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Next iPad Air Could Feature a USB-C Port Instead of a Lightning Port

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The fourth-generation iPad Air may be equipped with a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port, according to a new report from Japanese site Mac Otakara that says the information comes from a Chinese supplier.

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Apple transitioned to USB-C for its iPad Pro models in 2018, but other iPads have continued to feature a Lightning port for charging purposes. Mac Otakara says that the new ‌iPad Air‌ will be based on the 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌, which is in line with prior rumors that we've heard.

Rumors earlier this year suggested that Apple is working on an 11-inch ‌iPad Air‌, which could launch in the second half of 2020. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said that Apple is working on a 10.8-inch iPad, and while he didn't say it was an "Air" model, it fits in with other rumors about a new ‌iPad Air‌.

One rumor from leaker L0vetodream has indicated the upcoming ‌iPad Air‌ could feature a mini-LED display with an under-display version of Touch ID instead of Face ID, but it remains to be seen if that info will turn out to be accurate as it hasn't yet been backed up with a second source.

‌Mac Otakara‌ also mentions the upcoming iPad mini, which Kuo previously said would measure in at 8.5 to 9 inches. This new ‌iPad mini‌, coming in 2021, is expected to continue to feature a Lightning port rather than a USB-C port.

Related Roundups: iPad Air , iPad mini
Tag: Mac Otakara
Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now), iPad Mini (Caution)
Related Forum: iPad

Top Rated Comments

pdaholic Avatar
pdaholic
76 months ago
Add usb-c to the iPhones and lets dump the lightening connector altogether!
Score: 42 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Howyalikdemapls Avatar
Howyalikdemapls
76 months ago
Why don’t they make all their devices use the same connector? It seems odd to have some iPads use USB-C and some use lightning, no?
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dwaltwhit Avatar
dwaltwhit
76 months ago
30 pin lasted 9 years. Lightning is getting close to that. It will be nice to move away from proprietary.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jimthing Avatar
jimthing
76 months ago
Mini should be:
• USB-C.
• Pencil 2 support.
• Face ID.
• bezel-less screen (at larger ~9" screen size).

Anything else is Apple beings d¡cks to customers, at this point.


Clearly Apple must be blind to the needs of their customers if they don't realise many will also own a larger iPad Pro using USB-C already (or any new Mac, for that matter), so we can use the same cable on the Mini. It's so bleeding obvious, does it actually need explaining at this point. Keeping Lightning would just be a kick in the teeth to multi-device users (most people in the year 2020).

There's always 'legacy' to move on from, so staying with Lightning for yet another generation just prolongs the agony of an eventual swap later.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I
ian87w
76 months ago

Why don’t they make all their devices use the same connector? It seems odd to have some iPads use USB-C and some use lightning, no?
It seems odd at first, but imo Apple is pushing the iPad Pros to be real computer replacements, and as such USB-C would feel more natural to connect to peripherals.

Although the loss of headphone jack is weird.

Now that I mentioned it, I don't want this to happen if it means losing the headphone jack. It makes sense on the iPhone, due to constrained space and water proofing. The iPad has plenty of room and no IP rating, so removing headphone jack just because of USB-C is not cool imo.


The Air is expected to have an 11-inch LCD and in-display Touch ID. Makes sense it would have USB-C so it can share most of the current iPad Pro accessories.
It would be really sad if such large device doesn't have a headphone jack.... :(
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yurc Avatar
yurc
76 months ago
Almost every 2020 device have type-c as international standard. Any device at this moment which keep proprietary connector are sacrilegious enough.

Also, lightning ports still in USB 2.0 speed, nullifying advancements of high speeds newer USB technology, less supported protocol. Lightning was superior back then compared with retarded micro-USB, but with type C there’s was no reason to keep lightning anymore. The only merit of lightning now is only have slimmer footprints than type c, the rest quite meh.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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