- September 1, 2019
- Instructions
- Svetlana Funtova
Since the announcement of the first generation iPad, users have been wondering whether it is possible to charge an iPhone using an iPad charger. Despite numerous arguments that this process is safe for both gadgets, the number of doubting people does not decrease. In this article we will try to deal with this pressing issue and consider different opinions.
Pros and cons of this approach
Before highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of this option, it is necessary to note the differences between the gadgets, even if they are produced by the same company. Hence, doubts arise about whether it is possible to charge an iPhone by charging an iPad and the compatibility of such devices. There are two key points to highlight when applying this method:
- The time to fully charge the battery is significantly reduced. For most users, this is an undeniable advantage. The charger included with the iPhone is designed for one ampere. This was done mainly to protect the manufacturer. In reality, a smartphone is capable of consuming values that are greater than this.
- There is no need to carry extra items with you as both devices can be charged with one accessory.
Of the minuses, according to reviews from users who tried to charge an iPhone using an iPad charger, one can note the heating of the device during the process. However, this effect is observed only when working with the original accessory. When using Chinese chargers, there will be many times more disadvantages. For example, the device will not be powered up at all, it will take a lot of time, or there will be no connection at all.
Is improper use harmful?
The batteries of iOS-based gadgets, as a rule, do not hold a charge for long. Especially if a person actively uses applications and makes calls throughout the day. Therefore, extending and preserving the battery life of a mobile device becomes a matter of particular importance.
It is clear from official Apple sources that a more powerful adapter is used to charge a tablet computer than a smartphone, but this accessory is quite suitable for both gadgets. In other words, the manufacturer answers the question whether it is possible to charge an iPhone using an iPad charger in the affirmative. However, there are other opinions.
Numerous tests have proven that using an iPad charger on a regular basis can damage the phone. Over the course of a year, the battery life of the gadget will be significantly reduced. However, the reason lies not only in the use of a more powerful charging element, but also in other factors.
Over time, battery resources are inevitably depleted. Therefore, based on Apple’s statement that it is possible to use another charger, you can safely follow it.
Official Apple power adapter compatibility information
The company approves the use of its chargers on all products that use Lightning cables for fast charging. This statement is explained by the fact that modern electronics have power controllers that ensure that the electronic product receives the appropriate amount of energy to charge quickly, but does not receive too much of it, which could damage the device.
Compatibility of 10 and 12 W chargers
According to official technical support information from the company, Apple USB power adapters, which come in 10W and 12W power ratings, can be used to charge iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, iPod and other gadgets such as Siri Remote and AirPods. To charge, you need to connect your Apple device to the power adapter using the cable included in the package: a 30-pin connector to USB, a Lightning to USB cable, or an Apple Watch charging cable.
Advantages of high-power chargers compared to standard ones
The company informs that Apple USB adapters, whose power is 10 W, 12 W and 18 W, can charge some Apple gadgets faster than the power adapter, whose power is 5 W.
Which models are compatible with fast charging?
The 29W, 30W, 61W, or 87W Apple USB-C Power Adapters and the Apple USB-C to Lightning Power Cable can quickly charge the following devices:
- iPhone XS Max;
- iPhone XS;
- iPhone XR;
- iPhone X;
- iPhone 8;
- iPhone 8 Plus;
- iPad Pro (12.9 inches, 3rd generation);
- iPad Pro (12.9 inches, 2nd generation);
- iPad Pro (12.9 inches);
- iPad Pro (11 inches);
- iPad Pro (10.5 inches).
Will iPhone charging time be reduced?
Most modern Android smartphones have a fast charging option. If we talk about Apple mobile devices, they have also recently had this function.
Official sources do not indicate the ability of a smartphone to accept more than one ampere of current, however, this possibility has been proven by experience. If, for example, you charge an iPhone-7 using an iPad charger, the charging speed will increase by 30-40%.
How is an iPhone different from a smartphone?
If everything is clear with tablets, then how does the iPhone differ from thousands of other smartphones?
Owners of Apple smartphones note that the main advantage of the iPhone is its operating system. Unlike Android, whose updates are installed on phones of any brand, iOS is designed specifically for Apple. Thus, random “lags” of the system are practically excluded.
Applications downloaded through a special store are suitable for every smartphone. iOS is less susceptible to viruses than other operating systems. The elegant shape and body of the devices are not only beautiful, but also durable.
What's the theory?
Batteries on modern phones are characterized by two indicators: capacity and the number of charging cycles. It would be wrong to say that gadgets are absolutely protected by a power controller and can be charged frequently and for a long time. In fact, one cycle of a lithium battery only occurs when a charge equal to the battery capacity is consumed. Proper use reduces battery wear.
In principle, you can charge an iPad using an iPhone charger, but it will take much more time. An iPhone can also be recharged with an adapter from an iPad, but in the process the components will overheat, and the battery capacity will begin to decrease over time. There is no reliable information on the degree of change in battery life. However, it is a proven fact that the lower the input current, the longer the battery life.
What's in practice?
The question arises: why doesn't Apple limit the use of more powerful charging adapters? There are two answers to this:
- The manufacturer is not interested in how long the battery will last, since by the time it starts to fail, the user will probably change the smartphone. Moreover, you can always replace the used battery with a new accessory.
- As already mentioned, all Apple products are equipped with a controller that limits the incoming current. This was done specifically to save battery resources.
Therefore, the answer from the company’s specialists to the question whether it is possible to charge an iPhone using an iPad charger or not sounds affirmative.
Reply from service technicians
A polymer battery operates due to a potential difference in the range from 2.8 to 4.3 V.
USB connectors on the contacts have a voltage of 5 V. For this type of battery, the maximum charge rate is 1 A.
C is the battery capacity, measured in amperes. For the fifth generation iPhone it is 1440 mAh, respectively, the permissible current is 1.44 A. The following smartphone models have a larger battery capacity. Based on these technical data, we can answer the question of whether it is possible to charge an iPhone with an iPad charger.
To regulate the voltage at the terminals, the device has a built-in battery controller, which also monitors the charging current. These devices are standard for all types of smartphones and perform the same functions.
The minimum current of the battery device implies the ability of the adapter to operate without significant consequences for its entire service life. Thus, the iPad consumes more current during the first minutes - 2.4 A, if the battery is completely discharged. The rest of the time the current is lower. Consequently, the smartphone will consume current within the maximum permissible value during charging.
Conclusion: a charger with more power cannot affect the battery capacity or damage it.
What about the reverse effect? Can I use an iPad charger to charge my iPhone? Certainly. There will definitely be no harm to the receiver’s battery, but it will take more time until the process is completed.
Is it possible to charge an iPhone 5s with 2 amp charging?
It will only get worse. It’s the same feeling when the phone is 100 percent charged, but it keeps charging, and with this you will ruin it.
the main voltage must match - and the phone will take the charging current as much as needed
Yes you can. with low current output the current will not be worse, but it will take longer to charge. If charging occurs through a lighting cable, an 8-pin flip, then it contains a microprocessor that regulates charging.
look at volts and amperes, volts back and forth are also important, but at low amperes + a couple of volts is normal.
Some nuances
When charging your iPhone using an iPad accessory, you should consider some nuances:
- The smartphone will heat up while charging. If it is already heating up, then this effect will only intensify. The bottom line is that it has an input charge power of 1A, while the iPad has 2A.
- Not many people know that iPhone batteries have a standard charge cycle. Once it is exceeded, they begin to lose their original capacity. It is equal to 1000 cycles, which is approximately three years of operation if recharging occurs no more than once a day.
Therefore, please be aware that if you use a more powerful accessory, battery life may be reduced.
How to speed up the charging process: useful tips
Surely everyone has found themselves in a situation where there is no time to get ready, and the phone is almost empty. The modern lifestyle involves using a smartphone as a notebook, organizer, communication tool and for solving other tasks. Therefore, the need to charge a mobile device increases significantly. There are several simple ways you can use to shorten the battery recharge period:
- When charging your phone, turn off the power completely. Thus, battery resources will not be spent on maintaining device processes.
- Using a USB port to recharge from a laptop or computer. They are characterized by high throughput - from 500 mA to 900 mA.
- The Ai Charger application makes it possible to boost the input current of a USB cable up to 1000 mA, and sometimes more. The figure varies depending on the board.
- Another method is to use a Y-shaped cable. It allows you to simultaneously receive two power sources, thus speeding up the battery charging process.
- Using a USB adapter called Practical Meter. At the output it is capable of delivering about 2100 mA. The device itself is small, about the size of a flash drive, and easy to use. It is connected to the computer, and a charger is already connected to it.
Taking good care of your smartphone and following all operating rules will significantly extend the battery life and thereby save you from possible problems and unnecessary expenses.
Power adapters for Apple gadgets
Apple products come with a variety of charging bricks.
The 5W adapter is the standard charging brick that comes with iPhone and Apple Watch.
A 10W power supply is used to charge the iPad.
Retina iPads and their large batteries come with 12W USB charging.
Mac laptops use 29, 30, 45, 60, 61, 85, and 87 W chargers.
At first glance, the iPad and iPhone power supplies have the same connectors. It is logical to assume that this allows charging adapters to be universal. But you need to remember that they have different powers - 5 Watts and 10 Watts. And a logical question arises - how different power adapters will affect the charging process and whether it will be safe for the device.
