iOS 17.1 code mentions Apple Pencil using USB-C interface
iOS 17.1 code mentions Apple Pencil using USB-C interface
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iOS 17.1 code mentions Apple Pencil using USB-C interface.
Apple Pencil code added in the second beta of iOS 17.1 mentions USB-C charging capabilities for the Apple Pencil, a feature that neither of the two Apple Pencils currently sold by Apple have.
The article reads: “Connect USB-C to charge soon”, and another line reads: “Apple Pencil battery is low.”

It’s unclear if this refers to a new version of the Apple Pencil, or if it’s text related to a USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter that would allow the first-generation Apple Pencil to be charged using a 10th-generation iPad . With this adapter, the Apple Pencil can be plugged into the Lightning end of the adapter, and the USB-C port can be plugged into the iPad, making it convenient to charge through the USB-C port.
It’s not entirely clear why Apple is adding this text now, considering the adapter was launched last year , but it’s a logical explanation and could have something to do with the possibility of Apple launching a next-generation low-cost iPad. Another possibility is that Apple is developing a new version of Apple Pencil with a USB-C interface.
In theory, Apple could update the original Apple Pencil with little effort, replacing the Lightning port with a USB-C port, which would allow the company to continue rolling out higher-end, slimmer magnetic models for use with the iPad Pro and other iPads. Apple Pencil, and a cheaper, sleeker Apple Pencil that charges via a port and works with Apple’s lower-priced iPad line.

If Apple plans to launch a third-generation Apple Pencil that is compatible with all iPads, then the USB-C port may be meaningless, because the new Apple Pencil is likely to follow the design of the second-generation Apple Pencil and charge magnetically through the iPad. An Apple Pencil without a connector that is compatible with all iPads would simplify the Apple Pencil product line and reduce confusion.
Apple is transitioning its products to USB-C due to new European Union regulations requiring electronic products to use universal ports. For fast charging purposes, Apple could opt for USB-C charging, but a future Apple Pencil could also bypass the USB-C requirement with wireless charging.
Whether or not the new Apple Pencil adopts USB-C, a third-generation version seems to be in the works. Earlier this week, rumors surfaced that the next-generation Apple Pencil would feature magnetic tips in different shapes for drawing, sketching, and painting.