[raw_anon_1111]

The higher end iPads started coming with USB C long before the EU mandate

[monocasa]

That seemed like a product segmentation choice to encourage more laptop like use cases out of the higher end iPads.

Less friction for devices like passkeys, external hard drives, etc.

It doesn't seem like they were keen on moving that down the product line since they had to be dragged kicking and screaming to do so.

[extraduder_ire]

That was a much easier way to get usb3 on them than the special lightning port + cables they tried earlier.