Apple's 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro was the first iPad with mini-LED 'Liquid Retina XDR' and the first with Thunderbolt — its USB-C port runs Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 at up to 40 Gb/s, four times the previous A12Z. That drives one external display up to 6K@60Hz over USB-C-to-DisplayPort or Thunderbolt, plus Thunderbolt SSDs. The 3-pin Smart Connector on the back contacts a Magic Keyboard with no cable.
Apple’s 2021 12.9″ iPad Pro — first iPad with Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 USB-C, plus the 3-pin Smart Connector for the Magic Keyboard.
Device Information
- Manufacturer
- Apple
- Release Year
- 2021
- Model Number
- A2378 / A2461 / A2379 / A2462
- Category
- Tablet
Available Ports
| Connector | Quantity | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) | 1 | USB-C (bottom) | Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 over USB-C, up to 40 Gb/s. DisplayPort Alt Mode for one external display up to 6K@60Hz. Used for charging (20W PD), data and display. |
| Apple Smart Connector (3-pin) | 1 | Smart Connector (back) | 3-pin pogo connector on the back for the Magic Keyboard / Smart Keyboard Folio. Carries power and data between iPad and keyboard — no separate cable. |
Notes & Compatibility
First iPad with Thunderbolt — Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 over USB-C, up to 40 Gb/s. Supports one external display up to 6K@60Hz over DisplayPort Alt Mode, plus Thunderbolt SSDs. Charges over the same port using the bundled 20W USB-C PD adapter. Apple Pencil (2nd gen) charges via the magnetic strip on the long edge — not modelled as a port. No 3.5mm jack, no microSD, no Lightning. Smart Connector (3-pin pogo) on the back contacts the Magic Keyboard.
