Apple's 10th-gen iPad comes with USB-C instead of Lightning and Apple is selling a $9 adapter to charge and pair the supported 1st-gen Apple Pencil
AppleInsiderWilliam Gallagher
Context & Ripple Effects
The entry-level iPad's move to USB-C fulfills an earlier reported plan for a USB-C-equipped refresh. But it creates a transition problem for the supported first-generation Apple Pencil, which still needs a separate adapter to pair and charge.
Apple later addressed that mismatch with a $79 USB-C Apple Pencil, while also selling USB-C-to-Lightning adapters for devices and accessories that remain on Lightning.
First-order effects
New 10th-generation iPad buyers gain USB-C connectivity, while first-generation Apple Pencil users must buy and keep track of Apple's $9 adapter for charging and pairing.
Apple preserves compatibility with the existing Pencil rather than forcing an immediate accessory replacement, but adds friction to that compatibility.
Second-order effects
The adapter turns the connector change into an accessory sale for Apple and makes the first-generation Pencil a less seamless option for new iPad buyers.
A USB-C-charging Pencil gives Apple a cleaner follow-on accessory path for USB-C iPads, reducing the need for the legacy-Pencil adapter.
Third-order effects
Apple's iPad lineup is moving its device-and-accessory ecosystem toward USB-C through a staged transition: legacy accessories are bridged first, then replaced with natively compatible versions.
As more iPads use USB-C, compatibility increasingly differentiates Apple Pencil models by charging and pairing method rather than simply by stylus support.
The trend: Apple is migrating the iPad ecosystem from Lightning to USB-C while using adapters and revised accessories to manage compatibility during the transition.
@MacRumors @HartleyCharlton This is mind boggling! Rather then just biting the bullet and moving the iPad to Apple Pencil 2, Apple sticks with the OG pencil and ships it with an adapter that'll certainly be lost within seconds. 🤯
Apple Pencil Gen 1 users will need to buy an adapter to charge their stylus with the new iPad as it gets USB-C but the Pencil is still using Lightning Port. Apple doing this instead of giving 2nd Gen Pencil support to iPad. And they removed chargers for the EnViRoNmEnT. LoL
So let me get this straight: The new entry-level iPad finally has USB-C, but it's only compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil? And that's why you need an adapter to charge it on the iPad?
@stephenrobles Hear me out - if they HAD released a new Apple Pencil version maybe they could have moved the camera to the long side of the Pro versions. iPad gets the new camera placement because it still only supports the 1st gen Pencil (and you now need an adapter to charge it…
@stephenrobles Just make the Apple Pencil capable of charging on a MagSafe puck and be done with it. Seriously - that's the reason we still have to deal with the camera in the wrong place! That's a really poor trade off.
@ianzelbo the worst thing about this new ipad that it's still using the 1st gen apple pencil and you need an adapter for it to pair 💀💀💀 https://twitter.com/...
“Apple Pencil (1st generation) is compatible with the new iPad. A new USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter is required for pairing and charging and is included in the box with a new version of Apple Pencil (1st generation) for $99”
@stroughtonsmith An adapter. To charge the pencil. Because wireless charging the 2nd gen messed with margins, no doubt. It takes real effort to make the charging situation for Pencil 1st gen *worse*
@stroughtonsmith Which means there's now no way to charge this on the go without carrying an extremely tiny adapter. As awkward as it was to have it stick directly out the bottom of your iPad, at least it didn't require an extra piece.