iPhone 17 Pro Maintains USB 3.0 Speeds Similar to iPhone 16 Pro; iPhone Air Limited to USB 2.0 Despite Starting Price of $999

Disappointingly for users eager to maximize the capabilities of the USB-C ports on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air, Apple has made no advancements in data transfer speeds compared to the previous iPhone 16 Pro. Those considering one of the brand’s ‘Pro’ models should be aware of this limitation.

USB 2 Speed Limitations for iPhone 17 Models

The iPhone 17 and iPhone Air are restricted to USB 2 speeds, offering a maximum transfer rate of 480 Mb/s. In stark contrast, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max benefit from a much faster USB 3 connection, enabling speeds of up to 10 Gb/s (10 gigabits per second).As a result, non-Pro models fall short, maintaining the outdated Lightning port’s performance levels. This omission raises questions about Apple’s commitment to staying competitive, especially as other tech companies push the envelope on connectivity features.

To put the speeds into perspective, the 10 Gb/s capability translates to 1.25 GB/s, which equals 1, 250 MB/s. Meanwhile, users of the USB 2 ports will find their maximum data transfer speeds capped at 60 MB/s, a figure that is especially disappointing given the premium price tag associated with the iPhone Air starting at $999. For context, this price was previously aligned with last year’s iPhone 16 Pro, which offered superior USB 3 capabilities.

One possible reasoning from Apple could be that a limited user base takes full advantage of the USB-C port for data transfer, reducing the company’s incentive to enhance the technology. Instead, many users may opt for the more efficient option of utilizing Wi-Fi 7 technology to download files at much faster rates, ultimately sidestepping the USB-C limitations entirely.

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