You have bought your first iPad and want to do everything by the books. Any cautious new user would ask questions about the first charge and how to keep the battery healthy. If you want to learn the best care and maintenance of your iPad battery, welcome to the ultimate guide for first time iPad owners.
So, how long do I need to charge my new iPad for the first time? If you want to charge your iPad to 100%, how long it takes to power up for the first time depends on your initial charge. The tablet comes with a certain charge percentage, and the higher the level, the shorter the time it will take to full power. Generally, the entire charging process takes between an hour to 5 hours, depending on the model, manufacturing year, and individual device.
Beginners often have concerns about how to preserve their devices’ battery lives. Manufacturers always recommend charging your new gadget first before using it. However, many first buyers are conflicted on how long they should keep their devices plugged. If your iPad is brand new and you are worried about the initial powering process, the following guidelines may help.
You need to charge your iPad to full capacity (100%), and since all iPads come with varying battery percentage levels, the process can take an hour or up to five hours. The higher the battery level on your new iPad, the less time it will take to power up fully. It will also depend on the model, the year of manufacture, and the individual device, but it is best to leave it plugged to 100% for a smooth setup.
When receiving your iPad, you will first notice that it already has a certain battery percentage. Most come with 50-70%, while others have below 20%. Generally, Apple advises that the first charge should reach full capacity to handle all the setup processes. If your purchase had more than 50% charge, you would only plug it in for a few hours; however, you will need more time if it had less power.
It can take an hour or five to reach full capacity as long as you wait for it to click 100% before unplugging it. Luckily, the Lithium-ion battery inside is the best technology to keep the device safe from overcharging or damage.
It makes it okay to charge your new iPad overnight because it will stop powering when full, regardless of how long it has been plugged in. Note that charging it first is not mandatory, and you can use it intact if you want.
The only aspect to watch out for is deep discharging, which may damage the battery’s capacity. Secondly, you should plug in your new iPad if its initial charge is too low, say below 20%. Otherwise, using it without charging can cause the battery to fall flat. Note that it is also possible to receive a dead iPad, for which the only remedy is to charge it before use. You can plug it in and wait until the level is sufficient to show up on the screen.
The primary reason for a complete charge is to give you enough power to configure and set up your device. The first thing to do is download the apps you need, sync and set the iPad however you want. These tasks consume a lot of power such that many users would rather leave their iPads plugged in the entire time. It helps because your battery will not deeply discharge and shut down in the middle of the setup.
Do I Need To Charge My iPad Before First Use and How Do I Charge It for the First Time?
Users will often advise you on the best way to charge your new iPad, and you will likely run into statements like, ‘you must power it for hours before using it’ or ‘use it first and charge it when the battery runs out.’ It is time to tell myths and facts apart to know what is the best thing to do for your new gadget.
You don’t need to charge your iPad before first use because a new one will always have a partial charge allowing you to use it immediately. However, it is recommended to power it to full capacity before usage, especially if you want to make some settings and download apps you will use.
The best way to charge it initially is through the cable included in the purchase. To charge it, insert the USB into the new adapter and turn the prongs that usually fold inside for easy storage. Lastly, insert them into the wall socket and wait for the iPad to detect charging.
In most cases, manufacturers will advise you to power up any new gadget to full capacity before using it. Although there are some perks to it, it is not mandatory, and your device will not damage when you don’t charge it before usage. Besides, Apple products normally ship with a half or almost full charge giving you hours of use, such that even when you decide to charge it to 100% first, it will only take a few hours.
The high-tech Li-ion batteries have different chemical compositions and improved designs, unlike the conventional versions. They prevent overcharging and excessive draining of the battery. The enhancement doesn’t restrict users to powering their new iPads first, and you can do whatever works best for you. The batteries don’t have a memory effect and don’t require training, meaning that they are safe to use immediately after purchase.
The best part about charging to full capacity is that it gives you enough power to download apps and make the necessary settings. The setup process may take a while and deplete the existing charge. If you must make these configurations, it is advisable to do everything while the charge is still plugged in. For this reason, many users prefer leaving it charging overnight to wake up to a full capacity because there is no risk of overcharging.
For the fastest initial charge, it is recommended to use the cable, which is part of the iPad purchase, and the wall socket or AC power. The first step is to insert the connector on your cable to the port beneath the tablet.
The other side will link to the adapter, the tiny white square with the USB port on one side. Next, retract the prongs from the adapter and plug them into the socket. Your iPad should now be charging, and it will show up on the screen.
How Long Should I Charge My New iPad Pro?
Apple’s iPad is one of the most sought-after gadgets, with the Pro version being a fan favorite. If you have finally bought your first iPad Pro, you must have some questions about how to charge it for the first time, and here is what to know.
How long you should charge your new iPad Pro is undefined, provided it gets to 100%. The duration usually depends on the battery capacity in the iPad during purchase because Apple devices usually come pre-charged. Most will have about 50% charge while others will go to 80%.
Therefore, the higher the initial power level, the shorter the charging process. The iPad Pro batteries can automatically check power intake when full where they stop further charging, hence you can leave your tablet plugged as long as you need.
Apple doesn’t specify the exact timeframe to power your new iPad Pro; it will depend on your preference. You can either use it as it is, charge it for an hour or less, or leave the iPad charging to 100%, and all these options will work for different users. If your Pro comes with about 90% power, it won’t be necessary to charge it for hours. You can use it until it drains to about 20%, then recharge it fully.
The only rule is that you should not completely drain all the charge to 0. Experts recommend that it is safe to plug it before the low battery sign, especially if your gadget is new. Additionally, it is best to always use the recommended iPad Pro adapters for the safest and fastest charging. Numerous options works for the Pro, but the 20W and 30W versions are more convenient and more preferred by users.
You don’t have to charge your new gadget before using it, but the initial powering fully activates the battery since the cells have likely been idle for a long time. However, you can still activate it when you charge it after depleting the power it had when new. Note that using the iPad Pro completely draining the battery can damage the Li-ion’s capacity and ruin its performance.
Therefore, to avoid risking damage due to absolute discharge, the safest bet is to charge your iPad Pro fully before initial use. Luckily, there are slim chances of this happening because of the advanced tech in Lithium-ion batteries.
Secondly, your battery will be safe regardless of how long the device stays plugged in but remember that like most Li-ion rechargeable devices, your Pro’s batteries will eventually degenerate even when you are cautious with the charging.
Healthy Charging for Your New iPad
Your iPad’s proper care and maintenance can buy you years of use before the battery starts deteriorating. New iPads usually have a battery life of about ten hours if you don’t do intensive tasks, and any user wishes to maintain this capacity for as long as possible. If you have recently bought your first iPad, the following tips may help the battery last longer.
Healthy charging for your iPad means avoiding deep discharges, punctual charging, and maintaining ambient temperatures. Experts advise against discharging the new iPad’s battery and advocate charging the tablet at conducive temperatures ranging from 16-35°C.
If you want to shelve the iPad for some weeks, it will help to charge it halfway to maintain the battery’s health. Lastly, it is critical to often use and charge the iPad to keep the cells active. The best way is for the initial charge to reach 100%, and the new iPad should never completely discharge.
Poor charging can damage your iPad’s battery. Immediately you take the iDevice out after purchase, it should have a charge level. Draining this capacity when using the iPad without charging it first can cause issues with the system because the cells have been inactive for a long time. Therefore, completely discharging a new gadget risks killing the cells. If you must use the available charge on the iPad, it is advisable to avoid it going below 20%.
If you are charging the tablet for the first time, you can check that it reaches 100%, but the subsequent charges can go to 80% or less. Moreover, to maintain a healthy Li-ion cell, ensure that you charge the iDevice under favorable temperatures because extreme conditions can swell the battery and affect its performance. Avoid charging it in heat over 35° or in extremely cold environments, both temperatures can cause permanent damage or impact the battery life.
Another overlooked aspect is maintaining the battery’s health when the iPad is inactive when you leave it behind while traveling. You should charge the iPad to about 50% before storing it in favorable conditions.
Besides these tips, you can try to improve your battery’s life to ensure that your iPad’s cells last longer after a single charge. Updating to a newer software version will enhance the overall battery performance.
Also, restricting background refresh will conserve power since iPads consume a lot of power whenever refreshing programs. Turning off wireless links such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth also help improve the battery life. When such connections are on, they will need the power to run and, in turn, deplete the charge.
Moreover, lowering the screen brightness to the minimum level possible will help save power. You can also turn off your location and unnecessary notifications to increase the battery life and, in turn, improve its health.
Wrap Up
It is expected to be worried about your iPad’s battery if you want to maintain its excellent performance. Fortunately, the Lithium-ion battery in the tablet is an impressive construction that doesn’t overcharge or damage easily. Therefore, you are not obligated to charge the new iPad, and you can use it intact, provided that it doesn’t discharge to 0.
However, many recommend that new iPads charge up to 100% first before use. It is only a handy way to keep your device ready for the initial setup processes like downloading apps and making settings. Since various devices have different charging capacities, the time taken to reach full power varies for each user, generally between 1-5 hours.
