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USB-C Instead of Lightning Again Rumored for Upcoming iPad Pro Models

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Apple's upcoming iPad Pro models will feature a USB-C port instead of a traditional Lightning port, according to information gathered from accessory makers at the Global Source Mobile Electronics Trade Fair by Japanese site Mac Otakara.

The trade fair kicked off today and Mac Otakara heard "talk" from manufacturers attending the event about a switch to USB-C.

ipadproconcept-800x704.jpg
iPad Pro mockup by Álvaro Pabesio​

This isn't the first time we've heard of Apple's plans to adopt USB-C instead of Lightning on its new iPad Pro models, which would further bridge the gap between mobile device and computer.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who often accurately predicts Apple's plans, said in September that Apple's 2018 iPad Pro models will use USB-C instead of Lightning. USB-C connectivity would enable new functionality, such as the ability to connect an iPad Pro to a 4K monitor.

Mac Otakara also says that manufacturers at the event were showing off a photo of the 2018 iPad Pro dimensions that was first shared on Slashleaks last week.

That image, said to be based on measurements secured from case makers, suggested the smaller iPad Pro model will be 7 inches wide (178.52mm) and 9.7 inches tall (247.64mm), while the larger model will be 8.5 inches wide (215mm) and 11 inches tall (280.66mm). Both models could have bezels that measure in at 6mm around all sides, and at least one model may be as thin as 5.9mm.

slashleaksipadpro2018dimensions-800x548.jpg

Apple's new iPad Pro models are rumored to feature a TrueDepth camera system for Face ID and no Home button. The new devices are expected to make their debut on Tuesday, October 30, at an event Apple is planning to hold in Brooklyn, New York.

Article Link: USB-C Instead of Lightning Again Rumored for Upcoming iPad Pro Models
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2018/10/18/usb-c-ipad-pro-rumored-again/
Interesting decision by Apple. I wonder what functionality they will allow through a usb-c port. Can’t wait to upgrade from my 10.5.
 
I haven’t been this legitamately excited for an Apple event in awhile. Maybe it’s because I really want to upgrade to my first iPad Pro...and this is going to be the first real radical redesign of the iPad since the first iPad 8 yrs ago.

I had decided on the 10.5” iPad Pro before these new slimmer bezels face ID iPad pros were rumored. I am an artist who travels a lot, and as much as I liked the 12.9” screen size, it was a little too unwieldy for using on the road for me. And I have big hands!

But with rumor of the 10.5” iPad Pro increasing the screen size to 11” and the 12.9” iPad Pro staying with a 12.9” screen but actually becoming smaller physically cause of the slimmer bezels...I may have to revisit my decision.

Will I feel the new 12.9” with slimmer bezels be perfect now for travel & art? Or will the screen on the 10.5” iPad Pro increasing to 11” be even better now? I may just have to see them in person before I order one.

Oct 31st can’t come soon enough.
 
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How about both? It’s big enough. Remember when ‘Pro’ meant you got more I/O options, not fewer?

(I don’t mean the option to buy overpriced dongles and adapters, I mean actually in the devices themselves...)
 
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I'd buy it if they made it so the iPad could be a USB-C monitor for another device. I've got an Asus portable USB-C monitor on order that while convenient doesn't have the contract and brightness of a MacBook or iPad.....
 
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If the USB-C port just replaces lightning and doesn't take advantage of its USB-Cness, then I'd rather stick with lightning. Lightning is fine for what it does.

I'm much more interested in using the iPad as a display than attaching the iPad to a display. If I can charge it from my MacBook and use it as a portable second display, I'm all in.

I don't care about the headphone jack-- I don't use it. I have a lightning adapter I use for my phone in the car, and that's just fine. Everything else is Bluetooth for me.
 
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Hmm ... so the old Apple Pencil probably won't support the new iPad Pro (unless there's a dongle in the wild that will allow compatibility), which sucks because you would have to reinvest in the Apple Pencil as well. The rumors do indicate a second generation Apple Pencil as well, and we'll end up seeing what happens during the keynote, but it currently seems like you need to upgrade your entire setup if you want the new iPad Pro.

I might get it by trading in my current devices to break even at the very least, depending on if the prices stay the same or increase.
 
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Greenmeenie said:
I haven’t been this legitamately excited for an Apple event in awhile. Maybe it’s because I really want to upgrade to my first iPad Pro...and this is going to be the first real radical redesign of the iPad since the first iPad 8 yrs ago.

I had decided on the 10.5” iPad Pro before these new slimmer bezels face ID iPad pros were rumored. I am an artist who travels a lot, and as much as I liked the 12.9” screen size, it was a little too unwieldy for using on the road for me. And I have big hands!

But with rumor of the 10.5” iPad Pro increasing the screen size to 11” and the 12.9” iPad Pro staying with a 12.9” screen but actually becoming smaller physically cause of the slimmer bezels...I may have to revisit my decision.

Will I feel the new 12.9” with slimmer bezels be perfect now for travel & art? Or will the screen on the 10.5” iPad Pro increasing to 11” be even better now? I may just have to see them in person before I order one.

Oct 31st can’t come soon enough.
Click to expand...
I'm in exactly that position. I've got a 10.5", which I'm very happy with. There's times it would be nice if it were larger-- I try to use it for notes and it's awkward to use landscape, but too narrow to use portrait. I haven't had the nerve to go to the 12.9" because it feels too big and heavy to be as portable as I'd like. I'd kind of resigned myself to the understanding that this is just the inevitable tension...

But the new 12.9" will, interestingly, be the same size as a US notepad. By definition that should make it comfortable for note taking, and there's enough times I carry a notepad around that the size shouldn't bother me so I'm starting to think that the new 12.9" wins-- but I'll have to hold them in my hands. There's a difference between paper and glass/metal...
 
Hmm... I'm on the proverbial fence for this one. USC-C is likely the future, so in theory the faster Apple can move there the better off we'll be in the long run. However, as with everything, the devil is in the details. If the USB-C is only for faster charging then it's not a bad deal but is a more costly approach.

I don't have a lot of dongles, but I do have a Lightening-to-SD card reader for transferring photo's from my DSLR to my iPad. My wife still like wired sound so uses lightening-based earphones.

I would hope (but not expect) that Apple would include USB-C as the connector as a base for supporting additional I/O capabilities. As much as leveraging the iPad as an external monitor for my MacBook... I'm not holding my breath. Apple has shown negative interest in anything like that.

In the end, I can't see Apple willingly giving up the revenue stream coming from MiFi-certified devices. I'm predicting that we'll get to USB-C eventually... just not yet.
 
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cmaier said:
Rumor is you can drive a 4k monitor. Not sure for what purpose (just output? touch monitors?)
Click to expand...

I’d switch to an iPad Pro as my main PC tomorrow if you could connect to a monitor with mouse/keyboard support.
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drumcat said:
If they want a warehouse of new devices, they will go that route.
Click to expand...

Are you suggesting people will refuse to buy iPads if they come included with a headphone jack dongle? You don’t *have* to use it.
 
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Hopefully they're thinking to switch to USB-C so that the iPad can connect to the Mac and act like a Cintiq. Tons of creative professionals use Wacom tablets or Cintiq monitors. If they enabled this functionality on the iPad Pro (and then advertised it heavily) I bet they could sell a lot of iPads just for that reason alone.

When Wacom tablets are hundreds of dollars (for a decent sized one) and a Cintiq is several thousand dollars an iPad Pro actually comes out seeming very reasonable...especially given that it is more than just a dedicated drawing device.
 
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MacRumors said:
<snip>
Both models could have bezels that measure in at 6mm around all sides, and at least one model may be as thin as 5.9mm.
Click to expand...
When you do the math bezels are actually about 9mm, assuming the overall height/width dimensions are correct and the display remains at 264 ppi. Not coincidentally, the notch on the X/XS is also about 9mm deep (from device edge).

Again if the dimensions are correct, the smaller model has a new aspect ratio of 10:7, and they imply a resolution of 2384x1668.
 
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macmyworld said:
If they are switching to USB C they could have done it with the new iPhones also. This just makes it for of a PIA when I travel.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. Apple sold Macs that used MagSafe 1 and Macs that used MagSafe 2 at the same time.

I can see them putting USB-C in the new iPad. They want it to be a computer replacement right?
 
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