A close inspection of the hardware regulatory information of the Apple iPad Pro shows that the device can actually support up to 29 watts of charging power, a feature which when utilized can significantly improve charging time. The downside to this is that the tablet only ships with a power adapter that runs 12 watts.
Apple is already shipping 29-watt power adapters for its 12-inch MacBook with Retina display, according to App Advice. On the other hand, the MacBook utilizes this power via the USB 3 Lightning cable, a feature not supported by the Apple iPad Pro.
The Lightning cable that ships with the iPad Pro is limited to a maximum load of 12 watts. Moreover, the tablet only supports a full-size USB Type-A 2.0 port and not a USB-C connector.
Tech experts agree that, as of the moment, there is no way that the iPad Pro can utilize the 29-watt power adapter despite that fact that its hardware components are more than capable to do so. The only theoretical workaround would be to use a sanctioned USB 3 Lightning cable, a product that is not yet available on the market.
The Cupertino-based tech giant does not even allow third-party companies to manufacture Lightning to USB-C cables which would allow the charging and syncing of an iPhone or iPad directly into the 12-inch MacBook.
The faster charging capabilities hidden in the hardware of the iPad Pro was made possible by the inclusion of the Fresco Logic LF1100 USB host controller. The controller can deliver USB 3.0 bandwidth to as much as four separate ports reaching what experts call "SuperSpeed."
As of this writing, Apple has only released one accessory that supports USB 3 Lightning; an iPad Pro SD card reader that promises faster data transfer speeds.
Multiple hardware tests reveal that it will take four and a half hours in order to fully charge an iPad Pro using the 12-watt power adapter.
On the other hand, even if a USB 3 Lightning cable is used in order to take advantage of the 29-watt charging power, it is possible that the iPad Pro will still charge on the regulated 12-watts power input. According to Apple Insider, Apple needs to upgrade the firmware of the iPad Pro in order to enable the 29-watt charging capability of the device.