Fast Company published a report this week exploring why third-party accessories that make use of Apple's Smart Connector remain few and far between, almost two years after the connector first debuted on the iPad Pro. The magnetic Smart Connector allows the iPad Pro to communicate with and power compatible accessories, like the company's own Smart Keyboard, without the hassle of wires.

The first supporting third-party accessory, Logitech's Create Smart Connector keyboard, launched the same day as the iPad Pro in late 2015, shortly followed by the Logitech charging base, and more recently a Logitech keyboard for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro. However, this close partnership between Apple and Logitech is one of the reasons for the dearth of Smart Connector accessories from competing vendors, according to the report.

smartconnector

"With an iPad Pro keyboard on the market already, we are evaluating the market's appetite for another iPad Pro keyboard and identifying if there are any gaps that we can fill," a spokeswoman for Incipio told Fast Company. "So we are developing with having a point of difference in mind rather than developing to be quick to market."

Other issues are said to relate to procuring Smart Connector components, with manufacturers reporting longer lead times compared to other accessories, making them time- and cost-prohibitive. "For a business like us, we've got a very rapid product development cycle," said one vendor source, who asked to remain anonymous. "When you've got a long lead time component that's close to six months, that's just not tenable."

logitechcreateblack

Logitech Create Smart Keyboard

Meanwhile, some accessory makers simply preferred Bluetooth as a better fit, especially for iPad keyboards, with more room for maneuver in terms of accessory design. For instance, the Smart Connector only works with keyboards in landscape mode, whereas some users prefer to type in portrait orientation. The issue of Bluetooth battery life has also been minimized, with smaller batteries now lasting for months rather than weeks.

There are only four Smart Connector accessories currently on the market – three offered by Logitech, one by Apple. Fast Company was told by Apple that multiple companies are now developing Smart Connector accessories, but going on this report, iPad Pro owners looking to further exploit the potential of Apple's proprietary connector could be in for some wait yet.

Top Rated Comments

Telos101 Avatar
73 months ago
Can't really imagine any other accessories than charging stand and keyboards. So why would anyone get in when they already are made?
From the linked article:

Looking ahead, though, the real advantage for the Smart Connector isn’t just the hassle-free, powered connection, but the possibilities it could open up for the iPad as a whole. Imagine, for instance, a keyboard that could charge the iPad through a built-in battery, or one with extra storage that integrated with Apple’s new Files app in iOS 11. Perhaps there’s even room for more kinds of input devices, such as a MIDI keyboard dock that didn’t require toting around an extra Lightning cable and stand.

The Smart Connector is still full of potential. Now peripheral makers just have to realize it.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kiro Avatar
73 months ago
TB is 6+ years old and there is barely any devices. Just because TB3 can mimic USB-C connection doesn't make it successful, it just makes it an expensive USB-C port.
eGPU - case closed.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ries Avatar
73 months ago
Huh?

Thunderbolt is absolutely taking off. That it uses the USB C connector makes it even more brilliant.
TB is 6+ years old and there is barely any devices. Just because TB3 can mimic USB-C connection doesn't make it successful, it just makes it an expensive USB-C port.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
szw-mapple fan Avatar
73 months ago
Smart connector is a failure. It’s not even coming to the iPhone 8 so it’s only a iPad Pro feature. But it makes no sense since the lightening port can be used for keyboards and stuff.
Can you seriously imagine a keyboard with a cable connecting to the lightning connector? That seems like the worst UX design decision ever, especially for a portable device like the iPad.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ApfelKuchen Avatar
73 months ago
Smart connector is a failure. It’s not even coming to the iPhone 8 so it’s only a iPad Pro feature. But it makes no sense since the lightening port can be used for keyboards and stuff.
Yeah, when you assume that everything Apple does is a failure.

Smart Connector has advantages over the Lightning port, and Lightning port has advantages over Smart Connector. Lightning is a far more versatile interface, delivering higher data transfer rates, among other things. Smart Connector's advantages are primarily mechanical. Bluetooth also has its advantages and disadvantages. There is still no one-size-fits-all solution for connectivity.

As someone who has a Smart Keyboard, I appreciate the strong, magnetic/mechanical bond between the keyboard and device, and that an accidental separation of the keyboard from the iPad will not put stress on a connector/port. You can essentially rip that keyboard from the iPad with no risk of harm to the iPad and minimal risk to the keyboard/cover.

Sure, that strong, magnetic bond could also be used by a Bluetooth keyboard, but as someone who's been through a variety of accessory keyboards for both iPhone and iPad, Smart Keyboard is by far the easiest to use - no batteries to replace/charge, no pairing. I can keep typing for as long as the iPad has power, and the iPad's Lightning port is free so that I can charge the iPad while I work.

I don't think Apple ever expected to see a large number of Smart Connector-based products. It wasn't created to generate oodles of licensing revenues from the likes of Logitech, or a standard that would be adopted industry-wide. It would be successful so long as Apple could sell a reasonable number of Smart Keyboards, and if the keyboard would be a viable selling point for iPad Pro. Since "physical keyboard" is one of the top requirements for "laptop replacement," a well-executed accessory keyboard was a necessity. I think they did a fine job.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WilliamG Avatar
73 months ago
Similar to Thunderbolt. They hyped it at first and then did nothing to sell people on it. Although I’m pretty sure that was Intel’s fault, Apple could have marketed it more heavily.
Huh?

Thunderbolt is absolutely taking off. That it uses the USB C connector makes it even more brilliant.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 15 Pro Mock Feature Buttonless

iPhone 15 Pro Max to 'Break Record' for Thinnest Bezels on a Smartphone

Friday March 17, 2023 2:59 am PDT by
The iPhone 15 Pro Max will have the thinnest bezels of any smartphone, beating the record currently held by the Xiaomi 13. That's according to the leaker known as "Ice Universe," who has divulged accurate information about Apple's plans in the past. Both iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to have thinner, curved bezels compared to the iPhone 14 Pro, potentially resulting in an Apple...
iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Feature

iPhone 12 Pro vs. 15 Pro: New Features to Expect if You've Waited to Upgrade

Friday March 17, 2023 10:29 am PDT by
While year-over-year iPhone upgrades are not always groundbreaking, new features can begin to stack up over multiple generations. For example, the iPhone 15 Pro will be a notable upgrade for those who still have a three-year-old iPhone 12 Pro. If you are still using an iPhone 12 Pro and are considering upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro when it launches later this year, we have put together a...
iphone 14 pro max deep purple feature purple

iPhone 15 Pro Launching This Year With These 11 New Features

Monday March 13, 2023 6:47 am PDT by
While the iPhone 15 lineup is around six months away, there have already been plenty of rumors about the devices. Many new features and changes are expected for the iPhone 15 Pro models in particular, including a titanium frame and more. Below, we have recapped 11 features rumored for iPhone 15 Pro models that are not expected to be available on the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus:A17...
top stories 18mar2023

Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro Pricing, New iOS 16.4 Beta, Siri vs. ChatGPT, and More

Saturday March 18, 2023 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's high-end iPhone models have started at $999 in the U.S. since they first launched back in 2017 with the iPhone X, but could this finally be the year that starting price sees an increase? This week also saw some more rumors about Apple's upcoming headset and the company's explorations in the booming AI industry as well as the release of a new round of beta updates, so read on for all...
iphone 14 pro max deep purple feature purple

iPhone 15 Pro Predicted to See First Price Increase Since iPhone X

Wednesday March 15, 2023 7:49 am PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will likely be more expensive than previous Pro models, according to Jeff Pu, a tech analyst at Hong Kong-based investment firm Haitong International Securities. In a research note this week, Pu predicted the iPhone 15 Pro models will see a price increase due to several rumored hardware upgrades, including a titanium frame,...
original iphone auction

Factory-Sealed Original iPhone Sells for $55,000 at Auction

Friday March 17, 2023 1:08 pm PDT by
A first-generation iPhone still sealed inside its box sold for $54,904 at auction, which is more than $54,000 over the original $599 price tag of the device when it was released in 2007. The original iPhone was put up for sale by RR Auction on behalf of a former Apple employee who purchased it back when it first came out. Back in February, an original, sealed iPhone sold for over $63,000,...