Can an iPad battery be affected by altitude?

[ThirtyWest]

Specifically, I'm referring to the cabin of an airliner being pressurized to about 8,000 mean sea level.

Technically, the air is less dense, and I've wondered if there is a cooling issue inside the pad's board that results in a less efficient operation?

I fly regularly, and I can take a fully charged iPad Pro (airplane mode) with no apps open, and I can watch the charge deplete noticeably.

Also, I have seen the charge increase ever so slightly when descending back down toward sea level.

Can this be on the order of a CPU fan failing on a PC, resulting in a processor that's being overworked with less to show for it?

 

[Borek]

Do you have an airplane mode on? When you fly at 900 km/h at 10 km your mobile probably switches between ground stations quite often, so it has to do a lot of communication (which is power hungry).

 

[Rive]

I can watch the charge deplete noticeably.

Yeah, lighting the screen eats a lot Just don't watch it so often and it'll be much better.

The air on the plane is usually colder a bit during flight and that might result in a bit lower displayed charge, but no other effect.

 

[anorlunda]

If 8000' caused a significant change in battery performance, then it would be widely reported and well known among people who live at 8000' all the time.