Your iPhone’s USB-C port is surprisingly versatile – 14 options past charging

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Your iPhone’s USB-C port does excess of cost units.
• USB-C turns your iPhone right into a hub for work, media, and storage.
• Wired USB-C equipment ship sooner, extra dependable efficiency.

For years, the iPhone was caught with the Lightning port, whilst Apple moved its different units to USB-C. That meant retaining one cable for my iPhone and one other for my iPad and Mac. Nevertheless, beginning with the iPhone 15 lineup, Apple lastly made the swap.

Each present iPhone mannequin, together with the iPhone 15, iPhone 16, and iPhone 17 households, now makes use of USB-C. And sure, it’s about time.

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I actually like that USB-C does excess of simplify gadget charging for me. It turns my iPhone right into a workstation, a media hub, a storage gadget, and even a networking device. In case you have solely been utilizing the port to cost, you are leaving lots on the desk.

What are you able to do along with your iPhone’s USB-C port?

Earlier than moving into the whole lot the USB-C port in your new iPhone can do, it is value beginning with the obvious and, for me, essentially the most satisfying profit: fewer cables. I now carry a single USB-C cable that works with my iPhone, iPad, MacBook, headphones, digicam gear, and even energy banks. It dramatically cuts down on cable muddle at residence and once I journey.

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Now, let’s get into the enjoyable stuff…

1. Flip your iPhone into an influence financial institution

Do you know your iPhone can double as a small energy financial institution? If one other gadget has USB-C, you may join it to your iPhone with a USB-C-to-USB-C cable and share energy. Because of reverse wired charging, your iPhone can cost equipment like earbuds, tablets, or one other telephone. Energy output is proscribed to 4.5 watts, so it won’t change a wall charger, however it’s nonetheless helpful for emergencies.

2. Create a cell workstation

USB-C opens the door to a world of peripherals and equipment. You may plug in a keyboard, mouse, or trackpad and immediately flip your iPhone right into a mini workstation. No drivers and no complicated installs are wanted; it simply works. That is particularly helpful in case you are touring and wish to write down lengthy emails, edit paperwork, or handle information whereas away from a laptop computer.

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3. Pair to an exterior show

If you happen to actually wish to take your workstation setup up a notch, pair your iPhone with an exterior show, and it begins to really feel surprisingly succesful. USB-C makes it simple to attach your iPhone to TVs, displays, and projectors utilizing HDMI or USB-C show adapters.

I’ve used this for watching movies in inns, and it’s way more versatile and dependable than wi-fi casting.

4. File clear audio from wherever

If you’re a musician, podcaster, journalist, or anybody who must document audio, you may join a USB-C microphone and document on to your iPhone. I’ve used this setup for subject recordings and was in a position to seize clear sound with no noticeable interference.

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5. Join MIDI devices

Talking of musicians, they will do extra than simply document audio on their iPhone.

Utilizing USB-C, they will plug MIDI keyboards, drum pads, and extra straight into an iPhone. Music apps acknowledge these devices immediately, turning the iPhone into a conveyable music studio for composing, recording, and even dwell efficiency.

6. Plug in high-end headphones and audio gear

Sorry, I am not carried out with advantages for musicians or audiophiles but.

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USB-C helps digital audio straight, so you need to use USB-C headphones, DACs, and skilled audio interfaces. All of this opens the door to higher-quality playback and recording than Bluetooth alone can present.

7. Switch giant information – quick

Transferring giant information over USB-C is considerably sooner than it ever was with Lightning, particularly on Professional fashions. Normal iPhones function at USB 2 speeds, whereas Professional fashions help USB 3, as much as 10Gbps, which dramatically cuts switch occasions. If you happen to repeatedly transfer photographs, movies, or backups between your iPhone and a pc, a high-speed knowledge switch cable is effectively value it.

8. Add extra storage to your iPhone

Anxious about operating out of storage in your iPhone? Cease. You may merely join USB-C flash drives, exterior SSDs, or powered onerous drives on to your iPhone. That is helpful for backups, media libraries, and offloading giant information. On iPhone Professional fashions, you may even document ProRes video straight to an exterior SSD, fully bypassing inner storage limits.

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9. Use SD and microSD playing cards

If you’re a photographer or videographer, you instantly profit from USB-C card help.

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With a easy plug-in card reader, you may import photographs and video from SD or microSD playing cards straight into your iPhone. There isn’t a want for wi-fi transfers or companion apps. It is quick, direct, and the best approach to evaluation and edit content material on the go.

10. Sport with wired controllers

Wired USB-C controllers work natively with iPhone. In contrast with Bluetooth, wired controllers scale back enter lag and don’t drain the controller’s battery. If you’re into cell gaming, cloud gaming, or emulation, a wired controller is a should.

11. Get sooner, extra dependable web

With a USB-C-to-Ethernet adapter or hub, your iPhone can join on to wired web. This offers decrease latency and extra constant speeds than Wi-Fi. It’s a lifesaver in case you dwell stream or work from areas with unreliable networks.

12. There’s loads extra specialty equipment

You have in all probability realized by now that USB-C allows a variety of area of interest equipment, together with diagnostic instruments, borescopes, microscopes, measurement units, and different specialty peripherals. ZDNET’s Adrian Kingsley-Hughes evaluations many of those bizarre and wacky devices. If it follows commonplace USB protocols, your iPhone can energy it and talk with it.

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13. Multiply your ports with a USB-C hub

At this level, you may be considering you won’t be able to make use of half the equipment talked about right here as a result of the iPhone solely has a single USB-C port. No worries. A USB-C hub solves that drawback. With one gadget, you may broaden what your iPhone can do by including further USB-C ports, USB-A ports, HDMI, Ethernet, SD card readers, passthrough charging, and extra.

14. Maintain utilizing your Lightning equipment

Final however not least, in case you nonetheless have Lightning-based equipment mendacity round, a USB-C to Lightning adapter enables you to maintain utilizing the gear you already paid for and love.