iPad Pro's Lightning Port Supports USB 3.0 Transfer Speeds, New Adapters in the Works

[MacRumors]

Apple's larger-screened iPad Pro includes a Lightning port that's capable of supporting USB 3.0 speeds, according to both an iFixit teardown and several sources that have spoken with Apple. When taking apart the iPad Pro, iFixit discovered a Fresco Logic FL1100 4-port USB 3.0 Host Controller, pointing towards support for USB 3.0 transfer speeds.

In its recent iPad Pro review, CNET also mentioned the tablet will support "USB 3-level speeds with forthcoming adapters," which reviewer Scott Stein confirmed was information that came directly from Apple. Photographer Jeff Carlson also claims a source has told him the Lightning port on the iPad Pro is capable of transferring data at USB 3.0 speeds.

Support for USB 3.0 speeds is notable because the Lightning port on current iPads and iPhones can only transfer data at around 25 to 35MB/s, which is USB 2.0 speed. At USB 3.0 speeds, data transfers would be upwards of 60MB/s and up to 625MB/s. USB 3.0-style speeds for data transfers over Lightning have been rumored to be coming to Apple devices for several years now, but have thus far not materialized.

Both Stein and Carlson have pointed towards the upcoming release of new adapters that will enable the faster file transfers, but a release timeline is not yet clear. It is also not known if Apple plans on introducing new Lightning cables that will enable USB 3.0 speeds when transferring files from a computer to an iPad Pro.

Tests conducted by readers on the MacRumors forums and on Reddit with existing Lightning cables and accessories are only transferring files to the iPad Pro at USB 2.0 speeds, indicating new hardware is required to take advantage of the iPad Pro's updated Lightning Port.

Article Link: iPad Pro's Lightning Port Supports USB 3.0 Transfer Speeds, New Adapters in the Works

 

[BarmyGnome]

It's happening!

 

[tom.humphrey]

This is infuriating. Why not just get rid of the stupid lightning port and move across to usb-c?!

 

[happydude]

great news for future devices, i hope!

 

[Jaro65]

Just put an OS X on it, finally.

 

[Lesser Evets]

Brilliant. I remember FW on the first iPod, which was incredible. Going down to USB was ridiculous.

 

[jackth29]

I can't wait.. another adapter to add to my list.

 

[bgraham]

This is infuriating. Why not just get rid of the stupid lightning port and move across to usb-c?!

Profits.

 

[yossi]

USB 3.0 is only twice the speed of USB 2.0? Something seems off with these numbers


"Support for USB 3.0 speeds is notable because the Lightning port on current iPads and iPhones can only transfer data at around 25 to 35MB/s, which is USB 2.0 speed. At USB 3.0 speeds, data transfers would be upwards of 60MB/s"

 

[Eidorian]

Probably the only redeeming feature on the entire product.

 

[farewelwilliams]

but. i just freaking bought an sd card lightning adapter. Apple dropped the ball on this by not having it available at Pro launch

 

[longofest]

Tests conducted by readers on the MacRumors forums and on Reddit with existing Lightning cables and accessories are only transferring files to the iPad Pro at USB 2.0 speeds, suggesting new hardware is required to take advantage of the iPad Pro's updated Lightning Port.

Well, yes - Duh. USB 3.0 uses 9 PINs, vs the 4 of USB 2.0.

 

[melgross]

I'm typing this on my new Pro. It comes with a 6 foot cord for the first time. I haven't tried to see if this cord supports the USB 3 speeds, because I just now learned of it. Really, it would make sense for it to do so. But, you never know. I'll try later, when I get the chance.

 

[Pakaku]

This is infuriating. Why not just get rid of the stupid lightning port and move across to usb-c?!

On one hand, it wouldn't be Apple if it didn't involve a million adapters.

On the other hand, the USB-C design is backwards compared to Lightning. I think USB-C does it wrong. The male plug shouldn't be "wrapping around" a piece lodged in the female port.

 

[HangmanSwingset]

I remember it taking ~4 hours to sync my 23GB music library to my old 3GS. So glad those days are over.

 

[mw360]

Here we go again. Can we try this thread without the phrases 'screen real estate', or 'use case'?

 

[TMRJIJ]

Probably the only redeeming feature on the entire product.

Besides CPU power, the screen size, the amazing Stylus that already beat a three gen Surface Pro, . . .

 

[Rocketman]

Hmmm. iPhone 7 USB3 speed. Why not TB 3.0? It is a lightning cable, isn't it?

 

[CFreymarc]

This is infuriating. Why not just get rid of the stupid lightning port and move across to usb-c?!

Biggest problem with USB-C overall is it has no backwards compatibility to serial UART without an adaptor. You can't configure the pins of a USB-C adaptor to have a simple pair of serial lines to avoid complexity of the USB stack. Lighting has this option allowing very affordable accessories to communicate with the port.

 

[AppleWarMachine]

it better have USB 3.0 speeds for a "Pro" model and for that price

 

[TMRJIJ]

Just put an OS X on it, finally.

OS X is not for touch input!!!!!

 

[longofest]

Support for USB 3.0 speeds is notable because the Lightning port on current iPads and iPhones can only transfer data at around 25 to 35MB/s, which is USB 2.0 speed. At USB 3.0 speeds, data transfers would be upwards of 60MB/s.

USB 2.0 can read/write at about 40MB/s sustained (60 MB/s theoretical). USB 3.0 can go >150 MB/s sustained (640 MB/s theoretical). The sustained speeds are dependent on what you are reading/writing to.

I'm really not sure what numbers you are coming with... both of your numbers are low, especially for USB 3.0.

 

[Codeseven]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/usb-3-0.1937082/

Well, that confirms it then.

......That is.....with a powerful CPU, screaming GPU, 4GB ram and high speed data transfer capabilities, future iOS updates and full 'pro' level apps in development to both take advantage of the powerful hardware, the iPad Pro is poised to turn some heads.

 

[Gasu E.]

I can't wait.. another adapter to add to my list

No, you can't.

 

[sofila]

this way Apple adapters will be a significant colored part of the pie when it comes to financial results report, larger than the "other" section