Are Android USB-C cables and chargers fully compatible with iPhone?

USB-C simplification began several years ago with European Union guidelines. Late last year, Apple moved the charging standard from the Lightning port to USB-C with its iPhone 15 series (which had to happen by the end of 2024). But it still raises questions without clear answers. At least perception seems to be influencing the conversation – are USB-C cables and chargers originally made for Android smartphones also fully compatible with your iPhone?

Part of this ambiguity stems from early complaints about the iPhone 15 Pro smartphone, which suffered from heating issues in early iOS versions that were fixed in a subsequent software update, iOS 17.0.3. it was done. Apple has never explicitly claimed that his USB-C charging cables from other brands are the cause of the heat complaints, but it is believed that they may be a factor. In a new study, research firm TechInsights monitored how iPhones performed when charged with some USB-C cables originally intended for Android smartphones.

“In our research, we captured the charging profile of an iPhone 15 using Apple’s USB-C cable and compared it to a certified Android USB-C cable,” says TechInsights Battery Subject Matter Expert – Reverse Engineering Ali Khazaeli said in the report. As for details, Apple’s latest iPhone 15 Pro phone draws the maximum possible charging speed from a 30-watt charger.

Samsung limits the fastest charging speed of its flagship phones to 45 watts, and while both companies (and Google too, given the Pixel 8 Pro’s 30 watt wired charging) remain stable, the surrounding The competition (Android phones are leading the charge) is currently using a lot of power, and their unique selling point is faster charging speeds.

Xiaomi’s latest flagship phone, the Xiaomi 14, features 90W fast charging. The OnePlus 12 has a maximum power output of 100 watts, and the latest mid-range Nord CE4 also supports the same charging technology. These are just some examples.

The first test conducted by TechInsights compared the architecture of Apple’s USB-C cables to the architecture of USB-C cables sold by Samsung. Planar and X-ray comparisons of the two cables show that the connector configuration and layout, as well as the internals, are very similar on both cables, and neither cable has any active components that the other may lack. You can see that the element is not preserved. The second series of tests included multiple combinations of Apple’s 30-watt charger, Samsung’s 45-watt charger, Apple’s USB-C cable, and Samsung’s USB-C cable for the Galaxy S23 Ultra flagship phone. Ta.

Testing using Samsung’s 45-watt charger and Samsung USB-C cable, and Samsung’s 45-watt charger and Apple USB-C cable, tested charging speed, battery, and test phone temperature (test phone was an iPhone 15; Tests were conducted at room temperature of approximately 22 degrees Celsius). This should put an end to the controversy over genuine USB-C cables for Android smartphones causing charging issues on the latest generation of iPhones.

“The temperature profiles of the three cases are identical, indicating that using Android cables and chargers does not generate any extra heat,” the report states.

However, there are some caveats to the research. TechInsights tests show that SuperVOOC (Voltage Open Loop Multi-Step Constant Current Charging) brand chargers made by Oppo and chargers for OnePlus phones charge iPhones at much slower speeds than fast chargers (such as 65 Watts). It has become clear that it can be charged. For example, you are expected to deliver. This fast charging incompatibility was noticed by HT when he tried to charge his iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max mobile phone with the SuperVOOC charger, regardless of the USB-C cable used. That’s it.

With the new regulation stipulating USB-C as the standard charging technology for a variety of technologies such as computing devices, smartphones, tablets, and smart home accessories, the EU had two reasons for doing so. Because it saves consumers money. Otherwise, you would have to spend money on buying a new charger, saving an estimated 11,000 tons of e-waste per year in the form of discarded or unused chargers.