It took the iPhone an eternity to beat the lightning in favor of the universal USB-C port. Now that it is here on all models, including low-end 16E, many users still limit the use of charging overlooking the range of other benefits it offers over lightning. If you have an iPhone 15 or 16 model, you can expand the USB-C port’s functionality beyond battery fillings and we have a few ideas to share.
1. Charge another device
Rival companies, like Samsung, have long supported reverse wireless charging, letting users transform their smartphones into portable Qi pads. However, it is not so convenient to force users to turn over their phones and make both useless. With iPhone 15 and newer models, Apple introduced its own version, which works via the USB-C port.
Your iPhone can now deliver up to 4.5W power and let you charge your AirPods, Apple Watch or even a friend’s Android phone. To do so, simply connect your USB-C cable to the iPhone and the other end in the USB-C port on the other device.
2. Increase your storage
Even with 128 GB as the standard, we probably have all found across the iPhone’s full storage alarm. While data stored in iCloud can easily be read from the local memory does not trust all users on cloud storage. Fortunately, the iPhone 15 and 16 support a wide range of external storage devices, including USB sticks and hard drives. This makes it easy to release space by moving large files to a separate drive. To get started, connect a compatible flash drive to your iPhone using its USB-C port. You can then view, manage and transfer data using the built -in files app.
One of the solid options out there is this little Samsung Type-C Flash Drive that supports regular file transfers and real-time pro-video storage. As a pro-exclusive, with the highest end iPhone 15 and 16 models, they can directly record pro-video video to a compatible external storage device. Given the significant size of raw recordings, being able to write the data directly on a separate device can help you shoot for extended periods and avoid filling your iPhone’s memory.
Your iPhone’s USB-C cable can do more than just charge your iPhone.
Foundry
3. Connect a keyboard
While iPads and MACs are better suited for entering long form, iPhones-Issky can effectively 7-inch Plus and Pro Max-Models-Stadig. However, to get the most out of the relatively small screen, you can pair it with a dedicated keyboard. Fortunately, iOS naturally supports this through the USB-C port.
Most standard keyboards need to work with your iPhone just fine. Or if you always want a keyboard with you, you can choose a click case that connects to your USB-C port so it is always ready for a text or email.
4. Reinforce your microphone
In Tikkok’s era, everyone is a content creator, so a high quality microphone is an important tool. Fortunately, your iPhone’s USB-C port can support a wide range of them, so you can pair your recordings with high quality crystal clear sound. A reliable option is Rode Wireless Micro, which uses your iPhone’s port while maintaining the convenience of wireless recording.
5. Add an SD card
Photographers and videographers love the practical SD card tracks aboard the latest MacBook Pro and Mac Studio, but that convenience does not extend to the device that makes most of your recording. Fortunately, it can be easily remedied with a wired SD card reader. While recent cameras generally support wireless photo transfers through their respective companion apps, the process tends to be slower than the wired alternative. Apple’s USB-C to SD card reader connects to your iPhone through its charging port and should work with all relevant SD cards. You can also use this same dongle with your Mac or iPad when editing on a larger screen.
With the right cable, you can connect your iPhone to any display.
Willis Lai / Foundry
6. Connect an external screen
If you are staying in a hotel that blocks wireless media throwing, you may be able to mirror your iPhone’s screen for the TV using a wired solution. Apple’s USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter transforms your iPhone’s charging port into an HDMI connector so you can see 4K content on larger screens using a regular HDMI cable.
7. Connect a game controller
Thanks to the A17 and A18 chips, the latest pro-tier iPhones can run some AAA games. But in particular, these titles typically need a controller, as touch checks do not always offer the best gameplay if they are available at all. While Sony’s DualSense controller supports Bluetooth pairing, selecting the wired mode using iPhone’s USB-C port can minimize latency time and improve the overall performance.
8. Connect to Ethernet
When we talk about games, the iPhone 15 and 16 models fully support Ethernet dongles, providing faster download and upload speeds. While Wi-Fi and 5G are sufficient for most users, Ethernet can get along well when seeking an even more reliable connection. Belkin’s USB-C to Ethernet Adapter is one of the solid options guaranteed to have the job done.
9. Make it all
The biggest damage to the iPhone is that there is only one gate, but a USB hub can give you much more. We recommend the pluggable 7-in-1 USB-C Hub Multiport Adapter, which brings a headphone jack, USB-C charging, HDMI, an SD card reader, Ethernet and even a few USB-A ports to a good scale. It is not exactly small, but if you need more ports at once, there is no replacement.
Your iPhone’s USB-C port is a multi-purpose plug for screens, hard drives and other accessories.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
A gate, many options
While some of these functionalities were previously possible with lightning iPhones, switching to USB-C has greatly expanded the harbor’s capabilities. You can now perform a wide range of desktop class assignments right from your smartphone thanks to bound accessories.
Perhaps the best part is that most USB-C accessories you’ve used with your iPad or Mac should work with your iPhone 15 or 16-rested up the need for lightning-to-USB-C dongles. Whether Apple will introduce new USB-C upgrades with the iPhone 17 Re-See.