The iPad Pro is the top dog when it comes to tablet-based computing. Our GravaStar fans love it so much that we're peppered with questions nonstop about it. Our most common request: what's the best charger for the iPad Pro?
While the charger that ships with the iPad Pro delivers exactly what the tablet needs to charge–a 20-watt USB-C Power Delivery, or PD, power supply–that doesn't mean it's the best charger for the iPad Pro. It'll do the bare minimum and no more.
This article will highlight some of the best options for chargers for your iPad Pro, not including the charger that ships with it. We've looked at many and want to bring you the list of what we think is best.
How We Picked
We looked at a few different charger properties to come up with this list. No single factor was dispositive, but we highlighted where one stood out.
Ports
We looked at many chargers with many different port configurations. Where the Apple charger that ships with the iPad Pro only has one port, we assume that someone traveling with the iPad Pro also has an iPhone or other smartphone, possibly a work laptop, and other gadgets requiring power. Don't worry: we also included recommendations for solo chargers.
Wattage
45 watts is the maximum the iPad Pro can use to charge. Any port capable of delivering more than that, per the PD standard, will drop its output to 45 watts. However, if someone is traveling with more than one device, those other devices may require more than 45 watts to charge or to Quick Charge.
Portability
The iPad Pro is a device for professionals and creators on the go who refuse to sacrifice performance. Even though Apple claims that the iPad Pro can last all day with moderate use, we assumed that a charger would be an ideal travel companion for the iPad Pro. Consequently, portability is a key aspect of what makes a charger the best for the iPad Pro.
Price
While the iPad Pro is a premium device that carries a premium price, you don't need a charger that breaks the bank. There are plenty of chargers that fit the bill for charging the iPad Pro that don't cost hundreds of dollars.
Best Overall: Anker Prime 67W USB C Charger
- Ports: 2 x USB-C PD; 1x USB-A
- Wattage: 67 watts for one device and up to 65 watts for multiple devices
- Portability: Very Small
- Price: Low
The Anker Prime 67W USB C Charger is the smallest entry from the Anker Prime line of chargers. It's substantially smaller and lighter weight than most other similarly specced chargers on the market, which makes this particularly appealing for taking it on the go.
The three ports on the Anker Prime let you charge an iPad Pro, iPhone (or other smartphone), and Apple Watch (or other smartwatch) simultaneously. This is hands-down the best option for someone who uses the iPad Pro to its full potential as a laptop replacement.
It can also be found on sale pretty frequently, not that its full price is eye-wateringly high. This isn't really a distinguishing factor, though, as it is competitively priced with other similar chargers on the market.
All that being said, if you're traveling with a work or other laptop in addition to your iPad Pro, the Anker Prime 67W will show its limitations. You'll be able to charge most laptops with the Anker Prime 67W, but with other devices connected, it may prove insufficient to do so.
Overall, if you need a small portable charger on the go that will charge your Apple portable devices, the Anker Prime 67W is your best overall option. Its small size, inexpensive price, and charging flexibility make it tough to beat overall.
Most Power: Sacrack USB C Charger 400W
- Ports: 5 x USB-C PD; 3 x USB-A PD
- Wattage: 400 watts
- Portability: Large
- Price: Moderate
If you need to simultaneously charge two MacBook Pros, three MacBooks or iPad Pros, an iPad, an iPhone, and an Apple Watch then the Sacrack USB C Charger 400W is your charger. This charger is ideal for the digital nomad, professional who likes to bring an entire office worth of devices with them, or someone who wants to share the ability to charge with others.
While the Sacrack isn't small, it's also not close to being the largest charger out there. It weighs less than a pound and fits in the hand. It's a desktop charger and so has a separate power cable to plug it into the wall in addition to the USB charging cables.
That's a pretty solid tradeoff for the ability to deliver a full 400 watts of power and charge multiple laptops simultaneously. Few other chargers on the market can claim to do the same. Certainly not for the Sacrack's price point.
The Sacrack falls in the middle of charger price points. Less expensive chargers provide significantly less power. More expensive chargers provide more robust features. That being said, if all you care about is charging power-hungry devices in addition to your iPad Pro, then the Sacrack is perfect.
Users report that the Sacrack gets hot when powering 100-watt devices. That makes sense and larger, more expensive chargers feature better cooling solutions and more robust build quality. Still, it operates within reasonable parameters and is unlikely to cause damage.
Best Looking: GravaStar Alpha65 Fast Wall Charger
- Ports: 2 x USB-C PD; 1 x USB-A
- Wattage: 65 watts
- Portability: Medium
- Price: Low
If you're looking for a charger that's also a conversation piece, look no further than the GravaStar Aplha65 Fast Wall Charger. As a futuristic mecha-inspired charger, it stands out among white, gray, and black rectangles.
It's a very competent charger and delivers 65 watts over its three ports. Fully loaded, it can charge some laptops or a handheld console, the iPad Pro, and an iPhone or Apple Watch. Performance-wise, it works very similarly to the Anker Prime 67W.
The Alpha65 is larger than the Anker Prime 67W. While it can plug directly into an outlet, it can also be used with a specially designed power strip that lets it sit on the desktop to be showcased as the art piece it is.
Like other options on this list, the Alpha65 is small and durable enough to travel. It falls in the midpoint of size on this list, but all chargers on this list were chosen for their ideal travel size.
Similar to the Anker Prime 67W, the Alpha65's weakness is in its inability to charge multiple very power-hungry devices. If you need to charge more than an iPad Pro, iPhone, and Apple Watch simultaneously, then you'll need a much more powerful charger. That charger, however, will likely be larger and more expensive.
Most Apple-Like: Anker Nano 3
- Ports: 1 x USB-C PD
- Wattage: 30 watts
- Portability: Tiny
- Price: Very Low
If you want a tiny charger that matches the streamlined Apple aesthetic and will quickly charge your iPad Pro, then the Anker Nano 3 is ideal. You'll be hard-pressed to find another charger that meets all those criteria in one package. Especially one available in black, white, and a variety of pastel colors.
The Anker Nano 3 pushes the bounds of the smallest PD-capable charger. It does that by lowering the amount of power that it delivers and the number of ports. By keeping it simple, Anker managed to make one of the smallest PD chargers on the market.
The 30 watts of power won't power a MacBook Pro. It also won't power most laptops on the market. It will, however, power more modest laptops and gaming handhelds. It will easily power an iPad Pro, iPad, iPhone, or other accessories and allow most of those to quickly charge.
The obvious drawback of this charger is that it can only charge one device at a time. The tradeoff is the lowest price on this list. Due to the widespread availability of larger and slightly more expensive chargers that deliver more wattage to more concurrent devices, it's clear that this charger represents an intentional decision to charge a single device quickly.
The Competition
Acxuodzen USB C Charger Block 160W 2 Pack: If you've ever wondered how you can get two powerful device chargers for a reasonable price, then look no further than the Acxuodzen USBC Charger. Each charger has three ports: two 65-watt USB-C PD ports and one 30-watt USB-A PD port.
MINIX 66W: The MINIX 66W provides sufficient power for your iPad Pro, iPhone, and accessories. It's also perfect for the international traveler as it ships with three interchangeable plug options: US, UK, and EU.
UGREEN Nexode: The UGREEN Nexode provides 65 watts of charging power on three ports: two USB-C PD ports and one USB-A port. In a two-port charging configuration, it can charge a laptop and iPad Pro. Using its three-port charging configuration it will charge the iPad Pro quickly, but an iPhone and accessories slowly.
Frequently Asked Questions
We also get numerous questions related to the best charger for iPad Pro. Here are our answers to some of those questions.
Does the iPad Pro Use a 20W or 30W Charger?
The iPad Pro ships with a 20-watt charger, but will charge more quickly with a 30-watt charger. While you don't strictly need more than the 20-watt charger the iPad comes with, a higher watt charger will ensure that you're up and running away from a plug more quickly.
Can I Use a 100W Charger for the iPad Pro?
Yes. The iPad Pro uses the USB-C PD standard for charging. That means that if you have a 100-watt PD charger, it will negotiate the proper maximum charging wattage with the iPad Pro. So the iPad Pro won't use the maximum wattage and it will charge as it should.
Can I Use a non-Apple Charger for My iPad Pro?
Yes. You don't need a proprietary Apple charger for the iPad Pro, just one that uses the USB-C PD standard. Purchasing a non-Apple charger also means that you're likely paying the same for more features like higher wattage and more charging ports.
Final Thoughts
The iPad Pro is a premium device that doesn't require the highest-end charger. In fact, because of the efficiency of its design, it has relatively modest charging requirements. That means that you can get a smaller charger dedicated to the iPad Pro, or charge more devices simultaneously.
Take care not to modify your Power Delivery capable chargers. Forcing delivery of a charging wattage that exceeds the designed power intake of your iPad Pro could result in injury and device destruction. Remember: a charger's wattage is how much it can deliver, not how much it must always deliver.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
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