iPad Transferring Photos via USB-C-Which iPad?

[SpecFoto]

Need some help as my iPad in a Mini4 and I haven’t kept up on what is new. Want to use the new iPad in the field to backup my 2 Sony cameras via the USB-C port and then transfer to my 2TB SSD's. Will do some light editing but mostly this will be done at home on my Mac. This will be it main use along with reviewing photos and general browsing and I don’t want to spend a lot for this, but I will go for the 256GB version.

From what I can see the iPad Air 4th and 5th generation will work along with the iPad 10th generation, as they all use a USB-C connector. The iPad Air has a laminated screen and anti reflective coating, but the screen pixels and Nits are the same as the iPad, so don’t know if the Air is worth the extra $150. I can buy a refurb iPad Air 4th for the same price as the new iPad 10th.

Are all of these OK for what I want, or is one better than the others? Thanks

 

[KaliYoni]

From what I can see the iPad Air 4th and 5th generation will work along with the iPad 10th generation, as they all use a USB-C connector.

If I recall correctly, even though iPad 10th and iPad Air 5th both have a USB-C port, the iPad provides USB-2 transfer speeds while the iPad Air provides USB-3 transfer speeds (check the official tech specs to confirm if this is important to you).

 

[Slartibart]

Additionally for speed and to avoid problems related to e.g. writing files, format the SSDs using APFS (if possible). If the 2TB SSDs are made by Sandisk beware and consider a different brand for backup or replacement.

 

[bradman83]

As others have noted the 10th generation iPad's USB-C ports are limited to USB 2 speeds. The non-M1 iPad Airs (4th Generation A14 based ones) are limited to 5 Gbps USB 3 speeds, whereas the M1 and M2 iPads can do 10 Gbps USB 3.

 

[SpecFoto]

Additionally for speed and to avoid problems related to e.g. writing files, format the SSDs using APFS (if possible). If the 2TB SSDs are made by Sandisk beware and consider a different brand for backup or replacement.

Well, since I have had 1 copy of the 2TB and 4 copies 4TB SanDisk Extremes SSD V2 for over 2 years with ZERO problems, I don't agree with Internet scare tactics about these drive being that bad. 2 sets of the 4TB are set up as 8TB RAID for my daily use and backup, and yes all are APFS. My 5 SanDisk Extreme V2 have performed flawlessly.

The issue you linked to is with the SD Extreme PRO version of the SSD's, which costs more, uses a special USB 2x2 protocol (not available on any Mac except via a PCI-e card) and thus a higher MB/s transfer speed that Macs can't utilize! The PRO version will transfer at the same speed on a Mac as the V2, so why would a Mac user even buy this (Windows) version? Maybe in the future you ought to read and understand the information before you pass it along as the truth.

 

[SpecFoto]

As others have noted the 10th generation iPad's USB-C ports are limited to USB 2 speeds. The non-M1 iPad Airs (4th Generation A14 based ones) are limited to 5 Gbps USB 3 speeds, whereas the M1 and M2 iPads can do 10 Gbps USB 3.

Thanks to you and @KaliYoni for this info. Yes this is important! I want the faster transfer speeds as my 1 of Sony bodies is 61MP and has very large files. The other is 26MP and will be doing some video transfers as well as photos. Will see if Apple announces anything new in the next month, but it seems the 5th generation Air will be the best right now. Thanks!

 

[Slartibart]

Well, since I have had 1 copy of the 2TB and 4 copies 4TB SanDisk Extremes SSD V2 for over 2 years with ZERO problems, I don't agree with Internet scare tactics about these drive being that bad. 2 sets of the 4TB are set up as 8TB RAID for my daily use and backup, and yes all are APFS. My 5 SanDisk Extreme V2 have performed flawlessly.

The issue you linked to is with the SD Extreme PRO version of the SSD's, which costs more, uses a special USB 2x2 protocol (not available on any Mac except via a PCI-e card) and thus a higher MB/s transfer speed that Macs can't utilize! The PRO version will transfer at the same speed on a Mac as the V2, so why would a Mac user even buy this (Windows) version? Maybe in the future you ought to read and understand the information before you pass it along as the truth.

Unfounded ad hominem attacks do represent low content contributions, don’t they? And yes, you are right, not all but the Sandisk Extreme Pro and Portable lines are affected (and that’s why I used “beware” in the link). The Extreme Portables are probably the ones important in the context of the OPs thread.

nota bene: to adress your question - Mac users might have bought/consider buying Sandisk Extreme Pros/Portables because they were/are currently available with significant discounts… Honi soit qui mal y pense.

 

[muzzy996]

Yeah I would approach Sandisk or WD portable SSDs with caution. I know that OP has their own datapoint from their experience but I have mine too and my experience parallels what articles from Ars Technica, Petapixel and The Verge have said. Some units are demonstrating reliability issues and some aren’t. I have 4 of the 4tb models and 4 of the 2tb models. All of my 4tb units are non-pro and 2 of my 2tb units are pro versions. One of the 2tb pro models experienced data loss prior to firmware update. It hasn’t acted up since updating but I no longer trust them. Of the 4tb models that I have one has acted up after firmware update. In both cases the drive was essentially unreadable but could be reinitialized and used after data loss.

At this point all of the larger capacity Sandisk extreme portable ssd drives that I have are now used in tandem as short term storage and I will be buying other brands in the future. I simply cannot trust the drives that I have to retain data long term and so I certainly will not be using them as a lone backup (not that this is what OP is suggesting or what I have traditionally done either). Up till now I had no issues with the sandisk extreme drives, I have roughly a dozen others in other capacities.