There is often a vast amount of understandable confusion when it comes to charging an iPad and/or iPhone and one can easily make this mistake as the correct charger and the proper way to charge your device is seldom discussed. Charging your devices the right way is important to maintain a healthy battery and prolong it’s life. There are a few simple rules to charging that will help you get the most out of your mobile devices.
The first rule of charging is that any iPad or iPhone 4/4s should not be charged from you computer. Computers distribute power in a different way from your wall outlet. A computer does not provide enough wattage to fully charge your mobile device effectively. The device will charge from a computer but at a much slower rate then if you plugged it into the wall. The device is always straining to get the charge it needs from your computer, which puts a strain on the battery and depletes it over time. It is okay to connect your device to your computer to transfer your photos or sync your music, just try and avoid using it as charging method.
The second rule of charging is always use the right wall charger! Your iPad came with a charger that looks different from the charger that came with your iPhone. Please look at the photos below in the blog to see which one is which. You iPad requires a 10 watt charger and your iPhone requires a 6 watt charger. The iPhone charger should not be used to charge your iPad. This is for the same reason as rule number one. An iPad requires a 10 watt charge and the iPhone charger only puts out 6 watts, therefor your iPad will take much longer to charge from the iPhone charger and over time it will denigrate your battery life. So you should always use the iPad charger for your iPad.
The third rule of charging is that you CAN use an iPad charger to charge an iPhone with no worries. An iPhone requires a 6 watt charge and if you connect it to the iPad’s 10 watt charger it will only pull 6 watts. So there is no problem using your iPad charger to charge your iPhone.
The syncing cable that comes with the chargers is universal so you don’t have to worry about which cable you are using as they are all the same. The only part that matters is the piece that connects to the wall. One of the easiest things to do to keep yourself from getting confused is to take your iPhone chargers and hide them in a drawer, buy a few extra iPad chargers and put them around the house in locations where you charge your devices. This helps to avoid the confusion and allows you to charge either iPhone or iPad form anywhere you have the iPad chargers located since you can use the iPad charger on any mobile device. If you have car chargers they are ok for emergency situations when your battery is low, but its always best to not plug your device into a car charger until its getting low as repeat charging from a car charger also puts a strain on the battery.
If you would like to see the different types of chargers we have for your iPhone or iPad please visit us at our store. is located at 53 Greenwich Avenue and offers a class dedicated to helping you get familiar with your device, as well as over 35 other Apple related classes.
To book a class please call us at (203) 531-5720, or feel free to look at our full class catalog at MacInspires.com.
