What can you connect to the new iPad Pro with USB-C?

The new iPad Pro 11 and 12.9 inches have a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port. However, just because a device has a new port does not mean that any USB-C connector will work with the iPad Pro. There are still some limitations, but USB-C makes it even easier to connect to external displays, cameras, and other accessories.

Here's what you can do with your new iPad Pro and its shiny new port …

The USB-C connector performs many tasks. On Apple laptops, all USB-C ports are Thunderbolt 3 ports (except on the 12-inch MacBook), which allows incredibly fast bandwidth and throughput, with the ability to handle multiple displays and a plethora connectivity from a single port.

The iPad Pro does not have Thunderbolt. It has a USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 port. This means that it can handle a maximum of 10 gigabits per second, which allows the iPad to drive a 5K monitor at 60 frames per second. However, there is a catch.

In fact, there are few asterisks and pitfalls to know about almost everything about the new USB-C of the iPad Pro. Let it break down.

Connect external screens

The new iPad Pro can connect directly to USB-C displays, which communicate via the DisplayPort standard. You can connect a USB-C cable to the iPad at one end and to an external monitor with a USB-C port at the other end, such as the LG UltraFine 4K display. The iPad supports HDR10 output, so that it can fully take advantage of high-dynamic-range displays, if any, like the 27-inch LG 27UK850.

The iPad will reflect the screen and some applications take a particular advantage from the additional screen output. For example, Keynote will display the live presentation on the external display and the speaker notes on the iPad. For example, you can connect to a TV to view your Netflix movies on the big screen. Just be aware that it's not as flexible as connecting a second screen to a Mac.

What's a little annoying is that you can not use the USB-C cable that came with the iPad. You need a USB cable that supports "high bandwidth" connections. This includes the USB-C cable supplied with the screen. If you do not have it. a convenient cable, which will be confusing, Apple will suggest to buy a Thunderbolt 3 cable from the Apple Store to do it. You can get it at Belkin for $ 10. Even if the iPad does not support Thunderbolt, the cables are backward compatible with USB-C broadband.

The iPad can generate 5K displays. However, the LG 5K UltraFine sold by Apple is not compatible. Why? It has a USB-C connector but it's a Thunderbolt 3 screen. The iPad does not support Thunderbolt. 5K USB-C displays are very rare at the moment and we do not have good recommendations yet.

If you want to connect to a screen that does not have a USB-C port, such as HDMI, you will need to use some kind of dongle or adapter. The iPad Pro can use an adapter for output using the HDMI 2.0 specification, which supports a maximum resolution of 4K at 60Hz, and can theoretically produce HDR10 and Dolby Vision output with compatible adapters none seems to be available at the moment).

The Apple Dongle for HDMI is the Apple USB-C Digital Multiport AV Adapter. This one plugs into the USB Pro port of the iPad Pro and adds an HDMI output, a USB-C relay for power and a standard USB-A port. The Apple adapter is broadcasting 4K at 30Hz. You can even get USB-C to VGA adapters if you need to connect to old-school projectors or the like.

Loading other devices

The USB-C port of the iPad Pro can power connected devices up to a charging speed of 7.5 W. If you have a USB-C to Lightning cable, you can plug in your iPhone and charge your iPhone with your iPad. If you have two new iPad Pro, you can use the included USB-C to USB-C cable to connect them together and charge each other. An iPad will take power from each other at a time.

Third-party USB accessories can also receive up to 7.5 W of power. Just plug them in. If you have a USB-A accessory, you can purchase a USB-C to USB-A dongle.

Apple recently released a USB-C cable for the Apple Watch. You can even charge your Apple Watch anywhere, without an intermediate dongle, sipping the battery of your iPad.

Import photos and videos from external storage

The iPad does not support generic external storage. You can not connect a USB-C drive and view the files in the Files application. Many are waiting for Apple to solve its problems during an upcoming software update, but that is not possible today.

However, you can use the Photos application to import photos and videos from a USB storage. If you have multiple photos on a USB hard drive, you can connect it to the iPad and use the Import tab of the Photos application to suck photos and videos.

It also works with cameras. Many cameras have USB-C or mini-USB ports. As long as you have the appropriate adapter or cable, like this $ 6 USB-C mini-USB cable, you can take photos with your camera and immediately connect it to the iPad to import them. files and see your pictures on the big screen.

The same is true for the SD card import. Apple now offers its own USB-C to SD card reader. Plug it into the iPad Pro and insert an SD card to enable the import of photos and videos. It even supports fast transfers with UHS-II cards. Since USB is an open standard, you can find less expensive USB-C SD card dongles if Apple's official offers are too expensive.

Connect hardware keyboards and wired internet

The iPad has drivers for many types of basic USB accessories. iOS does not allow you to install additional drivers, but it supports a surprising number of basic external devices that you can plug in and use with a computer.

For example, hardware keyboards will only work. If you have a USB-A keyboard, you can use a USB-C adapter and plug it in. The iPad must detect it and you can type as you wish. Of course, Apple would prefer that you use Bluetooth keyboards or the Apple Smart Keyboard wallet.

Ethernet is also supported by the iPad, which allows your iPad to use a wired network if it can not use WiFi. You can get a USB-C Ethernet dongle and wired Gigabit Ethernet on your iPad Pro. The iOS Settings screen will magically display a new section for Ethernet when it is detected.

Connecting to speakers, microphones, or MIDI audio devices

The iPad does not have a headphone jack. You can use the Apple USB-C to Headphone jack adapter at $ 9 to connect earphones or wired speakers. If you have a USB-C headset, it connects directly and works.

You can also connect audio devices such as MIDI keyboards or microphones via USB. In some cases, the 7.5 watt outputs of the iPad on the port will be enough to power smaller accessories. A USB-C cable is enough. Accessories requiring more power will work as long as the USB bus has sufficient power. Use applications such as GarageBand to communicate with MIDI accessories.

One way to do this is to use the Apple USB-C Digital Multiport AV Adapter. Ignore the HDMI output, connect the power supply to the USB-C direct port of the adapter and plug the accessory into the standard USB port. The accessory will then be powered by the USB-C charge.

Connect multi-port hubs

In the end, the USB-C bandwidth is high enough to allow you to manage multiple accessories at once via the single port. You can combine all the above – import photos, displays, microphones, etc. – at the same time. You just need a suitable hub and you have the choice between many loads on the market. Here's a cheap and cheerful $ 20 bill that features an SD card reader, a micro-SD card reader and 3 USB-A ports. As always, the simultaneous connection capacity is limited by the available power supply. The Apple USB-C USB Multi-Port USB Adapter is essentially a hub in itself, offering an HDMI jack, a power input, and a spare USB-A port for accessory connectivity.

Much of this was possible with previous iPads, but would still require the use of adapters. The abandonment of Lightning for USB-C opens the iPad to a whole world of peripherals that can be connected directly. The additional bandwidth of the USB-C also allows some things that you simply could not do before. You can now simultaneously connect a 4K screen and a camera, or a single 5K display at a 60Hz refresh rate. The 7.5 watt load is also new.