[UPDATE: For my latest post on Anker cables dated August 19, 2020, click here.]
Now that I am using the iPad Pro 12.9" (third generation), I need to update some of my Lightning accessories to USB-C accessories. I already have a USB-C to USB-C cord that I use with Apple's USB-C power adapter for fast charging of the iPad Pro. (I have the $49 29W power adapter, which I reviewed back in 2016, but Apple now sells a 30W USB-C power adapter which you can get for $43 on Amazon.) But sometimes I find myself in a CLE, a meeting, etc. where I am too far from an outlet on a wall to use a power adapter but I still want to provide power to my iPad Pro. All of the portable battery chargers that I own use normal USB, not USB-C, so I had no way to connect my iPad Pro. I needed a USB to USB-C cable.
I've had excellent experiences using Anker Powerline+ cables. I currently use my Anker Powerline+ USB-C to USB-C 6 foot cable every day in my office to keep my iPad Pro charged (my review), and I often use an Anker Powerline+ USB to Lightning cord with my iPhone (my review). Thus, I decided to purchase an Anker USB to USB-C Powerline+ 3 foot cable.
I like the Anker Powerline+ and Powerline+ II series because these cords have nylon braiding, which makes it pretty much impossible for the cord to get tangled. Also, they hold up to bending very well, and the nylon protects the cords. The "II" versions are slightly more durable, as I showed in this comparison, but both are very good. Anker doesn't currently sell a Powerline+ II version of a USB to USB-C cable, so I didn't have to decide whether or not to pay slightly more for a "II" series when I was shopping for this cord.
Anker sells two versions of its Powerline+ USB to USB-C cable. One version supports USB 2.0 speeds and costs $9.99 on Amazon. The other version supports USB 3.0 speeds and costs $10.99 on Amazon. I am primarily using this cord just to provide power, so the data speed difference doesn't matter. But because the price difference is so minor, I figured that I might as well get the faster cord. USB 2.0 supports up to 480 megabits per second, whereas USB 3.0 is 10x faster at 5 gigabits per second. You can usually tell if a computer or other device supports the faster USB 3.0 speed because the "tongue" portion of the USB port is often blue, but this is not always the case; I have a new iMac at home which supports USB 3.0 speed but the ports are just white, not blue. With the USB 3.0 version of this cord, if I ever need to use this cord to transfer data, I can potentially take advantage of a 10x speed increase for only $1 more.
Keep in mind that if you want the fastest data transfer with the third generation iPad Pro, you'll need to use a USB-C to USB-C cord that supports USB 3.1 gen 2; that can give you transfers at 10 gigabits per second. But if all you have is a traditional USB port with 3.0 speeds, 5 gigabits per second is as fast as you can go. (Similarly, a Lightning connector goes up to 5 gigabits per second.)
Anker sells both a black and red version of this cord. I decided to go for the red version because most of the cords that I currently carry around with my iPad are either white or black. This is my only USB to USB-C cord, and the red color will let it stand out from my other cords.
The cord includes a built-in strap with a hook-and-loop Velcro-type fastener. With this strap, it is easy to wrap the cord into a circle for storing it.
Note that while I am primarily using this cord to charge my iPad Pro, USB-A to USB-C cords do not support the newer Power Delivery (PD) protocol, which means that they do not provide quick charging. You need a USB-C to USB-C cord that supports PD for the fastest charging of an iPad Pro. And along with that cord you need a portable battery which supports USB-C and 30W output, such as this $130 unit by Anker (or go crazy and get the $350 Anker Powerhouse 200). I don't currently own one of those, and I am always finding USB-A power sources that I might want to use. Moreover, I've found that normal USB power charging seems to be sufficient for ensuring that my iPad Pro has enough power for heavy use during a long day.
I've been very happy with this purchase. It allows my new iPad Pro to bridge the gap to older accessories that only support the traditional USB Type-A port. Over time as I get more USB-C accessories, this cord will become less necessary. Even so, USB has been around for over 20 years, so I suspect that a USB to USB-C cord will remain useful for a very long time.
If you are looking for a good way to connect the USB-C port on your iPad Pro with accessories that only support a traditional USB connector, this Anker cord is a great solution.
Click here to get Anker Powerline+ USB-C to USB 3.0 Cable from Amazon ($10.99).
