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ian87w

macrumors G3
Feb 22, 2020
8,704
12,638
Indonesia
I think for USB 3.0 data transfer, there's only lightning to USB-C cable that supports it. All lightning to USB-A are USB2.0 spec. Correct me if I'm wrong though.
 

changguangyu

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 15, 2017
42
31
I think for USB 3.0 data transfer, there's only lightning to USB-C cable that supports it. All lightning to USB-A are USB2.0 spec. Correct me if I'm wrong though.
The official lightning to USB-C cable is still USB 2.0 protocol. Only lightning to USB 3 Camera adatper support USB 3, I can't find cable support it.
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,921
13,273
The official lightning to USB-C cable is still USB 2.0 protocol. Only lightning to USB 3 Camera adatper support USB 3, I can't find cable support it.

This is the official adapter.


The above only works for USB slaves (external SSDs, flash drives, etc). The older iPad Pros only support USB 3.0 in master/host mode. For connecting to computer, it's not really possible to get USB 3.0 speeds via Lightning.
 

Digitalguy

macrumors 601
Apr 15, 2019
4,659
4,499
This is the official adapter.


The above only works for USB slaves (external SSDs, flash drives, etc). The older iPad Pros only support USB 3.0 in master/host mode. For connecting to computer, it's not really possible to get USB 3.0 speeds via Lightning.
exactly, lightning to usb A 3.0 works with external storage, cameras etc but not with a computer. USB 3.0 was one of the many features introduced by the very first ipad pro in 2015 (together with fast charging, 4GB RAM, pencil support, keyboard support, quad speakers, varialbe refresh rate (but up to 60hz), and, well, the large size...)
 

sparksd

macrumors G4
Jun 7, 2015
10,019
34,408
Seattle WA
I think for USB 3.0 data transfer, there's only lightning to USB-C cable that supports it. All lightning to USB-A are USB2.0 spec. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

As others have mentioned, USB3 speeds are under limited conditions. I can confirm that a PC connection with that cable is not USB3 speed - I just did a full iPhone backup through iTunes with a Lightning-USB-C cable.
 
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Dimka

macrumors member
Jan 23, 2007
62
57
San Francisco
It's technically possible, but such cable is not available on the market. Simple not a single company makes it.
Initially when very first 12.9" iPad pro came out Apple talked a lot about it's USB-3 speeds, and I spoke about it with an Apple engineer at WWDC. They thought that other companies will be making such cables. But no one did and Apple stopted talking about it. Now, the USB 3 speeds is an obscure feature
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,921
13,273
It's technically possible, but such cable is not available on the market. Simple not a single company makes it.
Initially when very first 12.9" iPad pro came out Apple talked a lot about it's USB-3 speeds, and I spoke about it with an Apple engineer at WWDC. They thought that other companies will be making such cables. But no one did and Apple stopted talking about it. Now, the USB 3 speeds is an obscure feature

If that was really an option, Apple would've done it themselves already. The fact that even USB-C to Lightning doesn't support USB3 speeds is pretty telling.
 

Digitalguy

macrumors 601
Apr 15, 2019
4,659
4,499
It also should be noted that the adapter works at USB 3.0 speed only if plugged. Another interesting fact is that USB 3.0 compartible iPads can power HDDs when plugged in, while USB 2.0 iPads cannot...
 
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