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The power adapters included with your Apple devices—or the recommended chargers for iPhones—often don’t deliver the fastest charging speeds. Investing in a higher-capacity charger can significantly reduce charging times.
However, each Apple device has its own maximum charging capacity, and purchasing a charger that exceeds this limit isn’t cost-effective. Most recent Apple products come with a charger, except for iPhones, but these included chargers may not be the best match for the device’s full charging potential. Typically, Apple provides a charger with a lower wattage than what the device can handle, which limits its charging speed.
For example, the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro comes with a 20-watt charger, even though the device can accept up to 35 watts. Upgrading to a more powerful charger can nearly double the charging speed.
For guidance on selecting the optimal charger for each Apple device, resources like Rands in Repose offer detailed tables that specify the recommended charging wattage and protocols, especially for fast-charging phases. It’s important to note that the most rapid charging occurs within the first 0 to 50% of battery capacity, as devices tend to slow down their charging rate after reaching 50%, and from 80% onwards, they switch to a trickle charge to preserve battery health.
Interestingly, with the newer Apple Watch models, the cable used can impact charging speed more than the power adapter itself. For example, the Series 11 and Ultra 2 can reach 80% charge in 30–45 minutes, but only when using the Apple USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable paired with any USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) compatible power adapter (5W or higher). Using the wrong cable can reduce charging efficiency by roughly half.
Lastly, the charge capacity of AirPods cases is so minimal that the type of charger used has little to no effect on charging speed or efficiency.
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