USB-C

A security vulnerability has been discovered in the USB-C port controller fitted to the iPhone 15 and 16. However, exploiting it would be so complex that both Apple and the security researcher who discovered it concluded that it is not a real-world threat.

However, a security concern that does pose a threat to iPhone users is a tactic scammers are using to bypass one of Apple’s built-in protections. Update: A flurry in E-ZPass scam messages appears to have been driven by a Chinese phishing kit – see new section below …

As previously reported, Apple will no longer sell the iPhone 14 and iPhone SE in the European Union due to local legislation that requires all smartphones sold there to have a USB-C port. After removing these models from the online store in some countries such as Switzerland, Apple has now ended sales of the iPhone 14 and SE in most EU countries.

USB-C/Thunderbolt display options have really grown in recent years. While Apple’s Pro Display XDR isn’t the best fit for most Mac users at $5,000+, it also offers the more affordable Studio Display. But there are many great choices from LG, Samsung, BenQ, and more. Here are the best USB-C/Thunderbolt displays with many available in the $400-$1,600 range.

Update 11/27/24: For a limited time grab 57% off the 5K Samsung ViewFinity S9 or get 19% off the 5K Apple Studio Display.

Apple today announced a brand new M4 iMac, and with it the news we’ve all been waiting for: USB-C has finally been added to the Mac’s key accessories. The Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse are now fully USB-C, and can be ordered now in both white and black.

USB-C/Thunderbolt display options have really expanded in recent years. While Apple’s Pro Display XDR isn’t the best fit for most Mac users at $5,000+, it also offers the more affordable Studio Display. But there are lots of great choices from LG, Samsung, BenQ, and more. Here are the best USB-C/Thunderbolt displays with many available in the $400-$1,600 range.

Update 8/16/24: You can get 44% off the Samsung 5K ViewFinity S9. And the Apple Studio Display is currently 19% off.

Nomad is out with its latest creation today, a unique USB-C GaN charger with a fast-charging Apple Watch puck integrated on top. Here’s a close look at the convenient new Apple accessory that’s fantastic for travel and more.

Nobody likes a port transition. When Apple moved the iPhone and iPad to Lightning, and the Mac from USB-A to USB-C, it was painful. Most recently, the iPhone 15 line dropped Lightning for USB-C. Each transition makes your old peripherals more or less useless, unless you want to resort to endless adapters.

But port transitions are made much easier once every device supports the new connector.

Apple has gotten us most of the way toward the dream of an all-USB-C life. But there are still a handful of products lagging behind. Here are the products still in need of a USB-C update.

At CES, Samsung unveiled an updated version of its popular 32-inch Smart Monitor. The latest iteration features the same iMac-like design of the previous generation with features like a 4K resolution, USB-C single cable connectivity, AirPlay 2, 4K AI upscaling, and more.

Update 6/4/24: After a January reveal, the 2024 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 is now available direct from Samsung priced at $699. Read below for all the details.

Keychron has built a strong reputation for mechanical keyboards over the last seven years and now the company has jumped into the slim keyboard market. The new B1 and B6 Pro Ultra-Slim models come in Apple’s Magic Keyboard style with some added features and an affordable price.

Last fall Apple launched an Apple Pencil with USB-C and a mix of features from the premium Apple Pencil 2 while holding some back to keep the price tag at $50 below the high-end model. Now the Apple Pencil Pro has arrived. Here’s how Apple Pencil Pro vs USB-C, 2, and 1 compare.

India is planning to copy the European Union’s USB-C charging port law, requiring all smartphones to adopt the standard, which poses three big problems for Apple – and not just in India.

A new report today says that Apple is lobbying either for an exemption for older models still manufactured in the country, or delayed enforcement of the proposed legislation …

We’ve seen some impressive new Thunderbolt and USB-C monitors launch over the last year to compete with Apple’s Studio Display and Pro Display XDR. However, most monitors aimed at Mac users don’t support the MacBook Pro’s 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates, even Apple’s displays. Now the Spectrum One arrived from Dough that offers an enticing 27-inch, 4K monitor with 144Hz refresh, USB-C with 100W power, an allegedly advanced glossy finish, and more.

When Apple introduced the new iPhone 15 lineup with USB-C, we knew that it was going to unlock a lot of new hardware and software use cases – especially when you consider that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max also have support for much faster USB3 speeds. You can now use USB-C hubs, external SSDs, USB-C peripherals, and even charge other devices with the correct cable. However, I think we just got the best use case so far for USB-C on iPhone – let me tell you about it.

iPhone 15 may be the first to charge over USB-C, but it’s hardly the first Apple product to use the port. From MacBooks and iPads to the Apple TV remote, USB-C ports exist on many devices. Still, it’s only now that the iPhone 15 has launched that Apple has added a USB-A to USB-C cable to its store.

One of the new iPhone 15 Pro features is somewhat niche but incredibly useful to video enthusiasts using their iPhone as a B-camera or C-camera: You can shoot directly to an SSD.

But a reviewer learned of one problem the hard way: If your cable doesn’t support USB 3 speeds, the iPhone won’t warn you – it will simply drop frames. Lots and lots of frames …

Prior to Apple’s launch event, there had been numerous suggestions that the iPhone 15 USB-C port might be restricted in some way, with only Apple-certified cables and accessories able to take advantage of full data transfer rates and charging power.

This would have mirrored the situation with the Lightning port in previous iPhone models, but a new report today says that Apple itself has indirectly confirmed that there are no such restrictions with the USB-C port in iPhone 15 models …

iPhone 15 went USB-C, and so did the wired earbuds that used to come in the box. Nothing weird about that. Something perhaps more unexpected? Apple’s $19 USB-C EarPods apparently support lossless audio playback that works with Apple Music.

Apple announced its next-generation iPhone lineup today, and unsurprisingly, it marks the end of the road for Apple’s long-running Lightning connector in favor of USB-C. Not only does USB-C further streamline the wired cable connections across Apple’s vast product lineup, but it also brings faster USB 3 speed capability, alongside other special features, to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

Apple has officially announced the iPhone 15 lineup, and with the new hardware comes the first charging port change since the iPhone 5 in 2012. To help ease the transition from Lightning to USB-C for iPhone accessories, Apple is selling a $29 adapter.

Leaker yeux1122 says that Apple Store staff have been told to make sure iPhone 15 buyers know about the change from Lightning port to a USB-C one, when they make their purchase.

Staff will advise them that the box includes a USB-C to USB-C cable, but not a charging brick, so they may need to buy one …

Philips is out with a new Creator Series 4K display that looks to offer a range of valuable features at an affordable $500 price. Coming with this 27-inch 4K monitor is USB-C with 96W passthrough, DCI-P3 support, an IPS Black panel, KVM switch, an I/O hub, and more.