iPad battery maximum capacity dropped to 99% after 43 cycles

An iPad battery is rated to retain 80% of its original capacity (when new) after 1000 full charge cycles. While decline in battery health is influenced by many factors - and is not necessarily linear - simple math might suggest a 1% reduction for each 50 charge cycles.

Battery health is not an absolute, but is instead an estimate - calculated from an explicit value for initial battery capacity and the number of charge cycles (a full charge cycle being any combination of charging that together sums to a 100% charge). As battery health is expressed as an integer value, your stated 99% battery health after 43 cycles is broadly as might be expected.

All rechargeable batteries differ to some extent in their initial capacity. Apple battery specifications set a minimum design capacity for its Li-ion batteries. Some batteries, when manufactured, will often exceed this specification by different amounts - and will therefore seem to retain their maximum battery health for longer than some others. For those batteries that fortuitously have higher than design capacity (such as suggested for your iPhone), decline in battery health may not be apparent for some time.

If you have any concerns for your iPad's battery or its performance, you would be well to seek assistance directly from Apple Support - and request a remote battery diagnostic test. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page.

Alternatively you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to hands-on test and assess your iPad. If a problem is identified, you'll be in the best possible place to explore your available options:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

99% after 43 cycles

Normal, and better than many. I've tracked my iPad's battery health since new. At one year it was at 50 cycles and 94%. Yours wins!

Exactly five years later my iPad is at 313 cycles and 86%. It still give plenty of runtime between rechargings.

Health's two biggest fails are that it is neither exact nor linear. Falloff in health, if plotted, seldom makes a straight line, and tends to level of out 85% for quite a while. Please don't obsess over something that barely qualifies as data.

ALL batteries are wear items, whether installed in an iPad of a $150,000 Mercedes sedan. Rechargeable batteries lose capacity even if not used. The chemicals inside that make them cannot last in perpetuity.