Support of any kind for Apple’s 2012 Retina iPad models is close to none, which only means that these tablets will be doing nothing else except collecting dust or being used as a large paperweight. However, the Chinese have found a new purpose for these slates, transforming them into portable displays that they can use with their peripherals for productivity purposes. This approach helps to reduce e-waste while also allowing users to get the most out of an unsupported device.
Older Retina iPads can also gain a keyboard and mouse, with a little tweaking around
An image showing a vintage 2012 Retina iPad was uploaded by @iconredesign on X, showing the tablet placed in a red housing of some sort. The Chinese appear to be extremely resourceful in putting older hardware to good use because the tablet is shown to have a multitude of shortcuts on the home screen, indicating that it is being used as a portable display.
Devices at that time shipped with Apple’s proprietary Lightning port, so other than being used for charging, that input would not serve any other purpose. Fortunately, the Chinese found a clever workaround to this hurdle, with an external link also provided in the X thread that reveals a post from Hackaday, showing that it is possible to transform a 2012 Retina iPad into a portable display and that is through the help of an Embedded DisplayPort (eDP) adapter.
The iPad in the image above also shows that there are multiple cables attached, and it harbors keyboard support too to increase productivity. This move is exceptionally helpful if you have an archaic device lying around. However, we also need to give some well-deserved credit to Apple for developing robust products that can stand the test of time, even if that means none of them will get any software updates.
If you look around various forums such as Reddit, you will see tons of posts where users continue to rock their older MacBooks, which is another example of how long-lasting these products are. In short, if you have an older iPad lying around, perhaps you can also transform it into a portable display rather than adding another count to the e-waste pile.
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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