iOS 12.1 beta appears to confirm USB-C on new iPads

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Both the 2018 iPad Pro tablets have undergone the most significant redesign yet.
Both the 2018 iPad Pro tablets have apparently undergone the most radical redesign yet.
Photo: MySmartPrice

Apple’s first beta for iOS 12.1 is starting to be a fountain of leaks regarding the new iPad Pros set to come out this fall.

After revealing yesterday that new iPads are on the way, it appears that iOS 12.1 beta 1 has also confirmed the long-cited rumor that the new iPads will come with a USB-C port.

While digging into the simulator for iOS 12.1, Steve Troughton-Smith discovered that Apple has added support for virtualized 4K external displays. That’s a big deal for two reasons: 1) It means you’re going to be able to hook up iPads to 4K monitors, 2) It’s not currently possible to do that through the Lightning HDMI adapter.

Apple embraces USB-C

By adding a USB-C port to the 2018 iPads Apple would be able to introduce faster charging and support for other external accessories. One of the best Apple analysts in the world recently told investors that he’s confident USB-C will be added to the iPad this year.

Renderings of the new iPads based on leaked CAD drawings also lend credence to the rumor, although leaked CAD drawings have been wrong in the past. Apple already uses USB-C on its new MacBook Pros, so why not do it on their other machines that are aiming to be computer replacements?

If Apple does add USB-C on the iPad Pro it seems like it will only be a matter of time before the iPhone gets it too. We could all be witnessing the slow death of Lightning before our very eyes.

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