New connectors for the future iPad Pro?

The futuristic 12.9-inch iPad Pro 11 should maintain the design we know and think we know Mac Otakara, often well informed. However, the Japanese site announced a notable change: there will be a four-pin connector at the edges at the bottom and top of the tablet. It is difficult to determine the exact location of these conductors new lookor use them, but nothing prevents to happily speculate.

The site states that the props can be used to power devices that plug into the Thunderbolt/USB-C port on tablets. iPadOS 16 really opens the doors wide for this type of accessory on the iPad M1. However, one can wonder why these products need an additional connection to a power supply already provided by Thunderbolt.

Moreover, what is the fate of the three-pin smart connector that was placed on the back of the tablets? Does Apple really intend to double the connectors, so where is the fate of the smart connector at stake? This will have the unfortunate consequence of cutting support for a few compatible peripherals, including the Smart Keyboard.