iPad lightning port vs USB C port speeds
I have a 2018 iPad (lightning port) which I tether to my Nikon Zf using a TetherTools UBS-C cable and an Apple original USB to Lightning adapter. When shooting raw files on the camera while tethered to C1 on the iPad, image previews often take up to 10 seconds to fully load after maybe about 3-5 second for the pixelated preview to show up on the iPad (after one click). I do not taken photos in burst, and there is at least a 10 second gap between each click in this setup.
Would I experience noticeably faster file preview and transfer speeds if I switched to an iPad 2022 model which is a USB-C port unit
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The Lightning port/cable is USB 2.0 and can only transfer up to 5 Gbps (gigabits per second) The USB-C port with the correct cable on the newest iPad can transfer at 40 Gbps. However, the first USB-C iPads were still using USB 2.0 slow speeds. You need to look at the specs for that model iPad and make sure it runs at the higher speed. Also, don't buy cheap USB-C cables as the cable may limit the speed. Yes, they cost more but Apple and MiFI certified cables work at the rated speed.
The newer iPad performs as fast as a laptop or desktop Mac/PC as far as transfer speeds and is well worth it, way faster.
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FYI, USB 2.0 speeds are quite slow at 480 megabits per second (Mbps), not 5Gbps. Some 2018 iPad models are only USB 2.0. Some iPad Pro models are USB 3.0 which can be 5 Gbps. It's not entirely clear which 2018 model the OP has, but it seems likely it's only USB 2.0 at 480 Mbps.
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Thanks, I thought the 480Mbs was actually correct but it is getting really difficult to find the correct data on the internet these days. There is so much conflicting info that if it isn't something you keep up with you don't know what is true.
I have the newest iPad Pro and its port speed is USB4/Thunderbolt 3 (Up to 40 Gbps). I've never tested it but I do use a Thunderbolt 3 SSD and matching cable and am quite happy with performance copying files.
As I mentioned above, using the correct cable is very important as some USB-C cables are rated for slower speeds.
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At least much of the world is moving to just tagging USB ports with their speed 5Gbps, 10Gbps, 20Gbps or 40Gbps which is so much more user friendly than USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USB 3.2, USB 3.2 2x2, etc... USB4 (40Gbps) rocks.
You are absolutely correct about cables. I've even taken to labelling some of my cables with their rated speed if they aren't already labelled. I've probably got 40 USB cables lying around accumulated over a lot of years (some for charging, some for data) and who knows what speed most of them are capable of.
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