There is a rise in demand for fast chargers among gadget users, and manufacturers are making it a regular feature for phones, tablets, laptops, and other electronics. It is a breakthrough technology that lets you power up within the shortest time possible. The only worry is how safe this feature is for your iPad and its battery life.
So, are fast chargers bad for the iPad? It is safe to use fast chargers on your iPad or any other iDevice as long as it is a legitimate Apple accessory. The company has improved the tech involved to guarantee that the process is seamless for the tablet and doesn’t affect its battery’s lifespan. Your gadget will only take in what it can handle and stop charging when the battery is complete, meaning that overcharging and overheating instances are very rare.
It is impressive to have your iPad charge fast, but you must also consider the long-term effects on your gadget. It is challenging for an iPad to hold charge for an entire day if you frequently use it, especially for online tasks.
This begs for a fast-charging option to give you more usage time as you keep juicing up your tablet. However, it is still essential to consider whether any adverse effects are involved and how fast charging generally impacts your iPad’s battery life.
Thanks to Apple’s improved technologies, it is okay to use fast charging on your tablet or iPhone. The company ensures that the setup is safe for your phone and battery, and there are enhancements in the internal design to accommodate the feature.
The lithium batteries inside can only take how much the iPad needs and can handle. Moreover, according to your iPad model, there are high voltage adapters of up to 18 W. Even if there is an impact on the battery life due to excessive use or complications, the changes are usually insignificant.
Fast charging is undoubtedly a fan-favorite when it comes to rechargeable devices. Instead of hours, you will only need minutes to get your gadget complete and ready for use over a long time.
Your iPad allowing fast charging narrows down to how well-designed its internal components like the charging circuits are. It will only take in power based on the components’ specifications and requirements.
For instance, if your tablet’s construction doesn’t support it, it would be impossible for fast chargers to work effectively. Luckily, the iPad is carefully crafted to allow quick and safe charging.
Apple usually designs its devices to handle two-phase charging. The first involves high power intake when the battery levels are too low, but it slows down in the second phase to avoid battery damage.
Therefore, you will notice that your iPad charges rapidly from zero to a certain level but gradually slows down before fully powering. This measure is critical in keeping the battery in check to avoid overheating and overall straining, which may ruin the device in the long run. Otherwise, the process will not interfere with your battery’s lifespan.
It is a thoughtful design because extreme heat easily damages lithium-ion batteries, but Apple ensures that the levels are always controlled, even for other fast-charging iDevices. On the contrary, bear in mind that the slower conventional charger is safer for your iPad than a fast charger. Scientifically, you can expect changes in your battery’s longevity if you constantly use a swift charger.
Luckily, the effects are insubstantial, not enough to worry you or permanently damage your iPad. The key is to buy proper accessories from Apple and seek advice on the ideal charger according to your iPad model because not all generations support fast charging. Besides, if you are skeptical about rapid chargers, you can opt for alternative ways to increase your tablet’s charging speed, like turning it off or setting airplane mode when it is charging.
Can I Use a Fast Charger on My iPad?
An iPad features a larger battery, meaning that powering it with a standard charger may take longer to reach total capacity. Sometimes you urgently need to use your tablet, but it is dead. Only a fast charger will be handy to give you longer hours with every recharge, but can fast-charging work with an iPad?
Fast charging is safe for your iPad, provided that it is compatible since some model generations don’t have improved circuits to support it. Fortunately, some versions come with rapid chargers by default, while others require that you buy the accessory separately. Some iPads and their subsequent generations support fast charging functionality like the 2020 Regular iPad, 2019 iPad Mini, 2019 iPad Air, 2015 iPad Pro, and later makes.
Apple has allowed some iPads to support quick charging, and you can purchase a new tablet with the necessary charging accessories inside. For instance, iPad 2020 Regular and iPad Air have included fast chargers in the boxes that come with the purchase. Similarly, iPad Pro versions of 2018 and later are easily chargeable straight from purchase.
If your tablet has a fast-charging capability but doesn’t come with a charger, you can find a good one from a trusted Apple dealer. iPads with the fast-charging functionality will power your iDevice faster, letting you keep playing and watching on your device at your convenience. Note that some models are compatible with fast charging, while others don’t support it. Still, alternating an ordinary adapter with a speedier charger will not affect your tablet.
Apple has designed its iDevices’ hardware to safely intake power steadily, making it rare to overcharge. Therefore, you can have one adapter and use it across all your iDevices. Plugging a rapid charger into an iPad that isn’t built to fast charge doesn’t guarantee it will power up like other compatible models.
However, the speed may be slightly faster than when using the traditional charging block, and the accessories you buy with quick charging latest gadgets can still work with older models. Besides, if you don’t have the charger, you can always purchase one from a trusted retailer. If you own an iPad that doesn’t have a rapid charger but supports lightning cables, even the older generation tablets, you can acquire a USB-C adapter from a genuine dealership.
However, it is best to watch out for counterfeit products that may damage your battery or iPad. You can find a USB-C to USB-C cable or a USB-C to the Lightning wire and ensure that your brick is 18W and above. Any iPad with a fast-charging functionality will power up faster with such power uptake. Note that the higher the wattage on the adapter, the faster your iPad will charge.
How Long Does It Take To Charge an iPad With an iPhone Charger?
An iPad comes with a massive battery to give you hours of entertainment, but on the downside, This makes it charge slower than smaller iDevices. Therefore, you may wonder how long the process takes if you use an iPhone charger now that even the conventional cable charges slowly.
A standard 5W iPhone charger will need more than 5 hours to fully charge an iPad, but the statistics vary depending on your tablet generation and the iPhone charger’s wattage. Since iPad and iPhone accessories have distinct capabilities, you have a better shot at using their cables interchangeably if they are compatible with the needs of the device in question.
For instance, the charging will be too slow when using a 5W iPhone plug on an iPad that usually handles 20W voltage. Generally, you can expect charging to take longer than usual when using an iPhone charger.
Initially, completely charging your iPad can take up to 7 hours, but it gradually reduces to 4-5 hours, depending on your model generation and its charging specifications. Although the iPhone and iPad are from the same manufacturer, they have different capabilities, and the charging cables come in various wattages. The tablet’s block is usually more massive to correspond with the battery’s size, unlike the iPhone whose cord is relatively tinier.
Each cable has a specific wattage according to your iPad’s construction. It can be a 5-18W adapter, and the higher the level, the more rapid the charging process. The same applies to the iPhone; although most adapters are 5W, there are 18W and 20W options for fast charging needs. Thus, you can find common ground when using a high voltage iPhone charger with a demanding iPad. Luckily, Apple made the cables interchangeable across various gadgets under its umbrella but with some rules.
Although it is safe to use a low-wattage smartphone charger to power a tablet, the process will take longer, more than five hours, in most cases, depending on some factors. The time to total capacity varies based on the iPad’s model and the phone charger’s power.
For instance, the latest 8th generation iPad and 4th generation iPad Air have 20W chargers, the iPad Pros come with 18W, while the rest have 10W and 12W. Consequently, a 5W iPhone charger will be too weak compared to what the iPads can handle, dragging out the charging by a few hours.
However, fast-charging smartphone charger alternatives ranging from 18-20W will be very effective for the iPads. They will charge like the conventional iPad accessories and take almost the same 4-5 hours to power the battery to the total capacity.
The trick is to find a phone cable with the same wattage as your conventional iPad plug to make the charging process faster. Luckily, there is no harm in using the chargers interchangeably as long as they are all from Apple, notwithstanding the wattage.
How To Find a Fast Charger for Your iPad
Technology keeps enhancing with time, and many device users keep an eye out for the latest trends in the market. Apple devices now support swift charging, and the more you use the iPad, the more you want it to charge faster. If you are captivated by this new tech, the following are some helpful tips to help you find a suitable accessory for your tablet.
To find a fast charger for an iPad, first, it is essential to know whether your iPad is compatible with fast charging. You can check its generation to confirm this from Apple because older iPads’ hardware usually lacks the capability. Additionally, the tablet should support a USB-C to Lightning cable for the fastest charging experience.
An ideal accessory for your device should be over 18W since higher wattage means even faster powering. In some instances, you can also use a 60W safely on your tablet for the swiftest powering process.
Now that you know that fast charging is safe for your tablet, you have the green light to go shopping for a suitable cable, as you also experience a taste of the new tech. Most importantly, it is best to ascertain that your gadget is compatible with the feature; not all iPads will power up faster when you hook them to the cable.
Your tablet’s generation will play a huge role in determining whether buying a fast charger is worthwhile or not. Thankfully, current tablet versions like the iPad Pro (2020) come with an included fast-charging brick and cable.
On the other hand, other generations like the fourth version iPad Mini and third model iPad Air only come with an adapter. Note that the latest models with higher wattage usually power faster than older tablets.
For instance, 2016 and 2017 iPad Pro models use their adapter cables to transmit 10W or 12W, but tablet versions like the original iPad Mini and Regular iPads cannot charge quickly. The devices use 5W adapters, which take relatively longer to fully power the tablet.
They don’t support lightning cables, making the fast-charging concept foreign to them. Consequently, using the accessory on them will be futile, not different from their conventional chargers.
Once you know your iPad version, you can find a charging adapter over 18W. There will be no adverse effects on the battery or device, even when you opt for a 30W alternative. Apple’s design doesn’t allow the charging to exceed the battery’s capacity, and the process automatically stops at total capacity.
Finally
Manufacturers understand that there are avid users who deplete their batteries often and need a fast-charging process. Apple has improved the iPad’s internal features to make quick charging safe for the battery and the device.
You only need to find a legitimate cable from the company and plug it into your tablet for a quick process. However, not all iPad models support fast charging, and it is best to first confirm from Apple whether yours is compatible before buying a quick charger.
Alternatively, you can use an iPhone charger on your tablet as long as it has a recommendable wattage based on what the iPad can handle. Remember to only buy proper accessories from Apple; otherwise, you may damage your tablet or battery.
