How to charge the iPad Mini when visiting China

Instructions showing you how to recharge your iPad Mini from a Chinese power outlet by using a USB Lightning cable and a double pinned Type A power charger, charging the iPad Mini using a two pin Type C Europlug power plug and charging the iPad Mini using a three pin Type I USB plug

Chinese power outlet

Varying different combinations of region codes and plug types can all be daunting when planning on staying in a foreign country especially if you've never visited before. With only a handful of different types of sockets being used in the world this guide tells you exactly what to purchase in advance to charge the iPad Mini . This page was specifically written to prevent you having to worry if you'll be able to charge your iPad Mini when you are visiting China.When you are planning a vacation to China the following useful instructions show how to supply power to the iPad Mini using the standard Type I, A or C 220 volt 50Hz plug outlets, please be aware that Type I power outlets are typically used by a majority of Chinese. If travelling to China from a different country ensure that the iPad Mini can be used with a 240v supply. If the iPad Mini was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110v ensure that the device is dual voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional transformer to avoid the device from being damaged when powering up. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Mini.

Charging the iPad Mini in China

Can the iPad Mini be used in China?

Yes, you can use the iPad Mini in China.

What is the best travel charger for the iPad Mini in China?

When you are travelling to more than one country then the best international travel charger for China to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are three types of wall outlets in China (types I, A and C) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for both types A and C. Because these types of chargers come with interchangeable pins and handle from 100 volts - 240 volts will mean you can travel to over 100 countries around the world just by changing the heads over. If your iPad Mini supports Fast Charge (not all USB devices will) then you'll benefit from quicker recharging times by using one of these travel adapters plus additional compatibility with certain power demanding devices like tablets.

Having a 4 port adapter will also allow you to charge multiple devices at the same time without needing to bring seperate power adapters on your Chinese trip or occupying additional wall sockets. Only needing a single lightweight travel charger will keep the overall size down, making it perfect to fold up in hand baggage while travelling and convenient for charging your iPad Mini at the airport or on a flight. Because of their flexibility these types of power chargers can be used when back at home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple tablets and phones without using up an additional plug socket.

We suggest searching for this type of versatile power charger at your preferred electronics retailer - the power adapter illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for charging multiple USB devices in numerous different countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for China

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to recharge devices using USB, but for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which is useful when visiting counties with unstable power grids. These power adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both China and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling compact power adapter for travellers originating from America going to China using type B American plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs. This is a much cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with 1 less AC outlet at almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 2 AC outlets but offers 5 USB charging ports. This versatile power strip is compatible with both American plugs and popular plug types A, D,E/F, G, H, I, L and N making it perfect for a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting China. [10] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for the iPad Mini in China?

Powering the iPad Mini with a Chinese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Instructions showing you how to charge your iPad Mini from a Chinese power outlet by using a Lightning Apple cable with a double pin Type A power charger.

  1. In order to supply power to the iPad Mini from the Chinese power outlet you will need to buy a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple will normally supply this USB cable when you purchase your iPad Mini).
  2. Begin by plugging the Type A USB power plug adapter in the power outlet. The wall outlet (sometimes known as a Type A power outlet [3]) is recognised by two adjacent slots for live and neutral blades.
  3. Plug in one end of the Lightning charging cord into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini. The iPad Mini lightning connector is found at the bottom of the iPad Mini.
  4. Turn on the Chinese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of the iPad Mini screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is recharging which takes around 1 - 4 hours to recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPad Mini with a Chinese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Powering the iPad Mini with a Chinese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Instructions on how to charge the iPad Mini from a Chinese power outlet using a Lightning Apple cable with a two pin Type C Europlug power charger.

  1. If you want to supply power to your iPad Mini from the Chinese power outlet you will need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple will normally supply this USB cable when you purchase your iPad Mini).
  2. Begin by plugging the Type C USB power plug adapter in the power outlet. You can recognise this wall outlet by the 2 circular adjacent holes next to each other for live and neutral pins.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple charging cable into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini. The iPad Mini lightning connector is found at the bottom of the iPad Mini.
  4. Switch on the Chinese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the iPad Mini screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is recharging which takes around 1-4 hours to recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPad Mini with a Chinese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

How to use a Type I power charger for recharging your iPad Mini from a Chinese power outlet

Using a Lightning Apple cable with a three pin Type I USB charger to recharge the iPad Mini with a Chinese power outlet.

  1. In order to charge the iPad Mini using the Chinese power outlet you'll need a Type I USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple should typically include this cable when you buy the iPad Mini).
  2. First you'll need to insert the Type I USB power plug adapter in the power supply. You can recognise this wall outlet by the 3 thin slots for the live, neutral and ground blades. Please note that the live and neutral pins are reversed compared to Argentinian plug outlets so please check that your Type I travel adaptor is compatible with a Chinese power outlet.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the USB Lightning cord into the USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini. The iPad Mini lightning connector is found at the base of the iPad Mini.
  4. Turn on the Chinese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your tablet will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is powering up taking between 60-240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type I power charger for recharging your iPad Mini from a Chinese power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - China page on Wikipedia.org
  2. Apple - official iPad user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type A power outlet
  4. Type A USB power plug adapter - With its two-blade, ungrounded design, the Type A USB power plug adapter offers a straightforward way to convert electrical outlets in countries like the United States and Canada into USB ports for easy device charging..
  5. USB to Apple Lightning cable - The Apple Lightning cable is a charging and syncing cable for more recent Apple devices and connects compatible iPhones and iPads to a USB port.
  6. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  7. Type C USB power plug adapter - Conforming to Europlug specifications, the Type C USB power plug adapter incorporates two 4 mm rounded pins spaced 19 mm apart. It is engineered to adapt electrical outlets commonly found in Europe, converting them to USB-compatible charging ports..
  8. iec.ch - Type I power outlet
  9. Type I USB power plug adapter - Type I USB chargers use three short flat blades in a V format with the top blade acting as a grounding pin.
  10. 4 Port USB Wall Charger - A 4-port USB wall charger is an electrical device that provides simultaneous charging for up to four USB-compatible devices. It often includes interchangeable international plug adapters for global use..