The Smart Battery Case isn't the only product Apple has quietly launched this month. The Cupertino-based company has also made available a Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader. It is priced at $29.99 (roughly Rs. 1,980).
The highlight of the adapter is its transfer speed. The description page of the device, which has the model number MJYT2AM/A, says that the Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader supports USB 3.0 data transfer speeds on the iPad Pro. It appears to be the only iOS accessory by Apple to offer this functionality. The Lightning to USB Camera Adapter, for instance, offers USB 2.0 transfer speeds.
"The Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader supports standard photo formats, including JPEG and RAW, along with SD and HD video formats, including H.264 and MPEG-4. It supports data transfer at up to USB 3 speeds on iPad Pro, and up to USB 2 speeds on all other iPad and iPhone models," the description page reads.
The launch of the Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader, and the features it offers, doesn't come as a surprise. Ever since the launch of the iPad Pro, which comes with pins on both sides of its Lightning port, it was speculated that the device supports USB 3.0 transfer speeds. The bump in the speeds will allow users to, theoretically, handle data at 640MB per second as opposed to 60MB per second in USB 2.0.
The accessory is compatible with the iPhone 5, iPhone 5c through to iPhone 6s Plus, all iPad mini models, and the iPad Air or above. Though do note that you wouldn't be able to get USB 3.0 transfer speeds in between these devices. Apple's iOS 9.2, the latest software update for its mobile operating system, adds support for the iPhone models to use Apple's Lightning to SD card and USB adapters.
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