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Whether you have an iPhone or an iPad or both, you’ve signed up to use Apple’s charging solution. At the moment, Apple is gradually upgrading its charging ports from the trusty Lightning port to USB-C.
Expect this change to continue as new European Union law has made it mandatory for all new tablets, smartphones, and cameras to charge via USB-C by 2024.
There is a lot of change going on at the moment, so it is understandable if you are confused about how iPhone cables compare to iPad cables. We have certainly been caught out once or twice ever since Apple started switching it up. This is why we write guides like this, so everyone knows what’s going on!
Sound interesting enough? Let’s start by seeing how iPhone and iPad cables differ.
Are iPad Cables The Same As iPhone Cables?
Unfortunately, this is not a simple yes or no answer. Some newer iPad models have a different charging port, the USB-C. Whereas, all iPhones since 2012 up to the iPhone 14 have 8-pin Lightning ports. So in this scenario, no these iPad cables and iPhone cables are not the same.
iPad models with USB-C charging ports:
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation or later)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation or later)
- iPad Air (4th generation or later)
- iPad mini (6th generation)
If you have an iPad that isn’t on this list above and was released after 2012 then it has an 8-pin Lightning charging port. Hurray! In this case, the charging cable that came with your iPad is the same as all iPhone (released after 2012) cables too. It is important to note, however, that the wall adapter that would have come with your iPad may be different. This is because iPads require a greater power output from the wall to charge the device effectively.
Is it OK To Charge An iPad With An iPhone Charger?
Given both your iPad and iPhone chargers use an 8-pin Lightning port this may be a possibility. But before you rush to grab your iPhone charger, keep reading to find out what potential issues there are.
If you have the low-wattage iPhone wall adapter, you may find that it will take ages for your iPad to reach 100%. You will know if it is low wattage if it has a smaller flatter design, or by checking on the Apple website.
In this case, you would not want to use your iPhone charger on the iPad. Simply changing the wall adapter to a higher-watt one will simply fix this problem, however.
According to Apple, you are able to use the 12W USB Power Adapter to charge both your iPhone and iPad. This is great news if you are looking for one charger to do it all.
Apple has also released USB-C to Lightning fast chargers, but these are only compatible with select models. They have stated online, that the iPhone 8 and iPad Pro are capable of using this fast charger. Additionally, just for your information, this cable is compatible with
Summary
So, there we have it. The iPhone cable is the same as the iPad cable if your iPad has an 8-pin Lightning port. If you are lucky enough to have the newer iPad Pro, iPad mini, or iPad Air, you would have noticed that your charging port is a USB-C instead.
If you enjoyed this article, then be sure to read our other articles on the site. Our team at PC Guide is happy to help, so why not check out our dedicated iOS section too?
