New iPad mini's fast-charging could be surprisingly fast

The new iPad mini will fast charge at 20W for sure, although mention of a 45W charger in regulatory filings may mean it could charge faster with the right accessories.

Regulatory filings often turn up details about Apple products that Apple itself doesn't publicize. In the case of the seventh-gen iPad mini, China has revealed some details about its power capabilities.

The China Compulsory Certification (3C) listing for the iPad mini was spotted by 91Mobiles on Thursday, and it offers a few power-related specifications for the tablet.

For a start, the listing mentions the phrase "sold without adapter." While the previous version included a 20W charger in the box, it could be the case that a charger may be left out in some regions, following the path it has taken with the iPhone for a few years already.

This won't be the case in the United States and Canada, as the Apple website mentions the inclusion of a 20W USB-C Power Adapter. However, in the UK, Germany, and France, the in-box contents doesn't list chargers.

As for the charging capability, the report says that iPad mini will be able to fast charge at 20 watts. The previous iPad mini 6 was found in testing to be able to fast charge at up to 25W.

The 20W figure is somewhat disappointing, especially since the iPhone 16 can fast charge over MagSafe at up to 25W, and the sixth-gen model could also hit 25W with the right adapter.

However, there is a possibility that the listing's 20W figure involves the usual 20W in-box charger, as included with the previous generation.

As part of the same batch of listings, the report also spotted another accessory on the way. A 45W A2940 adapter is listed, providing power at 15V 3A.

The inclusion of the adapter at that wattage in the certification for the iPad mini is odd, as that could imply the iPad mini could charge at a much faster rate. If it does, it may not necessarily be the full 45W, but it could still be an improvement.