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iPad + iPhone power adapters look the same. Are they?

netdog

netdog

macrumors 603
Original poster
Feb 6, 2006
5,760
38
London
Some people say that the iPad will charge more slowly using an iPhone or iPod touch adapter.

I have several of them and have no idea which is which. They all look exactly the same.

If it is true that the iPad adapter is different somehow, how do I tell the difference?
 
iPad is blocky like this -

IMG_2027.JPG
 
Sorry for trying to help then. All my iPhone adapters look like this -

apple-iphone-power.jpg
 
netdog said:
Some people say that the iPad will charge more slowly using an iPhone or iPod touch adapter.

I have several of them and have no idea which is which. They all look exactly the same.

If it is true that the iPad adapter is different somehow, how do I tell the difference?
Click to expand...

Different power outputs.

iPod adapter output: 5v 1a.

iPad adapter output 5.1v 2.1a.
 
ijen0311 said:
Sorry for trying to help then. All my iPhone adapters look like this -

apple-iphone-power.jpg
Click to expand...

LOL. The exclamation mark wasn't anger. Of course I appreciate your attempt to help.

And also thanks to the info on the amperage. I'll look at the adapter and see if I can find it. I am sure I will.
 
netdog said:
LOL. The exclamation mark wasn't anger. Of course I appreciate your attempt to help.

And also thanks to the info on the amperage. I'll look at the adapter and see if I can find it. I am sure I will.
Click to expand...

LOL! No worries. :D
 
Looks like is says "10W USB Adapter" instead of "iPod USB Adapter".

Seems ridiculous that they made them exactly the same size. It should be obvious at a glance which is for the iPad and which is for the iPod/iPhone.

Oh well.

Thanks everyone.
 
netdog said:
Looks like is says "10W USB Adapter" instead of "iPod USB Adapter".

Seems ridiculous that they made them exactly the same size. It should be obvious at a glance which is for the iPad and which is for the iPod/iPhone.

Oh well.

Thanks everyone.
Click to expand...

I think they'll both work... just to differing capabilities. I know I plug in my iPad to a bedside iPod power outlet and it charges overnight just fine. I suspect it does so slower than the iPad specific one would.

I would guess that the iPad one wouldn't fry your iPod either. (Disclaimer: I suspect that, but if you fry your iPod, it's your own lookout, mate. :) ) It'll probably just suck up the power it needs.

I know my girlfriend plugs her MacBook Air into my MacBook adapter and it seems dandy with that. (MBAs have lower power requirements.) When she buggers off for the day with the wrong adapter, however, my MacBook doesn't like being plugged into the lower power Air adapter, and says 'Not Charging'.
 
netdog said:
Looks like is says "10W USB Adapter" instead of "iPod USB Adapter".

Seems ridiculous that they made them exactly the same size. It should be obvious at a glance which is for the iPad and which is for the iPod/iPhone.

Oh well.

Thanks everyone.
Click to expand...

The iPad one is obviously more powerful. Can you charge the iPhone using the iPad charger or will it damage the phone / battery?

Tom
 
They all work on each other, just the iPhone charger charges the iPad more slowly. I hook them all up every evening and never worry to much about which plug is which. :D
 
How is it not obvious?

The iphone's is much smaller, a completely different shape, and doesnt have fold-in prongs like the ipads.
 
bowzer said:
How is it not obvious?

The iphone's is much smaller, a completely different shape, and doesnt have fold-in prongs like the ipads.
Click to expand...

Did you not have the first gen iPhone? The power adapter that came with the first model looks the same as the iPad adapter. Apple didn't release the smaller adapter until the 2nd and 3rd gen iPhone came out.
 
The adapter that I bought with my 2nd gen (3G) came looks just like my iPad adapter.
 
According to the guy working at our local Apple Store, you can charge the any iPhone, iPod, iPad with an iPad charger ... but not the other way around.

Again, it's very tiny print ... but the label is the only thing that helps me as we have lots of chargers

"10W USB Adapter" instead of "iPod USB Adapter".
 
The iPad does charge, very, very slowly, from iPhone adapters. It will not charge while in use, though.
 
bowzer said:
How is it not obvious?

The iphone's is much smaller, a completely different shape, and doesnt have fold-in prongs like the ipads.
Click to expand...

I do believe that the smaller USB charger is only available in selected countries. UK has a larger iPhone charger exactly the same as the iPad charger :)
 
The iPad charger has very subtle text description.

The cable is different. iPad cable is a little bit edgier. I can tell easily which is which if I got 2 chargers and their cables plugged in.

When I travel I only bring the iPad charger.
 
JLB-UK said:
I do believe that the smaller USB charger is only available in selected countries. UK has a larger iPhone charger exactly the same as the iPad charger :)
Click to expand...

The charger that came with the 3G does indeed look like this. However with the 3GS, the chargers became much smaller. The US one became much smaller with the USB port going towards the socket whereas the improved UK one has the USB port pointing towards the floor.

One day what has been done with the iPhone chargers should be able to be done with the iPad charger and eventually it will shrink. Hopefully.
 
aresinferno said:
The charger that came with the 3G does indeed look like this. However with the 3GS, the chargers became much smaller. The US one became much smaller with the USB port going towards the socket whereas the improved UK one has the USB port pointing towards the floor.

One day what has been done with the iPhone chargers should be able to be done with the iPad charger and eventually it will shrink. Hopefully.
Click to expand...

O yes you correct. I was comparing my charger on my dock. My actually phone one is smaller and just remembered!
 
Consultant said:
The iPad charger has very subtle text description.

The cable is different. iPad cable is a little bit edgier. I can tell easily which is which if I got 2 chargers and their cables plugged in.

When I travel I only bring the iPad charger.
Click to expand...


Please please please tell me it doesn't matter which cable I use.
 
I do most of my charging while the devices are connected to the iMac. However when I need to charge overnight i use my mbp's plug next to my bed on which I swap the connector from the mbp to the ipad's to charge the iPhone iPad or iPod I hope I'm not sending too much juice to the smaller devices
 
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