Does using an Android charger makes the iPhone 15 overheated?

On September 12th, Apple unveiled the iPhone 15, which includes a significant change: the switch to a USB-C charging port. This is a significant change for Apple, as the company had been using the Lightning port exclusively since 2012 until the iPhone 14 release in September last year.

The switch to USB-C is influenced by various factors. One factor is the pressure from the European Union, which advocated for a universal charging port for all smartphones. Additionally, USB-C is a more versatile port compared to Lightning, as it supports a wide range of accessories and enables faster charging speeds.

However, we have come across statements that suggest iPhone 15 users should not use Android USB-C charging cables with this latest model. This is due to differences in the charging port's internal components, which could lead to device overheating.

Social Media Posts

A TikTok Channel posted a video clip claiming that "Apple is warning iphone 15 users not to use the android type C charger."

Source | Archive

Apart from the above video, we also found similar claims on Facebook.

Source | Archive

Source | Archive

Fact-Check

Finding the source of the claim: When searching for the start of the rumor mentioned above using relevant keywords, we came across an article on the Gizchina website. The article mentions a cautionary note that using an Android charger cable may cause the iPhone to overheat. However, Apple has not confirmed this in any way.

Furthermore, the website Unilad has also published an article on this issue. According to the article, the Apple Store in Foshan, Guangdong Province, China, has issued a warning about using the charger cable that comes with Android phones to charge iPhone 15. The article specifies that the charger cable pin positions are different, which may cause overheating issues for the device.

Technical Explanation: According to the tech website Beartai, they explain that the different positioning of the pin in the charging cable is not abnormal. In fact, the USB-C cable that comes with the iPhone 15 is a USB-C cable of the USB 2 model. This cable type is also used in other Android phones, such as Oppo N Flip or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, as shown in the image below.

Source: Beartai

The USB-C charging cables with all 24 pins in place are USB 3.1 - 4.0 cables, which can charge faster and transfer data more quickly.

The power output of USB 2.0 is 0.5A / 2.5W, with a data transfer speed of 35-40MB per second, and it has 4 pins.

On the other hand, USB 3.0 has a power output of 0.9A / 4.5W, a data transfer speed of 300MB per second, and it has 9 pins.

Source: Flashgamer

Furthermore, the renowned tech website Apple Insider has refuted this assertion. They have clarified that the claim is unfounded and there is no risk in using Android USB-C cables with the iPhone. The article also explains how USB-C cables function and how they are specifically designed to safeguard devices from damage. (Source)

Hence, users can use standardized USB-C cables with the iPhone 15, even if not manufactured by Apple, without experiencing any problems. The mention of "USB-C cables that should not be used with the iPhone 15" most likely pertains to non-standard USB-C chargers. Consequently, Android chargers that meet the standards can be used with the iPhone 15.