Rumor: New iPad Air to adopt USB-C, iPad mini to retain Lightning

According to rumblings from the Chinese supply chain, Apple's rumored fourth-generation iPad Air will sport a USB-C connector when it launches later this year, trickle-down tech first seen in an Apple tablet in 2018.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, Mac Otakara on Tuesday reports Apple's rumored 10.8-inch "iPad Air 4" will be the second iPad variant to feature a USB-C connector after the protocol debuted on iPad Pro in 2018.

The report goes on to suggest the upcoming "iPad Air" could be based on the 11-inch iPad Pro, just as the third-generation iPad Air unveiled in 2019 shared similarities with the 10.5-inch iPad Pro platform. Specifically, the most recent iPad Air design uses a downgraded camera array and lacks iPad Pro's ProMotion display to cut down on costs and, assumedly, weight. Mac Otakara believes Apple could do the same with the upcoming refresh.

Further, suppliers claim a forthcoming 8.5-inch "iPad mini" redesign will retain Apple's Lightning connector.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in May predicted Apple to debut a 10.8-inch iPad model in the second half of 2020. While the "Air" designation was not mentioned, it is the most likely to receive an update based on the Apple's typical product refresh cycle.

Kuo expects an "iPad mini 6" with an 8.5- to 9-inch screen to see release in the first half of 2021. Apple last refreshed the mini line in March 2019.

17 Comments

MplsP 4020 comments · 8 Years

About 4 years ago

We’ll see what happens, but what’s the point of keeping half of the line on one connector and half on another? If they’re going to switch to USB C, just switch and get it over with.

mattinoz 2473 comments · 9 Years

MplsP said:

We’ll see what happens, but what’s the point of keeping half of the line on one connector and half on another? If they’re going to switch to USB C, just switch and get it over with.

If half can't drive a second monitor then they should stay Lightning or transition to the rumoured smart connector. It's way of distinghishing function.

wizard69 13358 comments · 21 Years

MplsP said:

We’ll see what happens, but what’s the point of keeping half of the line on one connector and half on another? If they’re going to switch to USB C, just switch and get it over with.

One of the reasons I’m not Renewing my developer account. We have no idea if this rumor is true but Apples hardware is so frustrating at this time I see no reason to move forward. Even the laptops are a poor excuse compared to what might be possible; desktop is dead at Apple as they haven’t done a decent design there in years. I really hope this rumor isn’t true but honestly it sounds like Apple over the last half decade.

As much as I’ve liked the iPads I’ve owned over the years I’d need to see a significant change of direction at Apple before buying another. Screw ball hardware, locked down hardware and high costs really cool any interest I had in iPad. IPad is not an IPhone, Apple needs to live and breath that idea.

CheeseFreeze 1334 comments · 7 Years

What a port mess.

Just switch ALL devices to USB-C for the next generation, or replace it with port-less for specific devices like the iPhone (I would prefer a magnetic connection like Apple Watch and I bet third party adapters like microphones would prefer some sort of smart connector).

9secondkox2 3124 comments · 8 Years

I hip this is wrong.

Either move to USB C and go all in or don’t go at all.

Stop fragmenting things.

You are APPLE for crying out loud. Make a choice, make it great, and run with it.