Updated September 2026: in 2022 I predicted Apple would bring MagSafe wireless charging to iPads, to unify charging across its devices and cut down on cables in the box. I have rewritten it with where iPad charging actually stands.
With MagSafe on iPhones and wireless charging on AirPods, I expected iPads to follow, for three reasons: one charging standard across Apple devices, new accessories built around magnets, and less packaging and e-waste from cables. The prediction has not come true.
Do any iPads support wireless charging?
No. At the time of this update, iPads still charge by cable, through USB-C, which every current iPad now uses. Rumours of MagSafe iPads have come and gone, but Apple has not shipped one.
Why has Apple not added it?
Mostly physics and materials. iPads have large batteries, and wireless charging at useful speeds for a battery that size generates heat and is less efficient than a cable. Aluminium backs also block wireless charging, requiring glass or a cut-out. A tablet also often sits on a keyboard or stand while in use, which makes a charging pad less practical.
Did the universal charging goal happen another way?
Yes, through USB-C. iPhones moved to USB-C in 2023, joining iPads and Macs, so one cable and charger now covers most Apple devices. For wireless charging, the Qi2 standard, based on MagSafe, has brought magnetic charging to many non-Apple phones and accessories.
What about cables in the box?
Apple has removed chargers from iPhone boxes and, in some regions, from other devices, while still including a USB-C cable. That achieves much of the packaging reduction I expected, without wireless charging.
How can you make iPad charging more convenient today?
- Use a 20 W or higher USB-C Power Delivery charger, which charges an iPad much faster than older small adapters.
- Consider a stand or dock with USB-C passthrough if the iPad lives on a desk.
- Keyboard cases with their own USB-C port on some iPad models let you charge through the case.
- Share one charger across iPhone, iPad and Mac now that they all use USB-C.
Is a wireless iPad still likely?
Possible, but the benefits are smaller than they first seemed. USB-C already gives iPads fast, universal charging. If magnetic charging arrives, it is more likely to be for convenience than for speed.