Battery life is an essential part of any device, and the type of charging technology built into it can mean the difference between fast charging or slow charging. Some newer devices, like last year’s iPhone 17 series, have fast charging, meaning they can juice up to 50% battery life in about 30 minutes. But for now, the only Apple tablet with this capability is the iPad Pro M5.
In order to quickly charge the iPad Pro M5, Apple says users need a power brick with at least 60W. The previous model, the iPad Pro M4, supported up to 38W, others, like the iPad Air M2, supported 30W.
iPad Mini and older iPads may take longer to charge. For example, a regulatory filing revealed that the 2024 iPad mini 7 uses a 20W charger, which can take up to two hours to fully charge the battery.
All these different chargers can be confusing. Worse yet, Apple doesn’t always include the best-performing chargers in the box, preferring to ship smaller ones, like a 20W one for the iPad Pro M5. In response, some people are buying much more powerful chargers, replacing different chargers for each device.
Is it OK to use a more powerful charger on iPad?
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Rest assured, you can use a much more powerful charger on your iPad, even if it doesn’t support fast charging capabilities. The tablet, like most devices, is capable of only demanding as much power as it can handle, even if a charger is rated at 100W. Using more powerful chargers won’t affect the iPad’s battery life either.
The biggest impact on a battery is how it is used and the ambient temperature it is in. For example, if you perform activities such as editing a video or playing a game, the battery may take longer to be full. Likewise, Apple suggests using and charging an iPad in moderate environments, with temperatures below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The good news is that you can safely charge your iPad overnight.
The most common rules for protecting your device’s battery are to never use counterfeit chargers or cables, never leave your device charging on a bed, pillow, or other objects designed to keep you warm. Also avoid leaving it in direct sunlight, especially while charging.
Although testing suggests that limiting your device’s battery life won’t make much difference over the years, some Apple devices will delay charging beyond 80%, in an effort to preserve battery health over multiple cycles.
