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Apple’s new iPhone Air might boast some cutting-edge features, including a thin design. But the company has decided to stick with USB 2 rather than USB 3.
The iPhone Air comes with a USB-C port, but the connection only supports USB 2 speeds, according to the product’s spec sheet. Thus, owners will need to settle for data transfer rates that top out at 480Mbps with a USB-C cable.
iPhone Air specs (Credit: Apple)
The USB 2 connection can also be found on the base model iPhone 17, a trend that began with the iPhone 15, the first iPhone to feature USB-C.
For a faster USB 3 connection, consumers will need to opt for the iPhone 17 Pro models, which can offer a data transfer rate up to 10Gbps. But like before, it seems you’ll need to buy your own USB 3 cable to reach those speeds. The bundled USB-C cable appears to only support USB 2 transfer rates.
Still, Apple is bringing Bluetooth 6 to all three iPhone models, an upgrade from Bluetooth 5.3. The new wireless standard promises to reduce data latency while improving power efficiency, saving on battery life.
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All three models also receive support for Wi-Fi 7, which Apple introduced in last year’s iPhone 16 models. But again, you’ll need to buy a Wi-Fi 7 router and subscribe to a high-speed internet plan to reap the benefits, at least at home.
Apple plans on launching the new iPhones on Friday, Sept. 19. Stay tuned for our reviews.
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About Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
