Is the iPad 2022 charging feature Apple's worst ever design crime?

We've come to expect design excellence from Apple – its pristine, elegant white devices are instantly recognisable. But that's not to say it hasn't had its share of design faux pas over the years (we're looking at you, Magic Mouse). And it looks like yesterday's new iPad line-up (check out our iPad generations list for details) announcement brought another eyebrow-raising design decision.

We don't know what it is about Apple and charging processes, but it feels like it's an ongoing struggle to get right. And how you power up an Apple Pencil from the new iPad 2022 is the latest bone of contention for some. 

Apple's new iPads comply with upcoming European Union rules that are set to make USB-C mandatory for all devices. However, this means users can no longer simply plug the first gen Apple Pencil into the iPad's Lightning Port to charge. They will need to purchase a USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter. 

But it's not the fact that Apple has chosen to support the 1st gen Pencil with the device, or the small ($9) cost to get an adapter. It is, in fact, the charging process, which is seemingly a world away from Apple's otherwise wireless, clean and minimal aesthetic...

But others have been quick to defend the design...

We have to admit, it's not the cleanest of processes, especially when you consider the effortless magnetic style of the Apple Pencil 2. However there's a balance here, and we have to agree with Michael Caputo (above) says. We'd much rather deal with a wire than having to fork out an extra $100 / £100 on a new Apple Pencil. And if we're totally honest, we much prefer this method to plugging the Pencil directly in to the iPad itself. At least with the wire you can position and store both devices more carefully while charging. 

Maybe it's because we've have come to expect so much from Apple now, the attention to detail and finery, that makes design decisions like this stand out as being less than perfect. But, for us, it's going to take much more than having to plug a wire in to an iPad to steal the Magic Mouse's crown for Apple's biggest design fail.

Read more:

• The 100 greatest Apple creations
• Apple Pencil vs Apple Pencil 2
• 5 huge ways that Apple changed design forever