claimed using Android USB-C cables for iPhone 15 would damage the device. The retailer, based in Foshan, Guangdong Province, said this while advertising Android USB-C cables. He argued one of his cables has nine pins on one side of the bi-directional cable and another one with 11 pins.
The Chinese retailer further added using cables with different numbers of pins could damage the iPhone 15. This claim quickly went viral on social media, and people started speculating about it. It was such a bold claim that required Apple to involve and respond to iPhone 15 owners directly.
It is safe to use Android USB-C cables for iPhone 15 series
The short answer is that you can use Android USB-C cables on your iPhone 15 devices without damage. The iPhone’s transition from Lightning to USB-C was partially due to reducing e-waste and meeting the EU requirements.
If iPhone 15 owners needed to buy a whole new cable for their device, the transition was totally futile. Of course, maybe Apple didn’t mind revealing an exclusive USB-C cable for its new devices (iCable, for example) and putting a $99 price tag on it.
Understanding the USB-C architecture isn’t an inside baseball matter. Every USB-C cable usually comes with 24 pins, and 12 of those pins are located on the side of the internal tongue to make it bi-directional. These cables are suitable for data and power transfer, charging, alternate modes between a host and a client, etc.
The thing iPhone 15 owners should be worried about is not the adaptability of Android USB-C cables but the durability of their devices. A recent drop test conducted by Sam Kohl revealed that despite using a titanium frame, the iPhone 15 Pro is less resistant than the iPhone 14 Pro.