With the announcement of the iPhone 15 series, Apple revealed a noteworthy feature: the adoption of the USB-C option. This technological advancement now makes power sharing between Android and iPhone devices possible. The USB-C capability, which became widespread in Android phones after 2015, allows all devices to use their batteries to charge other devices. With the iPhone 15 series embracing this feature, Apple devices can now share power with Android phones, revolutionizing the way we view and use our devices.

In a short YouTube video by the channel PetaPixel, we see power sharing between a Google Pixel Fold and an iPhone 15 via a USB-C cable. Once the cable is connected, the Apple device instantly starts sharing power with the Pixel. This power-sharing feature can also be reciprocated, with Android phones having the ability to control the way USB is used once the cable is connected, including an option that allows “charging connected devices” when recognized. This demonstration provides concrete evidence that power sharing between iPhone 15 and Android phones is not just a theoretical possibility, but a practical reality.

From a practical viewpoint, even among Android users, power sharing is not a frequently-used feature. It’s more likely that users will use USB-C to charge smaller devices such as smartwatches or Bluetooth headphones. However, it’s reassuring to know that such a power-sharing option exists between iPhone 15 and Android phones, for those rare instances when such a feature may prove useful. In fact, some Samsung phones, which are a bit further ahead in the power-sharing game, even offer the option of wireless power sharing, eliminating the need for any cables at all.