Using the wrong USB-C charger can seriously damage your new iPhone 15

Apple is expected to release the new iPhone 15 on September 22, 2023, and it will be the first to feature a USB-C port - marking a change from Apple's Lightning connector. This will be the first time Apple has released a new iPhone charger in more than a decade.

However, some USB-C charging cables and plug-ins may offer less protection for your iPhone 15 than Apple's official Lightning cables, so users should be wary of off-the-shelf plug-ins and cheap charging cables. Apple recommends that new iPhone owners use Apple chargers or certified brands that meet certain safety regulations.

Jessa Jones, owner of the mobile device repair center iPad Rehab/USA, shared with The New York Times Magazine that using a charger that does not meet standards can put the new iPhone at serious risk.

“A quality charger is essentially an electronic device with tiny circuit boards inside. There are two chips on the official Apple Lightning cable: one that certifies that the cable is made by Apple, while the other acts as a fuse to prevent any problems with the charger,” Jessa Jones said. In the event of an electrical fault, only the charger can be destroyed, not the phone itself.

Counterfeit chargers may be cheaper, but they can cause serious short circuits and fires in your new iPhone 15. Therefore, when buying a non-Apple charger, users should carefully read the product description and reviews. You can go through reputable purchasing channels to ensure you receive a quality product. Ideally, your charger should meet MFI (Made For iPhone/iPad/iPod) standards.

According to Tom's Guide's technology expert Tom Pritchard, Apple's MFI certification is meant to help protect users, even if they choose to buy chargers from other manufacturers. MFI-certified phone chargers must pass safety regulations to ensure that users do not put themselves at risk when charging their devices.

Apple and MFI-certified chargers can protect your new iPhone from high-voltage outlets, but you should be careful when charging your phone using hotel room outlets, airplane seat outlets, car dashboards, and other public outlets.

If you plug a low-quality charger into a high-voltage outlet, it can short-circuit your phone, Jessa Jones told The New York Times Magazine. So, being careful about your charger and where you plug it in can help you avoid potentially serious damage to your expensive new iPhone.

The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are expected to feature a USB 2.0 standard port, providing 480 Mbps data transfer speeds and up to 20W charging speeds, similar to the Lightning port. The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max will feature a USB 3.2 port (USB-C port), providing significant speed increases in charging and data transfer.

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