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iPad Pro Damaged USB C on ipad Pro 2021 12.9 - watch your chargers/cables?

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magbarn

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Oct 25, 2008
3,018
2,386
My 2021 iPP 12.9 has been working great since last year until I just started noticing it was taking over 6+ hours to charge. Even with 30 watt MBA charger. I hooked up a USB C charge meter and noticed that my ipad was stuck at 5 volt 2A = 10 watts. Tried multiple genuine Apple USB C cables and different Apple chargers from the 20 watt stock to my 140 watt Macbook Pro 16 beast charger and all at 10 watts only. Took it to genius bar where tech cleaned out the port and it was still just stuck at 10 watts. They sent it to repair depot and they're now claiming that one of the 3rd party chargers I used partially damaged the charging circuitry.
Luckily it's under AC+ as I would've been on the hook for a logic board replacement!
I guess only Apple chargers from here on out...
 
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magbarn

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Oct 25, 2008
3,018
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ericwn said:
Sounds like a random guess to pass it on to a third party. How would they even know you used a third party charger?
Click to expand...
True, but I was using various USB C chargers at work and at home. I hardly use my Apple chargers as they're so bulky, but I'll be using them from here on out. Guess my problem isn't that widespread as I can't find much about this on the internet.
 
BB1970

BB1970

macrumors 6502
May 19, 2009
448
1,209
This is actually one of the reasons I returned my IPP 12.9. As it has only one port for everything, I felt like I was just gambling until something happened to it. If they actually made MageSafe for the IPP, I’d probably hold on to it.
Sorry you had to go through all the hassle, but in a way you helped justify my choice to return it.
 
CharlesShaw

CharlesShaw

macrumors 68000
May 8, 2015
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magbarn said:
… Guess my problem isn't that widespread as I can't find much about this on the internet.
Click to expand...
Fingers crossed that is true, but good thing you had Apple Care. It’s also possible that yours was a bad part to begin with.

Once iPhones are all on USB C I’m sure there will be lots more information on the internet, hehe. I’m not looking forward to carefully cleaning pocket lint from the USB C connector, having been spoiled by the ruggedness of the Lightning port.
 
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M

magbarn

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Oct 25, 2008
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CharlesShaw said:
Fingers crossed that is true, but good thing you had Apple Care. It’s also possible that yours was a bad part to begin with.

Once iPhones are all on USB C I’m sure there will be lots more information on the internet, hehe. I’m not looking forward to carefully cleaning pocket lint from the USB C connector, having been spoiled by the ruggedness of the Lightning port.
Click to expand...
Yup all the cheerleaders wishing for USB C on the iphone, be careful what you wish for. My Macbook from 2017 and MBP USB C ports have all gotten loose and flakey at times while my oldest iphones that have been charged much more frequently still have good lightning ports. USB C is nowhere near as bad as USB micro but nowhere near as robust as lightning.
 
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ericwn

ericwn

macrumors G5
Apr 24, 2016
12,118
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BB1970 said:
This is actually one of the reasons I returned my IPP 12.9. As it has only one port for everything, I felt like I was just gambling until something happened to it. If they actually made MageSafe for the IPP, I’d probably hold on to it.
Sorry you had to go through all the hassle, but in a way you helped justify my choice to return it.
Click to expand...
Valid concern for sure, it’s always good to have an alternative charging option. Personally I made much more negative experiences with the lightning connector on iPhones.
 
JPack

JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
13,544
26,168
Wouldn’t be surprised. Many iPhones get their PMIC damaged through low quality chargers and cables, particularly cheap cables and chargers that don’t have MFI certification. This shows up as slow charging and fast battery drain. iPhone 8 and newer already uses USB-C protocol charging and literally has a USB-C controller onboard.
 
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D

Digitalguy

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Apr 15, 2019
4,643
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I had the same issue, the power delivery pins in the USB C port were damaged, but not the standard charging ones, so no more fast charging.
The issue was not due to third partly chargers but to me using the device while plugged it and the male connector therefore putting pressure into the female one and damaging the power delivery pins. That's probably the most frequent cause for damage to the USB C port (=using the device while plugged it).
 
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magbarn

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Oct 25, 2008
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That’s weird. I would use it while plugged in but while using Smart Keyboard so little to no pressure on cord/port
 
D

Digitalguy

macrumors 601
Apr 15, 2019
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magbarn said:
That’s weird. I would use it while plugged in but while using Smart Keyboard so little to no pressure on cord/port
Click to expand...
If the iPad does not move while plugged in there should be no pressure from the cord to the port, so that's not the cause
 
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Digitalguy

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Apr 15, 2019
4,643
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sunking101 said:
USB C ports are fragile and pretty cheap & nasty. They get loose over time and can fail.
Click to expand...
Cheap and nasty (for ports, not cables) means nothing. Fragile, yes, indeed. The female USB C connector is pretty fragile and easily damaged. The male one is stronger.
 
T

tdar

macrumors 68020
Jun 23, 2003
2,102
2,522
Johns Creek Ga.
This is why I ONLY use Apple chargers or MIFi Apple approved chargers and cables. It might seem silly that you can’t use any other devices but it’s how it works. People in China have been killed because they used a low quality locally sourced device. It’s not just your iPad or your iPhone that you are protecting.
 
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BeatCrazy

macrumors 603
Jul 20, 2011
5,123
4,480
This is the exact reason I only use magnetic USB-C cables for charging my iPads. Closest thing we have to MagSafe right now, really no trade-offs.
 
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BeatCrazy

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Jul 20, 2011
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