How to charge the iPhone 5S when visiting Mexico

Using an Apple USB Lightning cable and a double pinned Type A power charger to charge the iPhone 5S from a Mexican power outlet and how to recharge the iPhone 5S using a Type B power adapter.

Mexican power outlet

Various combinations of standards and plugs can all be confusing when planning to stay in another country if you've never been there before. When you are planning a vacation to Mexico the following useful instructions show how to supply power to the iPhone 5S using the standard Type B or A 127 volt 60Hz plug outlets, please be aware that Type B power outlets will be typically used by most Mexicans. Type A electrical sockets aren't as commonplace but still used by some hotels in Mexico. If your iPhone 5S slowly recharges or doesn't turn on when you are visiting Mexico from another country then check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Devices which come from a country which use a higher voltage such as 220 volts sometimes take longer to charge or won't turn on, so check that your device is a dual voltage device (you'll find these are normally indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional power converter to ensure proper use. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5S.

Charging the iPhone 5S in Mexico

Can the iPhone 5S be used in Mexico?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 5S in Mexico.

What is the best travel charger for the iPhone 5S in Mexico?

When you are travelling to more than one country then the best international travel adapter for Mexico to buy is a multiple USB charger which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two types of power outlets in Mexico (types B and A) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type A. Because these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle from 100 - 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa just by switching the heads over. If your iPhone 5S can support Fast Charge then you'll benefit from faster recharging times with one of these USB travel chargers along with additional support for certain power hungry devices like tablets. Unlike other adapters this means you can power more than one device at the same time without needing to pack seperate travel adapters for your trip or using up additional wall outlets. Because you are only packing a single USB travel charger will also keep the weight down, making it ideal to store in hand baggage whilst travelling as well as being convenient for recharging your iPhone 5S at the airport or on a plane. Due to their space saving versatility these types of travel adapters can be used back at home so when you’re not on holiday they can sit overnight charging multiple tablets and smartphones using only a single wall outlet.

If you travel to Mexico we recommend buying an adaptable power adapter like this online. The travel charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for Mexico

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country who only have USB devices such as the iPhone 5S, however for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power converters offer surge protection which can be useful for travellers to counties with unreliable or unstable power grids to prevent damage to any connected devices from voltage spikes. These travel converters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular portable option for travellers originating from America visiting Mexico.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers from North America using type B plugs and gives almost the same set of features as the BESTEK with only one less AC outlet at almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 2 AC outlets but offers a generous 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 majority of travellers from around the world visiting Mexico. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for the iPhone 5S in Mexico?

Powering the iPhone 5S with a Mexican power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Using an Apple USB Lightning cable and a double pinned Type A power charger to charge the iPhone 5S from a Mexican power outlet.

  1. If you want to supply power to your iPhone 5S from a Mexican power outlet you will need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], the USB cable is usually included with the iPhone 5S.
  2. Insert the Type A USB power plug adapter into the Mexican power outlet. You can recognise the wall outlet by the 2 thin adjacent slots next to each other. Type A plug outlets in Mexico are less common however are still used in some hotels.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple charging cable into the bottom of the USB mains charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5S. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5S situated at the bottom of the iPhone 5S.
  4. Switch on the Mexican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the phone screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone is powering up which typically takes between 60-240 minutes to completely recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5S with a Mexican power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Powering the iPhone 5S with a Mexican power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Instructions showing you how to recharge your iPhone 5S from a Mexican power outlet with a USB Lightning cable and a three pinned Type B power charger.

  1. If you want to supply power to your iPhone 5S from the Mexican power outlet you will need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple normally supply this USB cable when you purchase your iPhone 5S).
  2. Begin by plugging the Type B USB power plug adapter into the Mexican power outlet. The wall supply (sometimes known as a Type B power outlet [6]) is recognised by two slots next to each other for live and neutral blades with a single semicircular hole below for the earthed pin. Type B electrical sockets will be the most commonly used sockets in Mexico.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the USB Lightning cord into the USB charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5S. The iPhone 5S Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 5S under the home button.
  4. Turn on the Mexican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of your iPhone 5S will display a charge icon to indicate that the mobile is recharging which typically takes around 1 - 4 hours to completely recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5S with a Mexican power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

See also

  1. Visitmexico - Visit Mexico Web Site
  2. Apple - official iPhone 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 B power outlet
  7. Type B USB power plug adapter - A Type B USB power plug adapter conforms to the NEMA 5-15 specifications, featuring 2 parallel flat blades and an extended grounding pin. Rated at 15A and 125 volts, suitable for use in the United States and Canada for converting domestic outlets to USB..
  8. 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..