How to Properly Perform the First Charge of a 2025 iPad Only Valid Methods

Leoipad wrote:

The first suggests setting up the device normally on the first startup, using it until it shuts down by itself at 0%, and then charging it to 100%, but only for the first time.

The second suggests using the iPad normally and charging it when the battery drops below 30%, without letting it discharge completely, and possibly enabling the option that limits the charge to 80% to preserve battery health.

You're way overthinking this. Charge the iPad until it's full or until you need to take it somewhere else. How long you charge it the first time or any other time doesn't matter.

When to charge your iPhone or iPad - Apple Community

Please, please ignore the stuff you see on the internet. There is NO proper procedure to perform a first charge on your iPad. Just plug it in and charge it to 100%. Maximum battery life and performance is one the most important holy grails every single manufacturer strives for. You can be assured that Apple spends a tremendous amount of resources, research, and engineering prowess on its mobile battery technology. Let Apple’s battery management software do its job and don’t worry about how much, how long, when or where you charge your iPad.

Be happy with your new iPad.

You’ll be learning some new things with iPad, and will be unlearning a few things and a few assumptions.

This is part of the latter category: of unlearning.

The “first charge” traditionally used to set the total available capacity with nickel cadmium (NiCad) batteries and their associated charging designs, and practices related to reducing dendritic growth and reducing the development of “memory”, are not things users with lithium ion batteries or newer gear need to consider. With gear still using NiCad, sure.

Since you probably like reading details:

• Charge the iPad battery - Apple Support
• Batteries - Service and Recycling - Apple
• Batteries - Apple
• Batteries - Maximizing Performance - Apple

First-charging sequences are expected with nickel cadmium batteries and similar battery tech, but are unnecessary with lithium ion batteries and with most other newer battery compositions intended for consumer electronics and similar uses.

The second suggests using the iPad normally and charging it when the battery drops below 30%, without letting it discharge completely, and possibly enabling the option that limits the charge to 80% to preserve battery health.

That is generally a prudent scheme for maintaining the battery over time. It has nothing to do with setup.

We've bought a LOT of Apple battery-powered devices directly from Apple and, with one exception, they arrived with roughly a 50% battery charge (± less than 10 percent). Coincidentally, 50% was also the recommended charge level for long-term storage in an old Apple tech article that fell victim to the Great Dumbing Down before the Altar of Minimalist Design a fw years back,

Leoipad wrote:

• Apple Support told me the following:

Do not let the battery drop below 30%, or at least avoid letting it reach 0%.

• Always use official charging cables.

• Enabling “Optimized Battery Charging” is recommended. Limiting the charge to 80% is optional, not essential.

• When charging, it’s better to keep the screen on and the device unlocked. Charging with the screen off might cause issues or delays when turning the device back on.

• An authorized reseller told me this:

The first full charge can take 4 to 5 hours if the device is low on battery (below 20%).

It’s recommended to enable “Optimized Battery Charging”.

• Ideally, start charging when the battery is at 20% or lower.

• Avoid disconnecting and reconnecting the charger multiple times during the same charging cycle.

I’m simply sharing what both Apple Support and the authorized reseller told me — I’m not trying to convince anyone or say what’s right or wrong.

Did you get an answer to your original “How to Properly Perform the First Charge of a 2025 iPad Only Valid Methods” question? That there isn’t such a first-charge procedure? Because there isn’t one.

After that, you’re posting some battery longevity suggestions, though I’d suggest following the recommendations available directly from Apple:

• iPhone battery and performance - Apple Support
• Batteries - Maximizing Performance - Apple

A battery is a wear item, and all batteries will eventually, and inevitably wear out. Once the available capacity drops below current needs and a second recharge is needed, then the battery can be replaced, or potentially the iPhone itself.

And of what Apple has posted, one of the best ways to accelerate the inevitable battery failure is overheating:

Leoipad wrote:

I just want to clarify that the information I shared wasn’t based on personal assumptions. It’s exactly what Apple’s official support team told me over the phone. I’m simply trying to make sure I follow the best practices for my device

You stated this in your first post:

I found two conflicting versions online:I have already contacted official Apple Support, but they were unable to provide a clear answer regarding the correct procedure.

So you found random suggestions online. I suspect that the reason you didn't get what you considered to be a clear answer from Apple is because the answer is "It doesn't matter."

Allan Jones wrote:

…Coincidentally, 50% was also the recommended charge level for long-term storage in an old Apple tech article that fell victim to the Great Dumbing Down before the Altar of Minimalist Design a fw years back,

That long-term charging recommendation remains posted: Batteries - Maximizing Performance - Apple

Here are the iPad docs that explain usage:

iPad Manuals and Downloads - Apple Support

iPad User Guide - Apple Support

The ‘net is unfortunately filled with incorrect and misleading information, and increasingly awash with GPT-generated hilarity and hallucinations, and more than a little of that rubbish presenting itself as “best practices”.

Leoipad wrote:

I just want to clarify that the information I shared wasn’t based on personal assumptions. It’s exactly what Apple’s official support team told me over the phone. I’m simply trying to make sure I follow the best practices for my device

You said that Apple’s support team did not give you a clear answer. You found a couple of contradictory suggestions on the internet that are total garbage, as is most of the Internet. Remember Sturgeon’s Law (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturgeon's_law) which says 90% of everything is garbage (he used a different word, but the forum software would have redacted his word). Theodore Sturgeon passed away before the internet; if he was still alive I’m sure he would have upped it to 99%.

Here’s the (very) long answer→When to charge your iPhone or iPad | Communities

Leoipad wrote:

• Ideally, start charging when the battery is at 20% or lower.

That’s misleading; it actually means don’t let it go below 20% if you can help it. It does NOT mean wait until it is below 20% before charging it.

Thanks! I was looking in the various device sub-sections. Didn't scroll far enough.

All correct, not contradictory, and info unrelated to your question.