iPad Pro I just timed how long it takes to charge the iPad Pro: WOW

[TypeMRT]

I don't understand the complaints about the charging time. Yes, it takes longer to fill a bigger battery - it's common sense. It also lasts a lot longer than other iPads. I got 14 hours of use compared to "only" 10 from my iPad Air. When you're charging overnight it doesn't matter if you get to 100% charge at 1am or 4am as long as it's done by the time you wake up. It would be frustrating to try to charge from 10% if you're leaving for a cross-country flight in 2 hours.
It's like buying a sports car with a big gas tank, then complaining because you spend more time when you stop at the gas station. Would you rather drive fast for fewer miles for shorter but more frequent gas station stops?
I think that's one of the big reasons Apple's battery life strategy prioritizes efficiency over capacity. A higher ratio of usage time to charging time is a better user experience. Let the people who value faster charging time buy the faster USB-C adapter. I'd rather spend that $84 on a case AND an extra regular adapter/cable because I have a bunch of regular USB lightning cables & 10w adapters (bedroom, living room, office, travel, car, etc) and no other USB-C devices.

 

[ShaunAFC3]

island that I own.

What you own a island?? Or are you just joking right??

 

[Capt T]

Well that a weird review

Odds are it was a USB-A amp meter....so what adaptor did they use? Also wonder if it was a usb 3 meter or not.

 

[Ghost31]

Umm what do you expect that big thing it would charge in 2/3 hours??!! Sorry but NO!!

Yeah I know right? It's not like people are charging their ipad pros right now in 2 hours time with say...AN APPLE BRANDED CHARGER

But like I said in my op. It's not a big deal since I charge overnight.

 

[masotime]

I don't understand the complaints about the charging time. Yes, it takes longer to fill a bigger battery - it's common sense. It also lasts a lot longer than other iPads. I got 14 hours of use compared to "only" 10 from my iPad Air. When you're charging overnight it doesn't matter if you get to 100% charge at 1am or 4am as long as it's done by the time you wake up. It would be frustrating to try to charge from 10% if you're leaving for a cross-country flight in 2 hours.

Actually it doesn't. It has pretty much the same battery life as your typical iPad, and in fact, it has one of the smallest battery lives amongst iOS devices. From this arstechnica review (look at the 2nd line, not the first one for the 9.7" Pro):

It's like buying a sports car with a big gas tank, then complaining because you spend more time when you stop at the gas station. Would you rather drive fast for fewer miles for shorter but more frequent gas station stops?

This is a pretty bad analogy. Filling up gas rarely takes more than 5 minutes. If you say it takes 50% longer to fill up, you'd probably not care too much. Imagine if it took an hour to fill up gas. Adding half an hour to that would be extremely annoying.

Interestingly this is the reason why Tesla had to make superchargers to make it less painful to charge electric cars. The time relative to human perception is important - even though percentage wise it feels fine, a human will feel the difference when the scale is in hours rather than minutes, as in your gas-filling example.

 

[throAU]

Apple already offers the lightning to usb-c and with macbook adapter you can fully charge your ipad pro in about 2 hours

Yup, and i just wish they would offer a proper size charger with all their devices.

The 15" MBP charger is about right for the 13" MBP or 11" MBA, the iPad charger is about right for an iPhone, etc.

Unfortunately if you've got the biggest device in a family, there's not usually a bigger charger you can get to charge with faster.

 

[TypeMRT]

Actually it doesn't. It has pretty much the same battery life as your typical iPad, and in fact, it has one of the smallest battery lives amongst iOS devices. From this arstechnica review (look at the 2nd line, not the first one for the 9.7" Pro):

This is a pretty bad analogy. Filling up gas rarely takes more than 5 minutes. If you say it takes 50% longer to fill up, you'd probably not care too much. Imagine if it took an hour to fill up gas. Adding half an hour to that would be extremely annoying.

Interestingly this is the reason why Tesla had to make superchargers to make it less painful to charge electric cars. The time relative to human perception is important - even though percentage wise it feels fine, a human will feel the difference when the scale is in hours rather than minutes, as in your gas-filling example.

I read the Ars review (on my iPad Pro) and it didn't match my individual experience with battery life. I'll be keeping an eye on it as I use the iPad Pro more.
I charge all of my devices overnight, so I'm rarely in situations during the day where I have to charge "right now". I understand that urgency for a phone and why they're designed to get to 80% charge in like 30 minutes. My use for an iPad, and I suspect most other tablet owners, isn't hampered by slow charging. If it was then I think we'd hear more about faster charging from Microsoft or Samsung as a feature.
I used that same charge every day overnight strategy when I had an electric car. Charging is never as fast as filling with gas so you're right, the time scale is off.

 

[mbaturin]

I bought the 29W wall plug and USB-C to Lightning 1m cable. It really is much faster! 64% based on tests that have been performed. I also charge overnight - but I use the iPad Pro heavily at work and if I drain the battery down at work its nice to know when i get back to my desk I can "quick charge" so i know ill have battery for when i get home.

 

[Ghost31]

I bought the 29W wall plug and USB-C to Lightning 1m cable. It really is much faster! 64% based on tests that have been performed. I also charge overnight - but I use the iPad Pro heavily at work and if I drain the battery down at work its nice to know when i get back to my desk I can "quick charge" so i know ill have battery for when i get home.

That's cool as hell man! I don't think I need it (I charge overnight) but I sure do want it. Wonder how likely it'll be that a future iPhone will get USB 3 speeds. Imagine quick charging something that already charges quick. Wow

Is this what I would have to buy if I wanted to fast charge my iPad Pro?

 

[macduke]

Yeah this is another reason to hold out. You have to spend like $70 or $80 in adapters using the MacBook charger and then the USB-C to Lightning cable to get it to fast charge. That is crazy. The other reason is that the software just isn't optimized. I finally was able to spend some extensive time with one (my wife's uncle had one at easter) and there's nothing about the software that makes it any better. I mean, for crying out loud, it even has the same number of app icons on the home screen. They're so ridiculously spaced out that it looks comical—even my iPhone 6s has more icons.

As a professional user looking to take my productive portability to the next level, this thing is a bust. I'm going to wait until at least the second, if not third generation to buy one for myself. It's half-baked from hardware to software.

 

[urkel]

I figured it was about time for me to complain about something. Can't kiss apple's butt ALL the time right?

If you hate it then don't buy it.

It's a 1.0 product, duh.

Apples job is to make money, stop being selfish

Why would you charge in the daytime. That's stupid.

OMG I am so sick of listening to people whinging about this!

I'm a stockholder

Then buy an Android tablet if you love them so much

How about you learn about technology before you complain about it

So it's Apples fault that you're impatient?!

Go back to the Surface boards Troll!

Apple has the $75 USBC charger. If you can't afford it then you shouldn't have got a pro in the first place

#FirstWorldProblem


(I don't actually mean any of that stuff. I just wanted to give you the "Full MacRumors Experience" of what it's like to voice a legitimate complaint out here.)

 

[Ghost31]

If you hate it then don't buy it.

It's a 1.0 product, duh.

Apples job is to make money, stop being selfish

Why would you charge in the daytime. That's stupid.

OMG I am so sick of listening to people whinging about this!

Then buy an Android tablet if you love them so much

How about you learn about technology before you complain about it

So it's Apples fault that you're impatient?!

Go back to the Surface boards Troll!

Apple has the $75 USBC charger. If you can't afford it then you shouldn't have got a pro in the first place

#FirstWorldProblem


(I don't actually mean any of that stuff. I just wanted to give you the "Full MacRumors Experience" of what it's like to voice a legitimate complaint out here.)

Sounds about right. Maybe add "if you love android so much why don't you marry it" to the list

 

[masotime]

That's cool as hell man! I don't think I need it (I charge overnight) but I sure do want it. Wonder how likely it'll be that a future iPhone will get USB 3 speeds. Imagine quick charging something that already charges quick. Wow

Is this what I would have to buy if I wanted to fast charge my iPad Pro?

I would buy a used or open-box Apple 29W USB-C adapter if possible. $49 is a bit much to swallow. The $25 cable is not so bad IMO (or maybe it's just the Apple lightning cable conditioning over the years...)

 

[Ghost31]

Well this video just sold me right there. They did a test with the new cable and brick compared to the old one. Spoiler alert: after 20 minutes of charging the old iPad only got a 5 percent charge. Wow that's slow

 

[PattyMc]

I charge my 12.9 Pro overnight too, but wow..watching that video makes me want to get the USB-C cable and power adapter. Just another 74.00, lol!

 

[noisycats]

So 4 hours, cool.
5.5 hours, sucks.

Ok, got it.

 

[Ghost31]

I charge my 12.9 Pro overnight too, but wow..watching that video makes me want to get the USB-C cable and power adapter. Just another 74.00, lol!

I know! And that part where he showed after 10 minutes on the old charger it was still at 2%. Oh man that hurt. I just stared at my charger on the table and gave it a look like "there is something seriously wrong with you"

 

[npolly0212]

I ordered the sub-c brick. 37 bucks for open box from Best Buy, so saving some money.
Still a ridiculous price for something that should have been in it

 

[Night Spring]

It would've made sense for them to take advantage of usb 3 charging speeds and release it with that in mind. New cable and charging brick and all. They could have even touted it as a feature to get people excited.

Yeah, I thought that was really weird that they didn't include this with the iPP. Would bundling the MacBook charger and USB C cable with the iPP drive up cost that much? And if so, why didn't they offer this as an optional accessory from day one? Did they not anticipate that people would want faster charging? And going forward, will the next gen 12.9 iPad come with the fast charging block/cable, or would that always be an additional option?

 

[Ghost31]

Yeah, I thought that was really weird that they didn't include this with the iPP. Would bundling the MacBook charger and USB C cable with the iPP drive up cost that much? And if so, why didn't they offer this as an optional accessory from day one? Did they not anticipate that people would want faster charging? And going forward, will the next gen 12.9 iPad come with the fast charging block/cable, or would that always be an additional option?

That is one of the great mysteries. The way I see it we will know the next iPad Pro launch event. If Apple includes the new USB C cord and the larger power brick, then it was about supply constraints and being able to get them out in time. If they still include the dinky little iPhone charger, it really is all about greed. And that would actually be a little bit sad.

I'm thinking about just going ahead and buying it. I feel a little dirty doing it. Like there's a voice in my head saying "Apple just ripped you off dude and then you're gonna give them another $80! Haha you suck"

 

[cg006]

I am hoping some very powerful USB C chargers are released where i could just buy the cable.

I got a belking wall adapter that has 2 usb 10watt ports and 3 regular electrical ports. Charges my air with out an issue. WOuld love something like this with a USB-C.
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-SurgePlus-3-Outlet-Charger-Protector/dp/B00ATZJ5YS/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Actually it doesn't. It has pretty much the same battery life as your typical iPad, and in fact, it has one of the smallest battery lives amongst iOS devices. From this arstechnica review (look at the 2nd line, not the first one for the 9.7" Pro):

This is a pretty bad analogy. Filling up gas rarely takes more than 5 minutes. If you say it takes 50% longer to fill up, you'd probably not care too much. Imagine if it took an hour to fill up gas. Adding half an hour to that would be extremely annoying.

Interestingly this is the reason why Tesla had to make superchargers to make it less painful to charge electric cars. The time relative to human perception is important - even though percentage wise it feels fine, a human will feel the difference when the scale is in hours rather than minutes, as in your gas-filling example.

Interesting chart.

It confirms the lousy battery life of my iPad Air 2. First iPad and iPad 2 were much better.

Also interesting that all these devices conk out at about 10 hours, even the 6S Plus. Since 2007, we have not really come anywhere with battery life. I never fail to find it intriguing that battery technology has not advanced for so long. When you compare it to chips, which regularly advance by huge percentages each year, it stands out as being a dead-end tech. In a sense, what is the point of ploughing huge money into tech development, when you are so limited by battery life these days? The person who can invent the battery that gives twice as much battery life will be a rich man.
[doublepost=1459186565][/doublepost]

I bought the 29W wall plug and USB-C to Lightning 1m cable. It really is much faster! 64% based on tests that have been performed. I also charge overnight - but I use the iPad Pro heavily at work and if I drain the battery down at work its nice to know when i get back to my desk I can "quick charge" so i know ill have battery for when i get home.

Question is: will repeated fast charging shorten the battery life of your iPad Pro?

That's something to worry about.

 

[mbaturin]

That's cool as hell man! I don't think I need it (I charge overnight) but I sure do want it. Wonder how likely it'll be that a future iPhone will get USB 3 speeds. Imagine quick charging something that already charges quick. Wow

Is this what I would have to buy if I wanted to fast charge my iPad Pro?

Yep those are what I bought - they also sell a 2m cable which is the length that the iPad Pro came with if you're looking for something longer - tack on another $10 though.
[doublepost=1459186817][/doublepost]

Interesting chart.

It confirms the lousy battery life of my iPad Air 2. First iPad and iPad 2 were much better.

Also interesting that all these devices conk out at about 10 hours, even the 6S Plus. Since 2007, we have not really come anywhere with battery life. I never fail to find it intriguing that battery technology has not advanced for so long. When you compare it to chips, which regularly advance by huge percentages each year, it stands out as being a dead-end tech. In a sense, what is the point of ploughing huge money into tech development, when you are so limited by battery life these days? The person who can invent the battery that gives twice as much battery life will be a rich man.
[doublepost=1459186565][/doublepost]

Question is: will repeated fast charging shorten the battery life of your iPad Pro?

That's something to worry about.

I asked an Apple Store Specialist - they told me it was safe to charge in this way - but who knows if they're basing that on knowledge or just store throughput desires...

 

[jclardy]

Well that a weird review

It does charge WAY faster in my testing, my guess is the iPad negotiates a higher charge speed when the device is plugged in, so you can't just tap a voltmeter on the wires of the lightning cable and expect a proper readout. The 2 amp output is likely just the "default" unless the device says that it can handle more.

But I do find it quite annoying that I have to spend another $49 for the 29w brick and $35 for a 2m cable...that is $5 more than the 85W magsafe 2 which is already overpriced. And you don't even get the AC extension cord (Another $19) with the $50 brick. My question is why does the iPad Pro require another $105 worth of accessories to charge like a proper "pro" device (meaning you can charge and use it at the same time...)

 

[TypeMRT]

That is one of the great mysteries. The way I see it we will know the next iPad Pro launch event. If Apple includes the new USB C cord and the larger power brick, then it was about supply constraints and being able to get them out in time. If they still include the dinky little iPhone charger, it really is all about greed. And that would actually be a little bit sad.

I'm thinking about just going ahead and buying it. I feel a little dirty doing it. Like there's a voice in my head saying "Apple just ripped you off dude and then you're gonna give them another $80! Haha you suck"

Apple didn't add it because they were faced with two options:
1. Free = definitely decrease margins
2. Increase price $50 = probably decrease sales
The iPad Pro is already pushing the limit of pricing so I think the extra $50 increase would matter to more people than the faster charging. I bet people would complain about the 4-hour charge time if the USB-C charger came with the iPad Pro from the start since it's not an improvement over the previous iPads.