Is a 65W charger compatible with iPad Air (5th Gen)?

While you may have established reasonable confidence in the Lenovo Power Adapter supporting USB-PD, despite lacking explicit markings that would provide confirmation, you do so entirely at your own risk.

Personally, I’m not prepared to recommend using any Power Adapter that does not carry appropriate markings or type-certification. There are proprietary charging standards that appear very similar, but are not USB Power Delivery compliant. Other contributors may be less risk averse - but then, perhaps they can afford potentially damaging consequences of a failed experiment.

Perhaps consider that consequential damage to your iPad will not be covered by either your Apple device warranty, or any warranty that might exist with the Lenovo Power Adapter. The cost of a known compatible Power Adapter, of adequate power output, pales into insignificance when compared with the cost of potential repair or replacement of a damaged iPad, or for that matter your Belkin dock and other connected devices.

In summary, it’s entirely your choice and risk to take.

Would I? No.

Your iPad supports USB PD (Power Delivery) - and can be used with Power Adapters that support this charging standard. Many third-party Power Adapters may support other alternative and proprietary charging standards that will not be supported by Apple devices. By example, QC (Quick Charge) is not supported by, or compatible with, Apple devices.

Unless your Lenovo Power Adapter explicitly states support for USB PD, you would be well advised to carefully consider its use with your iPad. An unsuitable Power Adapter can seriously damage incompatible devices.

A healthy high-output USB PD Power Adapter is completely safe to use with your iPad. However, the iPad will not charge any quicker than when using its supplied 20W USB-C Power Adapter, as the iPad will only charge at its maximum supported charging rate (~20W).

Where the higher-power Power Adapter does provide benefit is when being used with other USB devices via a USB hub or adapter. A higher-output Power Adapter provides a greater “power budget” - allowing other devices to receive power while maintaining the iPad’s maximum 20W charging rate. For example, a USB multiport hub may typically require 10W power; connected USB devices (external storage, keyboard, mouse etc) also draw additional power from the source. If the connected load exceeds the available supply, the iPad may not charge - or may charge at a substantially slower rate. In extremis, both the iPad and Power Adapter will share the connected load - and the iPad may actually discharge its battery to make-up the shortfall in available power from a connected Power Adapter.

Richard_432 wrote:

Thanks for all the helpful replies. Yes that Belkin 11 in 1 dock is the one that I have. Would I perhaps be safer to just plug my 20W iPad USB C power adapter into that dock? Or would that then be under powered for my iPad Air?

That's what a lot of people are using anyways, and that's what Apple has in the box. It should be fine, but I'd like to see something more detailed on what the voltage/current negotiated would be. However, that Lenovo one (and again, I have one albeit nonworking) isn't really spec'ed for providing maximum current at lower voltages, but is designed for higher voltages that laptop computers tend to use.

I've got a power adapter for my Acer Chromebook (came in the box) that's rated at 45W. But the specs on the brick say 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/3A, 15V/3A, 20V/2.25A. That would probably provide more power at the lower voltages that an iPad will use. I've heard reports that iPads can accept 12V input even though the power adapters they come with are 5V/9V.

Richard_432 wrote:

Thanks for all the helpful replies. Yes that Belkin 11 in 1 dock is the one that I have. Would I perhaps be safer to just plug my 20W iPad USB C power adapter into that dock? Or would that then be under powered for my iPad Air?

The Belkin dock specifications clearly states that the dock itself requires 15W for its own power needs. The dock contains multiple interfaces, (VGA, LAN, DisplayPort, HDMI, SD and USB2.0/3.0) all of which require power in their own right. In addition, connected USB devices all draw power as well, some having greater power requirements than others.

The Belkin hub supports up to 85W pass-though to the connected host, via the pigtail USB-C connection, using USB PD. As such, while your 20W USB-C Power Adapter can be used with your Belkin dock, its overall power output is inadequate to both power the dock and charge the iPad - let alone provide power to connected devices.

As outlined in my initial reply, you need to consider your overall Power Budget…

Your iPad, when charging at its peak charging rate, requires ~20W. Your Belkin dock requires 15W for its own electronics. USB devices connected to the dock also require power. If the Power Adapter cannot provide sufficient power for the dock and connected USB devices, your iPad will share the load - providing limited power from its internal battery to cover the shortfall from externally supplied power. You should note that, for practical purposes, the dock is unlikely to be capable of supplying maximum power to all of its ports at the same time.

Each connected USB device may potentially draw up to ~12W; for USB devices that are not attempting to charge their own internal battery, 5W is a reasonable estimate. For the Belkin dock, with three downstream USB ports, 36W should provide a realistic worst-case requirement.

For your setup, with the iPad connected as host computer, your USB PD Power Adapter will ideally need to supply ~70W (35W minimum) - these being within the dock’s quoted overall 100W capability. For a connected PC or Mac, having greater power needs, a USB PD Power Adapter with a greater power output might be more useful - remembering that the docks maximum power handling is itself limited to 100W.

For this to work, your connected Power Adapter must support USB PD (Power Delivery). The power source (Power Adapter), dock/hub and connected host device all support USB PD - and negotiate the highest mutually supported PD Power Profile - of which there are many. The dock has its own internal power electronics, that provides power to connected USB devices at the standard 5V USB bus voltage.

rileyxrose wrote:

I wouldn’t use any other charger than an apple usb Charon a apple device. You could damage your device, the charger or have a electrical malfunction

But then what about syncing an Apple device to a Windows PC? They generally provide power and many choose to use them while charging. And then there's what Apple recommends, which is to use something that meets "applicable safety standards". Apple itself says that computer ports and third-party power adapters can be used.

About Apple USB power adapters - Apple Support

As part of our efforts to reach our environmental goals, iPhone models no longer include a power adapter in the box. iPhone continues to work with existing power adapters and USB-A to Lightning cables, such as those included in prior models. iPhone models now include in the box a newer USB‑C to Lightning cable that supports fast charging and is compatible with USB‑C power adapters and computer ports that you might already have. You can use either a USB-A to Lightning cable or the newer USB-C to Lightning cable with your iPhone.

You can use any of the adapters listed below to charge your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or iPod. You can also use a Mac USB-C Power Adapter or third-party adapters that comply with applicable safety standards. For more information about charging your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or iPod, refer to the Safety, Handling, and Support section of the iPhone User Guide, iPad User Guide, Apple Watch User Guide, or iPod User Guide.

I actually have a Lenovo 65W power adapter, but I haven't used it recently because it failed (was thinking maybe from the captive USB-C cable), although it was working again briefly but no longer seems to charge anything. I would say that it's power only as there aren't a full set of contacts in the connector. That shouldn't be a problem though. I used it to provide power to a 2019 MacBook Air and it was fine for that, although it stopped working before I got my iPad mini 6 with USB-C, so I haven't really been able to test it. Mine is labelled as made by the Taiwanese company AcBel Polytech, Inc., but made at their factory in Wuhan (no jokes please), China.

I'd think the primary concern shouldn't be whether or not it's safe but that it's really designed for providing power to a computer. It's not going to provide 15V/20V to an iPad and I'm not sure how your Belkin dock would distribute power - especially whether or not it would do any voltage conversion. There's no way that it actually requires 15W to power the dock. That's likely what they consider minimum input power to provide power to other devices. However, USB-C can be really convoluted - especially with anything that has a pass-through USB-C power port. Many of these only allow external power going into the device and then the device provides 5V power going to hub-connected USB-A devices. Here's the description of voltage/current ratings:

https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/accessories-and-software/chargers-and-batteries/chargers/4x20m26268

The Lenovo 65W Standard AC Adapter (USB Type-C) offers fast and efficient charging at home, in the office, or on the go. This 65W charger is compatible with ThinkPad USB-C enabled laptops and tablets. It features Smart Voltage: technology which automatically detects and delivers 5V/2A, 9V/2A, 15V/3A or 20V/2.25A. Tested, reliable and backed by a one-year limited warranty.

Not sure, but is it this one that you're using?

https://www.belkin.com/usb-c-11-in-1-multiport-dock/P-INC004.html

The main issue is that the voltage/current combinations that that Lenovo power adapter provides to an iPad Air (which it's doing providing pass-through power via a dock) may not be ideal for an iPad Air. It's 5V/1A (5W) or 9V/2A (18W). That's not even what an Apple 20W USB-C power adapter can provide, which is 5W/3A (15W) or 9V/2.22A (20W).

LotusPilot wrote:

While you may have established reasonable confidence in the Lenovo Power Adapter supporting USB-PD, despite lacking explicit markings that would provide confirmation, you do so entirely at your own risk.

Personally, I’m not prepared to recommend using any Power Adapter that does not carry appropriate markings or type-certification. There are proprietary charging standards that appear very similar, but are not USB Power Delivery compliant. Other contributors may be less risk averse - but then, perhaps they can afford potentially damaging consequences of a failed experiment.

Perhaps consider that consequential damage to your iPad will not be covered by either your Apple device warranty, or any warranty that might exist with the Lenovo Power Adapter. The cost of a known compatible Power Adapter, of adequate power output, pales into insignificance when compared with the cost of potential repair or replacement of a damaged iPad, or for that matter your Belkin dock and other connected devices.

In summary, it’s entirely your choice and risk to take.

Would I? No.

The whole USB-C world is filled with power adapters and cables that don't seek any certifications. Even Apple. It's an open standard and many of the biggest companies don't really care.

I would have no issue (at least in terms of safety and reliability) of Lenovo USB-C power adapter that I could confirm was distributed directly by Lenovo and not a counterfeit. The photo shown is of one made by Lite-On, which is one of Apple's suppliers.

However, I'm thinking it's not going to be adequate for the OP's needs just on the basis of the specs for 5V/9V operation. As far as I'm concerned, Lenovo is not going to be any better or worse that Apple, but that spec indicates that it isn't the best choice for providing power to an iPad if it's a direct pass-through.

As far as the Belkin dock goes, I did have a longer read of the description and they do note that it will take up to 15W, but I doubt it ever requires 15W. Something that small actually requiring 15W more than just for peaks is probably going to destroy itself in short order from all that heat. However, they don't indicate exactly how it provides power, since I'm sure that an iPad Air doesn't accept 20V. I can't find anything saying if they provide any conversion or if it's only a pass through of the native USB-C voltage coming from the external power source.

y_p_w wrote:

The whole USB-C world is filled with power adapters and cables that don't seek any certifications. Even Apple. It's an open standard and many of the biggest companies don't really care.

I would have no issue (at least in terms of safety and reliability) of Lenovo USB-C power adapter that I could confirm was distributed directly by Lenovo and not a counterfeit. The photo shown is of one made by Lite-On, which is one of Apple's suppliers.

However, I'm thinking it's not going to be adequate for the OP's needs just on the basis of the specs for 5V/9V operation. As far as I'm concerned, Lenovo is not going to be any better or worse that Apple, but that spec indicates that it isn't the best choice for providing power to an iPad if it's a direct pass-through.

As far as the Belkin dock goes, I did have a longer read of the description and they do note that it will take up to 15W, but I doubt it ever requires 15W. Something that small actually requiring 15W more than just for peaks is probably going to destroy itself in short order from all that heat. However, they don't indicate exactly how it provides power, since I'm sure that an iPad Air doesn't accept 20V. I can't find anything saying if they provide any conversion or if it's only a pass through of the native USB-C voltage coming from the external power source.

You perhaps miss the point. Unless the Power Adapter is explicitly marked as being USB-PD compliant, you cannot be certain that it is. In context of USB IF Certification, this too is immaterial in context of Power Delivery - Power Delivery being just one of many USB standards, and not a certification.

You being willing to take risks with your iPad through your choice of a third-party Power Adapter (that was not necessarily designed for use with Apple devices) is your own choice - presumably based upon your own risk assessment and risk appetite.

The source and manufacturer of the Lenovo Power Adapter is not disputed. Whether or not the manufacturer is also used by Apple is immaterial; the specifications to which the adapter has been designed and manufactured will be determined by Lenovo - and may substantially differ from those specified by Apple’s technical and quality requirements. NB: I note from your earlier comments that your own Lenovo Power Adapter is unserviceable.

Your interpretation of USB Power Delivery and its functioning is evidently based upon supposition - as opposed to technical understanding…

USB PD “pass through” should not be interpreted literally - as different interfaces have entirely different power needs. While power is “passed through” from the USB-PD power source to the connected USB-PD host (as determined by the PD Power Profile, or for the newest PD standard, Power Rules), power for the hub itself will be derived from the USB-PD power source and/or host. The hub’s power needs and that of connected USB accessory devices will be met from the hubs internal power electronics; downstream USB ports and devices will all be operating at the standard USB 5V bus voltage. For practical purposes, the USB ports will likely share a common power rail and be current limited both individually and in combination.

USB-C multiport hubs typically dissipate 10W - in this instance, the Belkin hub itself requires 15W. This is not, of itself, in any way unusual. Due to active electronics and power conversion that will occur within the hub, in common with all electronics, the hub can be expected to become warm while connected.

I hope this brief explanation will constructively add to your knowledge.

I dunno. We live in a world that's uncertain and where one of the most popular power supples used to charge USB-C iPads are Windows PCs. So perhaps my tolerances are based on whether or not I trust the manufacturer rather than whether or not they chose to put something on a label. My trust isn't in Apple to make a power adapter, because they don't. Apple relies (just like most everyone else) on the ability of a company like Salcomp, Artesyn, LiteOn, Flextronics, Foxlink, etc. to actually design something and place it in Apple's specified form factor.

I think the use of that Lenovo power adapter is perfectly fine even if the specs are a little bit weak if used to directly power a USB-C iPad. With that dock it may be different, but there's alway complications with multiple devices hooked up to each other.

I've got an Anker PowerPort Atom III (45W USB-C and 15W USB-A) and I've trusted that with a Mac and my iPad mini 6. Maybe I'm being foolish using that, a different Anker power adapter, or a Miniso power adapter made by Rewoda. Or connecting it directly to the port of a None specifically mention USB-PD but do list supported voltages. And I've used those with various Apple devices. I would have no problem specific recommending the use of any of those with Apple devices.

Charging from a Windows PC (or other computer) is a different case entirely. When charging from a computer’s USB port, you will be charging the connected device at 5V - the maximum current being limited by both the USB port and the cable.

Unless explicitly designed (and often marked as being suitable) for charging connected devices, computer USB ports are typically limited to 0.5-1A @5V (i.e., 2.5-5.0W). Those that are capable of charging connected devices are often capable of sourcing no more than 12-15W (i.e., 2.4-3.0A @5V).

Alas, this discussion now digresses substantially from the OP’s original enquiry.

LotusPilot wrote:

Charging from a Windows PC (or other computer) is a different case entirely. When charging from a computer’s USB port, you will be charging the connected device at 5V - the maximum current being limited by both the USB port and the cable.

Unless explicitly designed (and often marked as being suitable) for charging connected devices, computer USB ports are typically limited to 0.5-1A @5V (i.e., 2.5-5.0W). Those that are capable of charging connected devices are often capable of sourcing no more than 12-15W (i.e., 2.4-3.0A @5V).

Alas, this discussion now digresses substantially from the OP’s original enquiry.

I think it's still relevant. Choice of power supply is very important and there's a ton of confusion out there - with a lot having to do with how little compliance there is with any kind of standards there are - even if they don't have to be licensed.

But in the case of power adapters, Apple has made no specific recommendations against using third-party USB-C power adapters provided they meet applicable safety standards. My opinion is that the Lenovo power adapter that they OP has is safe to use, but other than it's hard to tell if it would be a good idea absent using inline USB-C testers to see what happens with that iPad Air/Belkin dock/Lenovo 65W power adapter.

Should be fine. An iPad Air will "negotiate" for voltage and will control the amount of current that it accepts. I was under the impression that 20W was the limit.

Yes, the iPad will communicate with the charger for the max voltage of 28.6 watts per hour. (All iPads ship with a 20 watt charging brick but are capable of 28.6 watt “fast charging”)