When you own an iPad and MacBook Pro, you might be tempted to use their chargers interchangeably. However, it is crucial to know the possibility of the chargers working on different devices because some have different designs. You could get iPad chargers with a head that might not work on iPhones or MacBooks.
So, can you use an iPad charger for the MacBook Pro? An iPad charger can be used to charge a MacBook Pro, but will take a very long time to provide enough charge to fully charge the laptop, as the iPad charger offers 12W or 20W, which falls short of the MacBook Pro’s requirements, typically starting at 61W.
While an iPad charger can physically connect to a MacBook Pro via USB-C, it’s not recommended to use it as a regular charging solution. The power output of an iPad charger is significantly lower than a MacBook Pro’s charger, making the charging process slow and potentially insufficient for tasks that require substantial power. Always use the charger designed for the specific device for optimal performance and safety.
The power demands of the MacBook Pro are considerably higher than those of an iPad, given its larger size, more complex internal hardware, and computing capabilities. MacBook Pro chargers are designed to deliver between 61W and 96W, depending on the model and configuration. Using an iPad charger, with a maximum output of 20W, would not provide the necessary power to efficiently operate or charge the MacBook Pro.
Furthermore, frequently using an underpowered charger could lead to slower charging times and may even potentially damage the battery over time. While the device’s built-in power management system should prevent any significant harm, it’s still advisable to use the appropriate charger for each device. This ensures the longevity of the devices and guarantees optimal performance.
You can use an iPad charger on your MacBook Pro. This can happen without causing any damage to your device. The detachable cable on the iPad charger just transfers power from the adapter to the MacBook.
Besides, both MacBook Pro and iPad Pro have the same charging cables. The only difference is the length of the cable, which doesn’t matter. Therefore, you can use your iPad charger on MacBook Pro without any problems other than speed of charging.
Many MacBook Pro users find the device quite sophisticated and elegant. While it comes with an approved Apple charger, some users wonder whether you can use another charger on it. iPad chargers are particularly thought to be ideal replacements for MacBook Pro chargers, but can they work?
You can use an iPad charger on your MacBook Pro. However, it won’t be as fast as the actual MacBook Pro charger. While it might not damage your overall battery life, an iPad charger won’t deliver the best charging service on your MacBook Pro.
Nonetheless, it will still work because both iPad Pro and MacBook Pro have the same charging cable. The detachable cable on the iPad charger only transfers power from the adapter. The only difference between these two devices is in cable length, which doesn’t affect the general performance.
Generally, Apple users are very loyal to their brand. This means that many will have an iPad for fun and casual use, an iPhone for communication, and a MacBook Pro for personal computing activities.
Therefore, they might find themselves in a position where they try using different chargers on their Apple devices. The most common switch is iPad chargers in MacBook Pro. While this might not be the approved way of charging your device, I will inform you in this section why it works and whether you should give it a try when forced to.
If you have an approved MacBook Pro charger, you don’t have to use an iPad charger just for the sake of it. You should only use another charger if you have misplaced the original MacBook Pro charger or accidentally left it at home while on travel.
Even though the iPad charger works on MacBook Pro, you shouldn’t use it all the time because it might have potential pitfalls that might affect your device.
You need to first understand how iPad chargers work and how they function on your MacBook Pro. To start, the cables on an iPad charger are compatible with those on MacBook Pro. In fact, the only difference you will notice between these two charger cables is the length.
However, you should also know about the wattage and the amount of heat this charger outputs. The wattage is where you get a big difference between the iPad charger and the MacBook Pro charger. On one hand, the iPad Pro charger has a wattage output of 18 watts.
On the other hand, the MacBook Pro charger utilizes a quick charging system and has a wattage output of 61 watts. This is a massive difference that makes it a different experience to charge your MacBook Pro with an iPad charger.
While the charger will do its duty of charging your device, it has only one downside — it is only going to charge at roughly 1/5 of the time it takes when using the actual MacBook Pro charger.
Even though the iPad charger will charge the MacBook Pro in an elongated time, there are concerns that the trickle charging might not be ideal for the MacBook battery. Therefore, it is vital to be cautious when using your iPad charger on your MacBook Pro.
If you have to use the iPad charger on your MacBook, you should do it once in a while. Using the charger regularly will only result in damage and battery failure. You can carry fewer adapters by using the iPad charger instead of the original MacBook Pro charger.
However, in the long run, it might not be an ideal solution because of the various risks involved. Therefore, you should beware of all the possible wear and tear this method can cause if you keep using it in the long run.
Apple hasn’t put out official communication on the use of iPad chargers on MacBook Pro and that is why we can’t fully recommend it. As much as Apple products are designed to draw as much as they need, their adapters are commonly interchangeable.
This makes it possible to use one Apple charger on a different device. However, given some of the risks associated with this process, it is essential to remain cautious. You shouldn’t continue using the chargers interchangeably for a long time because the damage might be severe.
When it comes to charging a MacBook Pro with an iPad charger, there is some practicality you should consider. As much as you will be able to charge the MacBook, it will charge at an incredibly low speed.
While some studies show that the iPad charger might charge your MacBook Pro at 1/5 of the speed, you are realistically looking at a rate of about 1% every 20 minutes. This is an extremely slow charging rate that might inconvenience you in every aspect. Besides, the massive variance in wattage makes it more difficult to charge your device efficiently.
Therefore, it is much safer to consider charging your MacBook Pro with a MacBook charge. While a trickle charger can be reliable in an emergency, it is not recommended to do it regularly. Continued use of this method poses a great risk to your MacBook Pro and can damage the battery life.
The wear and tear on the battery life of a MacBook Pro haven’t been fully explored thanks to the fast charging of the standard MacBook Pro charger. As much as the charge connectors are the same, Apple technicians will know the effects of continually charging a device with the wrong charger. One sign is that the device might not sustain the charge for as long as it should.
Can I Use the Same Charger for the iPad and MacBook?
Apple users tend to own several Apple devices mostly due to loyalty. They might have an iPad, iPhone, and MacBook for different functions and uses. Some of the users wonder if it is possible to use the same charger for the iPad and MacBook, given they are both Apple products.
You can use the same charger for the iPad and MacBook. However, the rate at which the charger charges each device varies. If it is a MacBook Pro charger, it will work efficiently on a MacBook Pro.
It’s technically possible if both devices use a USB-C charging port. However, the MacBook charger, with a higher power output, will charge an iPad faster, but using an iPad charger for a MacBook could result in much slower charging. Always use the appropriate charger for the device to ensure efficient charging and to avoid potential damage.
However, you might experience challenges using it on an iPad. This is because a MacBook Pro charger has more watts than an iPad charger, making it challenging to use it on an iPad.
Similarly, an iPad charger will be significantly slower in charging a MacBook. This is because an iPad charger has a wattage output of 18 watts, while a MacBook needs a wattage output of 61 watts. The difference in wattage output makes it challenging for one charger to work across both devices.
It is essential to note that fast charging can charge a battery to 50% in 30 minutes. The speed of charging depends on the kind of charge you are using. Some chargers are faster and more reliable than others.
A high-quality charger from Apple can be costly compared to third-party chargers. Generally, third-party chargers tend to cost less but can be very unreliable. In fact, they increase the risk of a damaged battery.
Thankfully, modern MacBooks and iPads work with all USB-C chargers without causing any damage. The recommended wattage for these chargers is 96W depending on the device you are charging. MacBooks need a higher wattage than iPads due to their significantly higher battery capacity. Besides, they have a higher processing speed and hence need longer battery life.
As much as it might sound risky, it is safe to use a higher-powered USB-C charger, as your iPad and iPhone are what determine the amount of power reaching them. Even if the charger has a high output, it won’t affect your iPad or MacBook because these devices regulate the amount of power received.
Even better, Apple does its testing with a wide range of USB-C power adapters to ensure they don’t damage devices when charging. According to Apple, you can use its USB-C lightning cable to charge both iPads and MacBooks. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about efficiency when using this charger.
A comparable third-party USB-C power adapter that supports USB-PD will also work efficiently. However, you should be cautious with the charging speed because it might vary depending on the device you use.
If you need a more flexible charger or need one with an extra dual port, you should consider MacBook Pro chargers. However, using this charger on an iPad might not be ideal because it increases the chances of overheating.
This might reduce the device’s battery life due to the massive difference in wattage. With a MacBook Pro being able to pull up to 91W of power, using 19W power adapters might not give you the fastest charging times. Therefore, you need to find an ideal wattage output if you want to achieve fast charging.
Keep in mind that the actual amperage is determined by the load. This applies to both the MacBook and iPad. Thankfully, modern battery-powered devices have lots of complexity between the charger and the battery.
This includes battery-charging circuits within the device and an additional range of wattage output. These circuits are designed to manage the flow of electricity to the battery and help prevent overheating.
Therefore, depending on the kind of charger you use, the wattage output will vary. Continued use of different chargers could stress the charging system over time.
Can I Charge My Laptop With an iPad Charger?
If you have an iPad and a laptop, you might be wondering if their chargers can be used interchangeably. While a laptop has a higher processing speed and needs more wattage, an iPad only needs an 18W output to charge. This makes users wonder if an iPad charger can work on a laptop.
An iPad charger will not charge a laptop because a laptop only charges from a USB power output that supports USB-PD. This is according to Apple, responding to an inquiry made by a concerned user. Besides, several other conditions must be made for an iPad charger to charge a laptop.
An iPad charger can connect to a laptop with a USB-C port, but it’s not the optimal choice for regular charging. The iPad charger provides lower power output than most laptop chargers, making the charging process slower. Moreover, it may not provide sufficient power if the laptop is in use while charging. For efficient charging and safety, always use the charger designed for the specific device.
For instance, the current and voltage supplied must be of the required level. Thankfully, there are various ways you can charge your laptop without the need for an iPad charger.
One of the ways is by using a power bank. If you don’t have a power bank, you can try using a USB Type-C adapter. Unlike Type-A adapters, USB-C uses a more convenient oval-shaped connector designed for high-power connectivity.
The charger can conduct more power and can do so at very high speeds. This makes it an ideal alternative for charging your computer in case you don’t have the original charger. Some users wonder if it is possible to use a laptop charger on an iPad.
The answer is no. This is because laptop chargers have an extremely high wattage output that can damage your iPad.
Finally
You can use an iPad charger on your MacBook Pro. This happens without posing a great risk to your device. An iPad charger works on a MacBook Pro because both devices have the same charging cables. While the charger will function effectively, the charging rate will be significantly slower.
This is because a MacBook Pro needs a higher wattage output than what an iPad charger can offer. You can use the same charger for the iPad and MacBook. However, you will experience challenges in the rate of power output due to the difference in wattage. Therefore, it is ideal to use original chargers for both devices.
