Actually, the new iPad Pro is the first iPad that might actually be able to do this from a hardware perspective. Why? It can output a lot of power over USB-C and charge other devices. If any device is going to support external drives, it would be this one. Not saying it's going to happen in iOS 13, just saying that it's more likely than it has ever been up until this point. I can even confirm that the Samsung T5 SSD using it's supplied USB-C to USB-C cable does indeed power up the device with the indicator light blinking until iOS tells me it can't be read.
[doublepost=1541777316][/doublepost]Okay, so I just tested an older spinning USB 3.0 external drive (2.5") and it didn't even power up. It has one of those weird, flat, but longer USB 3.0 connectors (is it USB-B Mini or USB-A 3.0 Micro with the extra connectors?). I had to use a USB-C to USB-A female adapter, so IDK if that was causing problems, or if I had a single cable if it would work, but right now it's not. I don't have a USB-C drive that is non-SSD to test for higher power usage. Anyone else tried?