No matter which Phone you have, you’re probably all too familiar with the dinky 5W adapter that takes hours to fully charge your phone’s battery. The good news is that you can power up in less than half the usual time with the right fast charger. PCMag has been writing about phones for over 30 years, so you can trust that we know what you need to get the best charging experience. All our picks below will help your iPhone reach a full charge as quickly as the laws of physics will allow, so all you have to do is choose the one that best fits your budget, needs, and style. If you aren’t sure exactly where to start, scroll to the end for a detailed rundown of everything to remember while you shop.
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Apple’s new-for-2024 MagSafe charger is a nice step up in terms of speed. When paired with a 30W charging brick, it supports wireless charging speeds of up to 25W—the fastest ever for the iPhone. It also supports Qi2 charging at 15W and Qi charging at 7.5W. And because it’s MagSafe, it magnetically adheres to the back of your iPhone.
Best for Compatibility
Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter
Apple’s 20W USB-C Adapter is understated, relatively affordable, and guaranteed to work well with your iPhone. Apple sells it as a standalone item, so you might need to pick up a cable separately depending on which iPhone you have.
Best for Charging on the Go
Anker 511 Charger (Nano Pro)
Looking for a fast, inexpensive iPhone charger that easily fits in your pocket or bag? This 20W model is much smaller than Apple’s official accessory and recharges your iPhone in a hurry. It also comes in fun colors, like pink, purple, and blue.
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Best 45W Charger
We know this seems like a strange pick, but we firmly believe Google’s power adapter is a good choice for iPhone owners. Aside from its affordable price, the charger has a premium build quality and supports maximum charging speeds of up to 45W. It’s a good all-around power adapter for iPhones and iPads, plus it can deliver the fastest charging speeds for iPhone 16 Pro Max owners.
Best for Tight Spaces
Belkin BoostCharge Compact 30W Charger
With a maximum output of 30W, this Belkin adapter can quickly charge any iPhone. It’s also small, which makes it a good choice for those hard-to-use outlets behind nightstands and desks.
Does Your iPhone Support Fast Charging?
iPhones have long supported faster charging with a 12W iPad adapter. Apple later improved on that rate by introducing fast charging via USB Power Delivery (PD) with the release of the iPhone 8 in 2017. Newer models, such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16, officially support 20W charging, but we’ve tested some models at speeds up to 27W.
Apple stopped including power adapters with iPhones in 2020, so you need to either use an old (and potentially slow) power brick you already have or buy a new one from our list.
What You Need for Fast Charging Your iPhone
Keep a few things in mind when shopping for a fast charger. First and foremost, you need to make sure it supports PD. An adapter with a USB-C port is also essential.
Because Apple only began shipping USB-C-to-Lightning cables with the iPhone 12 in 2020, people with older phones likely need to buy one from Apple or a trusted third party to get the fastest charging speeds. This is an area where you don’t want to skimp, as we’ve seen some unintended consequences from using off-brand cables. For most people, Apple’s USB-C-to-Lightning cable (starting at $19) does the trick, but we also like some cables from reputable brands such as Native Union and Nomad. Every iPhone 16 comes with a braided USB-C-to-USB-C charging cable to match its USB-C port.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
Next, take time to assess your needs. Do you frequently charge multiple devices simultaneously? If so, buying a charger with several ports probably makes sense. When multiple ports are in the mix, it’s important to check the adapter’s total power output and each port’s power output. Watch out for underpowered ports that lead to longer charge times.
Should You Buy a GaN Charger?
The majority of chargers on the market use silicon semiconductors. Gallium nitride (GaN) is an alternative to silicon that offers a lot of benefits: GaN chargers are smaller, more efficient, and require fewer components than silicon chargers. They’re also more expensive. Ultimately, traditional silicon chargers are fine for most people. However, if you’re looking for the absolute slimmest option on the market, it’s likely to be a GaN charger.
What About Wireless and MagSafe iPhone Charging?
If your nightstand is cluttered with AirPod, Apple Watch, and iPhone cables, it’s time to streamline your power routine with a wireless charging pad. We assembled a list of our favorite wireless charging stations for Apple products, with phone-only and multi-device options at various prices.
(Credit: Belkin/PCMag)
iPhone 12 and newer models also offer MagSafe as a faster alternative to Qi wireless charging. MagSafe allows you to wirelessly charge your device at up to 15W. Check out our favorite MagSafe chargers, but remember that you won’t get the same speeds as with a wired charger and the right adapter.
Dave LeClair and Steven Winkelman contributed to this article.
