Charging the iPhone 5 from a power outlet in The United Kingdom

Using the Apple USB Lightning cable and a Type G USB charger to power the iPhone 5 from a UK power outlet.

UK power outlet

If you are organizing a trip it can be helpful to know in advance if you can use any indispensable devices when you're there. However, by not knowing which wall socket is being used you could pack the wrong adaptor, thereby leaving you having to purchase a suitable power adaptor when you're there which might not be compatible. Complicated standards and plug types can often cause confusion when planning to travel to another country if you've never been there before. This page contains simple instructions showing what you'll need to power your iPhone 5 in The United Kingdom using their standard 230 volt 50Hz G Type wall outlet, the British will use BS 1363 13 amp plugs for charging. When travelling to The United Kingdom from a different country ensure that your iPhone 5 can accept a 240 volt supply. If your iPhone 5 originated in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110v) make sure the device is dual voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional power converter to avoid the device from overheating during charging. If you plan on taking a trip to somewhere like London or Cambridge we recommend reading the UK country Wiki page [1] for more details. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5.

Charging the iPhone 5 in The United Kingdom

Can the iPhone 5 be used in The United Kingdom?

Yes, you can connect the iPhone 5 to a UK power outlet by using a power adaptor.

What is the best power adapter for the iPhone 5 in The United Kingdom?

If you are travelling to multiple countries or bringing more than just your iPhone 5 then the best international travel adapter for The United Kingdom to buy is a multiple USB adapter which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger.

Because these chargers come with interchangeable pins and handle from 100 - 240 volts it makes them ideal for over 100 countries around the world just by changing the heads over. If your type of iPhone 5 supports Fast Charge (not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from quicker recharging times with one of these USB power chargers, plus additional compatibility with certain power hungry devices like tablets. Having a four port adapter means you can power more than one device at once without needing to buy multiple power chargers on your trip. By only needing a single lightweight travel charger will also keep the weight down, making it ideal to store in hand luggage. Because of their space saving flexibility these types of travel chargers can be used when back at home as well as abroad so when you're not on holiday they can sit overnight charging multiple smartphones and tablets using only a single power outlet.

We recommend searching for this type of flexible travel adapter at an electronics retailer. The travel charger illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for powering multiple USB devices in numerous countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for The United Kingdom

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 5, but for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power strips offer surge protection which can be useful for travellers to counties with unstable power grids. These power converters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both The United Kingdom 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 most popular compact option for travellers originating from America visiting The United Kingdom using type B plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico is also aimed at travellers from America using type B plugs and is a much cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with only 1 less AC outlet for almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 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 most travellers from around the world visiting The United Kingdom. [6] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for the iPhone 5 in The United Kingdom?

How to use a Type G power charger for recharging your iPhone 5 from a UK power outlet

A step by step guide showing how to recharge your iPhone 5 with a UK power outlet with a Lightning Apple cable and a Type G power adapter.

  1. In order to supply power to your iPhone 5 from a UK power outlet you will need to use a Type G USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple usually supply the cable when you buy your iPhone 5).
  2. Plug the Type G USB power plug adapter into the power supply. The power supply, technically known as a Type G power outlet [3], can be identified by 3 vertical rectangular slots forming a triangular configuration.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 Lightning connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 5 under the home button.
  4. Switch on the UK power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your cellphone will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone 5 is charging, typically taking between one to four hours to fully recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type G power charger for recharging your iPhone 5 from a UK power outlet

SIM cards in the UK

What is the best free SIM plan for your iPhone 5 in the United Kingdom?

If you are travelling and need to use the iPhone 5 abroad then you should consider using a free local SIM in the UK to avoid paying excessive roaming costs from your own network.

The data charges incurred with international roaming can inadvertently add hundreds to a cell phone bill unless data roaming is switched off, Wi-Fi is used or data is capped. Wi-Fi hotspots in the UK cost an average of £5 per session, therefore ordering a prepaid SIM card loaded with £5 credit provides better value which can last for the duration of trip to the UK providing that data use is light.

There are 15 local mobile network providers in the UK which offer free SIM only deals online, this list of mobile providers in the UK highlights their best value deals and links directly to their SIM card ordering page:

  • O2 will send free pay and go SIM cards with prepaid £10 top ups.
  • LycaMobile can either send a free SIM without credit or the option to pay for a preloaded SIM which includes additional free credit. LycaMobile also offers £15 of free credit when transferring an existing number.
  • Vodafone offer free SIM deals with plans from only £10 per month.
  • Asda Mobile will send you a standard, micro and nano SIM card for free and offer bundles from £5 per month.
  • BT Mobile have contracts from £5 per month for their 4G data including access to their national BT WiFi, choose between a free full sized, micro or nano SIM.
  • giffgaff start with preloaded SIM cards from just £5 along with PAYG plans and also offer free calls and text between other giffgaff customers.
  • Three Mobile free SIM cards are suitable for using 4G without committing to a monthly contract.
  • Virgin Mobile Pay As You Go SIM cards offer two simple pay as you go tariffs aimed towards either heavy calls or heavy data and text usage.
  • Talkmobile offer three different sizes of free SIM cards with the option to include top up amounts as well as longer 30 day and 12 month SIM only plans.
  • Tesco Mobile send up to 4 SIM cards per UK address and offer to triple credit when ordering.
  • Lebara Mobile will supply a free SIM card, order online and credit with a minimum of £5 top up.
  • Pebble Mobile free SIM cards are the only consumer network with national roaming and inclusive EU roaming plans.
  • FreedomPop is a UK mobile provider offering one of the best SIM only deals for the iPhone 5 in the UK with 4G data, text and talk time. Their basic service includes a SIM card with free 200mb of data with 200 minutes and text messages every month; users can then opt to pay for additional data or switch to a paid plan as their demands grow. FreedomPop also offers a premium free SIM only card for the iPhone 5 and are offering a one month of free trial of 1GB of data, 1000 minutes and text messages before paying an £8.95 monthly top-up with no contract or cancellation fees.

Some providers may only ship free SIM cards to UK residential or business addresses, so if you are staying in a hotel in the UK we suggest that your free SIM is delivered to a work, family or friends postal address.

You can also purchase prepaid Pay As You Go SIM cards at most UK newsagents and supermarkets, however you won´t be able to take advantage of the heavily discounted online offers. Most towns and cities in the UK have high street mobile phone stores which sell SIM cards promoting their own network at a much higher cost and will also encourage shoppers to take out a long term monthly contract.

Please be aware if you are flying to a UK airport some arrival halls will sell preloaded SIM cards at highly inflated prices. Instead we recommend taking advantage of any available free airport WiFi until a suitable SIM card can be obtained once outside the airport.

Best free SIM only contracts for the iPhone 5 for the UK

For extended trips to the UK there are 4 providers which won´t ship free PAYG cards but still offer monthly SIM plans online:

  • iD Mobile have capped SIM only contracts from just £4 per month and offer data rollover with all GoTo contracts.
  • TalkTalk have SIM plans starting from less than £4 per month.
  • Truphone will send prepaid SIM cards with auto top-up and the ability to add local US and Australian numbers alongside a local UK number.
  • EE are a newly formed mobile network in the UK formally comprised of T-Mobile and Orange.

Using a free SIM with a locked iPhone 5

If you do change network carriers you will need to ensure you´re using an unlocked iPhone 5 prior to inserting another SIM. If your iPhone 5 was locked when purchased you should be able to request to your existing cell phone carrier to unlock it for a small charge, use a high street mobile phone unlocking service or look for instructions online on how to unlock the iPhone 5 yourself. Note that the cost of unlocking the phone is likely to be significantly cheaper than using paying roaming charges.

See also

  1. Wikipedia - UK country Wiki page
  2. Apple - official iPhone user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type G power outlet
  4. Type G USB power plug adapter - Suitable for use in England, Ireland, and Scotland, a grounded three pin Type G adapter turns UK electrical power outlets into USB ports for reliable 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. 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..