Why does my iPad Pro M4 (2024 model) battery percentage drop slightly while using the device on external power?

Question

Why does my iPad Pro M4 (2024 model) battery percentage drop slightly while using the device on external power?

Dear Apple Support,

I am writing to ask about something I noticed with my iPad Pro M4 (2024 model). When the device is fully charged to 100% and is plugged into the original charger, I’ve observed that the battery percentage occasionally drops slightly (e.g., to 99%) while I am actively using the device.

My understanding was that once the battery reaches 100%, the iPad should run directly off external power and not consume battery power until it’s unplugged. However, in my case, even while connected to the charger, the system appears to be drawing from the battery.

Could you kindly clarify the following:

Is this behavior normal for iPad Pro models with the M4 chip?
Does the device switch between battery and power adapter even when the battery is full?
Is there any official Apple documentation explaining this behavior?

Thank you for your time and assistance. I look forward to your response.

Best regards,

Mohammad

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPad Pro, iPadOS 18

Posted on May 30, 2025 10:10 AM

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Answer 1

LotusPilot

Level 10

320,502 points

May 31, 2025 3:14 AM in response to Mohamed2002qwer

Your iPad will always draw power from its battery - or if sufficient power available from an external power source, from external power - the iPad will automatically manage its battery charging.

Peak power draw when using CPU/GPU intensive processes, or high screen brightness, may cause the iPad to temporarily draw additional power from the battery while also using the external power source. This, combined with automatic charge management, may cause the observed battery charge status to vary.

This is entirely normal and expected behavior.

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Answer 2

Rudegar

Level 10

184,530 points

May 30, 2025 4:16 PM in response to Mohamed2002qwer

it charge the battery to 100% and then stop charging, if it continued then it would kill the battery, so then it let the battery use down to say 95% or something in the 90s % and then charge it once more, and then well not kill the battery

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Answer 3

Allan Jones

Level 10

83,112 points

May 31, 2025 7:47 AM in response to Mohamed2002qwer

Dear Apple Support,...

Please remember that you are not addressing Apple here but other end users. Apple do not respond here.

However, LotusPilot's response is 100% correct. Many poratble devices have power management schemes that can draw from both wall power and the battery when resource demand is high.

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Why does my iPad Pro M4 (2024 model) battery percentage drop slightly while using the device on external power?

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