[giobox]

The MFI (Made for iPhone) program is today a significant revenue generator, allowing Apple to take a commission on every certified iPhone accessory. if Apple wish to continue licensing accessories for money in this way they will likely need some way of identifying approved accessories as they can with Lightning today.

The MFI program largely makes money because Apple control the lightning connector interface and can thus be the gatekeeper. While I don't like it personally, it does make some sense to me the mfi program might want this feature for a USB-C iPhone and future iPad models.

Like others, I suspect it would be data access only limited to the certified devices - any old USB-C cable will likely still work to charge. This likely satisfies the EU charging law changes and lets them keep much of the MFI revenues.

That the MFI program exists is frankly evidence enough for me to believe Apple would do this - they sell many more iPhones than iPads, and the change can be incorporated into future iPad models.

> https://mfi.apple.com/

[reaperducer]

MFI (Made for iPhone) program is today a significant revenue generator

Apple is notorious for not breaking out revenue specifics in its public financial reports.

What source are you using to determine that MFI revenue is "significant?"

[giobox]

You don't need to be Apple to work out that its a large number - the number of devices and cables bearing the MFI logo sold every year across the world is pretty nuts.

[scarface74]

How much do you think Apple makes on certified devices - especially with all of the perfectly capable knocks off compared to the segments that they do break out - iPhones, iPads, services, wearables, etc?

[markus92]

Good question. The local Aldi here was selling charging cables the other day: micro-USB and USB-C cables were €2.99, the Lightning version €8.99; Same brand, length, etc.

While sure there's some extra margin on those cables it seems the cost of MFi certification seems to be more than just a penny per cable.

[scarface74]

Or they could just be charging iPhone users more. I can go on to Amazon now and buy a lightning cable that works fine for much less.

[tshaddox]

But I haven't encountered a cable or accessory that doesn't work in many years. Is the claim that Apple prevents non-MFI cables or accessories from working with iPhones? Because I am nearly certain that is not the case.

[palata]

It is definitely the case. I guess that MFi does not prevent third-party chargers to work with a lightning cable, but it certainly does require authentication for data transfer.

Now, iOS supports ethernet-over-lightning, so you can plug an ethernet adapter and have it connect to your router. But it is illegal to make an accessory that would "integrate" an ethernet adapter. If you make an accessory, it has to go through the MFi protocol.

Here is an example: if you take a DJI drone and connect the remote controller to your iOS (lightning) device, it goes over MFi. It would be illegal (as per the Apple ToS) for DJI to use ethernet over lightning there.

[scarface74]

Look at Apple’s revenue today and the breakdown. How “significant” do you think MFI certification is?

Now go to Amazon and look for a use case where you can’t find a perfectly suitable non “certified” device.