All iPads iPad Air (2019) iPadOS USB drive and SD card support?

[Robertjan88]

Hi All

Planning to buy the new iPad Air (2019 version).

According to the latest update notes, iPadOS will have proper USB drive and SD card support!

Will this only be applicable to the iPad Pro with USB-C, or also to the new iPad Air, which is still using lightning?

Thanks!

 

[EugW]

Works on my Lightning iPad Pro 10.5" (which the iPad Air replaced).

It's a big pain though, since it usually requires external power. Using the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter, you can attach a bunch of different USB peripherals, but the power supplied is very low. So while a mouse works without external power, my USB drives and my SD card reader do not. To make them work, I have to also plug in an iPad charger with Lightning cable.

The thing on the right is a Lightning input for power.

On the USB-C iPad Pros, you don't need external power for most USB flash drives or SD card readers.

 

[Robertjan88]

Works on my Lightning iPad Pro 10.5" (which the iPad Air replaced).

It's a big pain though, since it usually requires external power. Using the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter, you can attach a bunch of different USB peripherals, but the power supplied is very low. So while a mouse works without external power, my USB drives and my SD card reader do not. To make them work, I have to also plug in an iPad charger with Lightning cable.

The thing on the right is a Lightning input for power.

On the USB-C iPad Pros, you don't need external power for most USB flash drives or SD card readers.

Many thanks! What about the lightning to SD reader. Will it work without external power?
Will the lightning to USB 3 work with all HDD? The one which are USB powered as well as the ones with an external power source?

 

[EugW]

Many thanks! What about the lightning to SD reader. Will it work without external power?
Will the lightning to USB 3 work with all HDD? The one which are USB powered as well as the ones with an external power source?

I don't have the Lightning to SD reader so I can't comment on that.

I have tried a couple USB drives with that camera adapter and they worked (with external power), but my experience is limited.

 

[rui no onna]

Many thanks! What about the lightning to SD reader. Will it work without external power?
Will the lightning to USB 3 work with all HDD? The one which are USB powered as well as the ones with an external power source?

The Lightning port only provides very low power so you'll need external power for pretty much anything except flash drives and SD cards.

 

[EugW]

The Lightning port only provides very low power so you'll need external power for pretty much anything except flash drives and SD cards.

My flash drives don't work either without external power. That's why I find USB support on the Lightning iPad Pros such a pain.

I was reading online that some flash drives do work without external power, but it's pretty hit and miss, so you can't rely on this.

In contrast, they work fine on the USB-C iPad Pros. I'll be passing the iPad Pro 10.5" down to the wife. She has no use for external USB support, but luckily I only paid about $20 for the adapter so no big loss. Anyone wanna buy a lightly used Pencil 1 though?

 

[AutomaticApple]

That's why I find USB support on the Lightning iPad Pros such a pain.

Yeah, it was such a pain on my old iPad Pro.

 

[007p]

What about the lightning to SD reader. Will it work without external power?

The lightning to sd card reader will work without external power. I’ve used 512gb sd cards fine without power on lightning devices. I would presume it would be the same for the new 1tb sd cards too.