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12 ways to use your iPhone

Macworld It took the iPhone an eternity to strike Lightning in favor of the universal USB-C port. Now that its here on all models, including the low-end 16e, many users still limit its use to charging, overlooking the slew of other advantages it offers over Lightning. If youve got an iPhone 15 or newer, you can expand the USB-C ports functionality beyond fast charging, and weve got a few ideas to share. 1. Charge another device Rival companies, like Samsung, have long supported reverse wireless charging, letting users turn their smartphones into portable Qi pads. However, its not all that practical, forcing users to flip over their phones and rendering both unusable. With the iPhone 15 and newer models, Apple introduced its own version that works via the USB-C port. Your iPhone can now deliver up to 4.5W of power, letting you charge your AirPods, Apple Watch, or even a friends Android phone. To do so, simply plug your USB-C cable into the iPhone and the other end into the USB-C port on the other device. 2. Increase your storage Even with 128 GB as the standard, weve probably all come across the iPhones full storage alert. While data stored in iCloud can easily be offloaded from the local memory, not all users trust cloud storage. Fortunately, the iPhone supports a wide range of external storage devices, including USB sticks and hard drives. This makes it easy to free up space by moving large files to a separate drive. To get started, connect a compatible flash drive to your iPhone using its USB-C port. You can then view, manage, and transfer data using the built-in Files app. One of the solid options out there is this tiny Samsung Type-C Flash Drive ($80), which supports regular file transfers and real-time ProRes video storage. As a Pro exclusive, those with the highest-end iPhone models can directly record ProRes video to a compatible external storage device. Given the considerable size of raw footage, being able to write the data directly onto a separate device can help you shoot for longer periods and avoid filling up your iPhones memory. Your iPhones USB-C cable can do more than just charge your iPhone. Foundry 3. Connect a keyboard While iPads and Macs are better suited for long-form typing, iPhonesespecially the near-7-inch Plus and Pro Max modelscan still handle productivity tasks effectively. To make the most of the relatively small screen, though, you may want to pair it with a dedicated keyboard. Fortunately, iOS natively supports this through the USB-C port. Most standard keyboards, such as this compact Macally keyboard ($30), will work with your iPhone just fine. Or if you want to always have a keyboard with you, you can opt for a Clicks case ($139), which connects to your USB-C port so its always ready for a text or email. 4. Amplify your microphone In the era of TikTok, everyone is a content creator, so a high-quality microphone is an essential tool. Fortunately, your iPhones USB-C port can support a wide range of them, letting you pair your footage with crystal-clear high-quality audio. One reliable option is the Rode Wireless Micro ($85), which utilizes your iPhones port while maintaining the convenience of wireless recording. 5. Add an SD card Photographers and videographers love the handy SD card slots on board the newest MacBook Pro and Mac Studio, but that convenience doesnt extend to the device that does most of your shooting. Fortunately, that can be easily remedied with a wired SD card reader. While newer cameras generally support wireless photo transfers via their respective companion apps, the process tends to be slower than the wired alternative. Apples USB-C to SD Card Reader ($39) connects to your iPhone through its charging port and should work with all relevant SD cards. You can also use this same dongle with your Mac or iPad when editing on a larger screen. 6. Hook up an external display If youre staying at a hotel that blocks wireless media casting, you may be able to mirror your iPhones screen to the TV using a wired solution. Apples USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter ($69) transforms your iPhones charging port into an HDMI connector, allowing you to watch 4K content on bigger displays using a regular HDMI cable. Your iPhone can connect to most displays with a single cable. Foundry 7. Plug in a game controller Thanks to the A17 and A18 chips, the latest Pro-tier iPhones can run some AAA games. Notably, though, these titles typically need a controller, as touch controls dont always offer the best gameplay, if theyre available at all. While Sonys DualSense controller ($75) supports Bluetooth pairing, opting for wired mode using the iPhones USB-C port can minimize latency and enhance overall performance. 8. Connect to Ethernet Speaking of gaming, the iPhone fully supports Ethernet dongles, allowing for faster download and upload speeds. While Wi-Fi and 5G are sufficient for most users, Ethernet can come in handy when seeking an even more dependable connection. Belkins USB-C to Ethernet Adapter ($23) is one of the solid options that is guaranteed to get the job done. 9. Peer into small places There are many accessories that you can plug into your iPhones USB-C port, but none are cooler than a borescope/endoscope camera . Basically, its a snake wire with a tiny HD endoscope camera at the end and an LCD light. Its flexible yet rigid enough to fit into the smallest of crevices, and youll wonder how you ever lived without it. We havent tested them, but this model has a 4.3-star rating with nearly 7,000 reviews and costs just $30. You can attach a tiny USB-C camera to your iPhones USB-C port to see into small places. Amazon 10. Cool off in summer With temperatures steadily rising all around the world, we can all use a little relief during long days outdoors. Your iPhones USB-C port can help there too. This 17,000 RPM 4-setting high-speed fan ($15) plugs directly into your iPhones USB-C port and offers a focused airflow channel that generates a high-speed airflow of up to 36 ft/s. Reviewers praise its size, portability, and low-power requirements, but youll just appreciate a quick blast of cool air when youre overheating. 11. Plug and dont play When youre not using your iPhones USB-C port, its just a gaping hole at the bottom of your phone waiting to collect dust, dirt, and lint. A USB-C plug will make sure your port stays clean and clear for as long as you use your iPhone. You can get a bunch of them ($7) for just a few bucks or you can get one that sticks to the back of your phone ($8) so you dont keep losing them. An added bonus: it doubles as a handy pinkie rest when youre using your iPhone with one hand. 12. Talk to your car Apple introduced wireless CarPlay a few years ago, but if you dont have a newer car, youll still need to plug into your cars USB port. For that, youll need a USB cable that supports data and charging, and one thats long enough to reach wherever your cars USB-C port is, and flexible enough not to get caught on any knobs or vents. A coiled USB-C cable is perfect for such instances, such as these popular Chubby Cable car-charging cables that come in USB-C-to-USB-C and USB-C-to-USB-A options for $20, as well as a variety of colors. One port can do it all The biggest detriment of the iPhone is that theres just one port, but a USB hub can give you much more. We recommend the Plugable 7-in-1 USB-C Hub Multiport Adapter ($40), which will bring a headphone jack, USB-C charging, HDMI, an SD card reader, Ethernet, and even a couple of USB-A ports for good measure. Its not exactly small, but if you need to use several ports at once, theres no substitute. Your iPhones USB-C port is a multi-purpose connector for displays, hard drives, and other accessories. Connor Jewiss / Foundry Michael Simon contributed to this report.

20 Aug 2026 4:45 pm