Buying a charger for an iPhone comes down to two questions: which cable fits your phone, and how much power you need. This guide covers every iPhone from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone 17 series.
Quick answer
| Your iPhone | Port | Cable you need | Charger for fast charging |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 8 to iPhone 14, including SE (2nd and 3rd generation) | Lightning | USB-C to Lightning | 20W USB-C PD or higher |
| iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 series | USB-C | USB-C to USB-C | 20W USB-C PD or higher |
| iPhone 17 series and iPhone Air | USB-C | USB-C to USB-C | 20W works; higher wattage charges the iPhone 17 models faster |
What fast charging needs
iPhone fast charging needs two things: a USB-C charger with Power Delivery (PD) rated 18W or higher, and a USB-C cable. With a 20W adapter, Apple quotes up to 50% in around 30 minutes for iPhone 17e and iPhone Air; other recent models have their own times (see below). An old USB-A cube (5W or 12W) with a USB-A cable still works, but charges at normal speed.
If you still use a USB-A charger with a Lightning iPhone, you need the USB-A to Lightning cable. For fast charging, switch to a USB-C charger and cable.
20W, 30W or more?
- 20W is enough to fast charge every iPhone from iPhone 8 onwards.
- 30W gives headroom: newer Pro Max models can draw a little more than 20W, and it also charges iPad and MacBook Air.
- iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro models charge faster with higher-wattage USB-C PD chargers. Apple quotes up to 50% in around 20 minutes for iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max with a 40W or higher adapter, and around 15 minutes for iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max with its 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max.
- 45W and above suits people who also charge a laptop or iPad from the same charger.
For a side-by-side comparison of Apple's own adapters, read Apple 20W vs 30W charger.
Is a bigger charger safe for my iPhone?
Yes. A USB-C PD charger only supplies what the phone asks for, so a 30W or 45W charger will not overload an iPhone. The iPhone draws what it can use and the charger adjusts.
Don't forget the cable
A poor cable can hold back a good charger. Use a USB-C to Lightning or USB-C to USB-C cable rated for fast charging. For laptops that draw 100W or more, you need a cable rated for that power, such as a 240W USB-C cable.
Our picks
20W chargers
- Apple 20W, open packaging or box packed
- Anker Zolo 20W, box packed
- Anker PowerPort III Nano 20W, pre-loved
30W chargers
- Apple 30W, without box
- Anker 30W USB-C PD charger, box packed
- Anker 511 Nano 3 30W, pre-loved
45W chargers
- Belkin BoostCharge 45W, box packed
- Anker Nano 45W
Cables
- Apple USB-C to Lightning for iPhone 8 to 14
- Apple USB-C to USB-C for iPhone 15 and later (240W version available)
- Apple USB-A to Lightning for older USB-A chargers
Buying an Apple charger? Here is how to check it is original.