Apple's 10th-gen iPad features USB-C, which might seem like a win for universal connectivity, but it's only compatible with the Apple Pencil 1 which has a Lightning connector for charging. There are a lot of things to like about the iPad 10. It features the modern, squared-off design seen on the iPad Pro, a Touch ID sensor in the power button, and supports the new Magic Keyboard Folio that includes a kickstand and a function key row. It also brings another highly-requested feature to the iPad — a landscape front-facing camera. With all of these changes, it's puzzling to see support for the older first-gen Apple Pencil.

Apple has been slowly switching its product lineup from Lightning to USB-C, in part due to pressure from governmental regulations. This upgrade is seamless for the iPad Air and the iPad Pro, since both models utilize a second-generation Apple Pencil that charges wirelessly. It snaps onto the side of the iPad Air and the iPad Pro with magnets, eliminating the need for charging via a Lightning port. However, the new 10th-generation iPad is only compatible with the Apple Pencil 1, which syncs and charges using a Lightning connector.

Related: Which iPad Models Have A USB-C Port? Here's The Complete List

$9 Adapter Connects Apple Pencil To iPad 10

USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter image from Apple's online store.

Users criticized the way the first-generation Apple Pencil connected to iPads with a Lightning port. It has a Lightning connecter underneath the cap that charges and syncs via the iPad's built-in Lightning port. Now, with the 10th-generation iPad using USB-C, there is no way to directly connect the first-generation Apple Pencil to the tablet. To solve this, Apple made a USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter that retails for $9. The good news is that new purchases of the first-generation Apple Pencil will include the USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter at no additional cost.

Apple's USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter connects to the Lightning port of the first-generation Apple Pencil and converts it to a female USB-C port. Users can then plug the Apple Pencil into the iPad 10 for charging and syncing. One of the benefits of the first and second-gen Apple Pencils is that they can be quickly charged in a pinch without the need to carry an additional charger. Now, 10th-generation iPad users will need to carry a USB-C cable and an adapter in order to charge and sync their Apple Pencil on the go.

Why The iPad 10 Doesn't Support Apple Pencil 2

A 10th-generation iPad next to a first-generation Apple Pencil.

Apple's decision to make the older Apple Pencil compatible with the iPad 10 seems like a bizarre decision, but there's actually an underlying reason for this. The iPad 10 features a landscape FaceTime camera that isn't seen on any other iPad model, but it is housed in the same area where the wireless charging component is present on the iPad Air and iPad Pro. This means that Apple didn't have space to add wireless charging for the Apple Pencil 2 on the iPad 10, as a result of which it had to include support for the first-gen Apple Pencil.

The landscape FaceTime camera is a much-needed addition for video calls, and is a feature that Apple will want to include in other iPads going forward. However, the company will need to rearrange the internal components or figure out another place to add the magnetic Apple Pencil 2 connector, since the Lightning adapter isn't a sustainable solution. In the meantime, iPad 10 users will need to get used to carrying around the outdated first-gen Apple Pencil and adapter until they upgrade to the next iPad, which will hopefully bring support for the Apple Pencil 2.

More: Apple’s Accessory Lock-In Is Getting Ridiculous With The iPad 10

Source: Apple 1, 2