For an iPhone 18 Pro or 18 Pro Max, buy Apple’s 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max ($39 at Apple). It is the adapter Apple used when it timed the phone at 50 percent in about 15 minutes. The same $39 plug gives the iPhone Duo and iPhone 17 their fastest wired charge too.
For an iPhone 17e, iPhone Air or iPhone 16, Apple’s $19 20W USB-C Power Adapter is enough, because Apple’s fastest wired figure for those phones needs only “20W adapter or higher.”
For wireless charging, Apple’s MagSafe Charger ($39) charges at up to 25 watts (W) when it is paired with a 30W or stronger wall plug. The 40W adapter clears that bar.
Prices are Apple’s own, read from its US store on October 21, 2026. No iPhone in Apple’s current line-up comes with a wall plug; the box includes a 1-meter USB-C cable and no adapter.
The charger each iPhone needs, model by model
Wired means a USB-C cable from a wall plug, and MagSafe means Apple’s magnetic wireless charger. Every figure is Apple’s own claim.
| iPhone | Fastest wired charge | Wall plug Apple names (wired) | Fastest MagSafe charge | Wall plug Apple names (MagSafe) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max | 50% in around 15 minutes | 60W-capable, with AVS (Adjustable Voltage Supply) | Up to 25W, 50% in 30 minutes | 35W or higher on the spec and fast-charge pages, 30W or greater on the MagSafe help page |
| iPhone Duo | 50% in around 20 minutes | 60W-capable | Up to 25W, 50% in around 30 minutes | 35W or higher |
| iPhone 17 | 50% in 20 minutes | 40W or higher | Up to 25W, 50% in 30 minutes | 30W or higher |
| iPhone 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max | 50% in around 20 minutes | 40W or higher | Up to 25W | 30W or greater |
| iPhone Air | 50% in 30 minutes | 20W or higher | Up to 20W, 50% in 30 minutes | 30W or higher |
| iPhone 17e | 50% in 30 minutes | 20W or higher | Up to 15W | 20W or higher |
| iPhone 16 | 50% in 30 minutes | 20W or higher | Up to 25W on the spec page; the MagSafe help page gives 22.5W peak for the 16 and 16 Pro, 25W for the 16 Plus and 16 Pro Max | 30W or higher |
| iPhone 15 and earlier | Not timed on the fast-charge help page | 18W or greater, or a third-party USB-PD charger | Up to 15W (iPhone 12 mini and 13 mini: up to 12W) | 20W or greater |
Phones without MagSafe, such as the iPhone 16e, iPhone 11 models and iPhone 8, charge more slowly on a MagSafe Charger, which Apple’s MagSafe Charger page puts at “up to 7.5W for iPhone 8 or later with Qi.”
USB-PD is short for USB Power Delivery, the USB-C charging standard Apple’s help page tells you to look for on a third-party charger. The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max row comes from Apple’s two help pages, the fast-charge page and the MagSafe page, which both still list those phones.
Two rows carry a split figure because Apple’s pages disagree. For the iPhone 18 Pro on MagSafe, the spec page asks for a “35W adapter or higher” and the fast-charge help page for a “35W or higher adapter,” while the MagSafe help page lists the 18 Pro among phones that reach 25W with a “30W or greater power adapter.” For the iPhone 16, the spec page says “MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W,” and the help page says the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro “will achieve 22.5W peak power.” Buying a 35W or bigger plug settles the first question either way.
Best for most iPhones: Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter
This is the plug Apple tested its newest phones with. The footnotes on the iPhone 18 Pro, Duo and 17 spec pages all name the “Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max (Model A3351).”
The name sounds odd. Apple says the adapter is designed to “dynamically deliver up to 60W of output.” It also has the feature the iPhone 18 Pro asks for: “This power adapter also features Adjustable Voltage Supply (AVS), which precisely adjusts voltage for a more efficient charge.”
Apple’s product page lists the times it gives with each phone: iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max “up to 50 percent charge in around 15 minutes,” iPhone Duo “around 20 minutes,” iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max “20 minutes,” and iPhone Air “30 minutes.” Each time is to 50 percent from a drained phone, measured by Apple on preproduction units.
The box holds only the adapter; Apple says the charging cable is sold separately. At $39, it costs the same as Apple’s MagSafe Charger.
If your iPhone tops out at 20W: Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter
The iPhone 17e, iPhone Air and iPhone 16 reach their fastest wired charge, 50 percent in 30 minutes, with a “20W adapter or higher.” The footnotes behind those times on the 17e and Air spec pages name this exact plug, the “Apple 20W USB‑C Power Adapter (Model A2305),” as the one used in testing. Apple’s fast-charge help page lists the Air among phones it tested with the 40W adapter, and the 40W product page also gives the Air 30 minutes, so the bigger plug adds no wired speed there.
It costs $19 at Apple. Apple’s product page says to “Pair it with iPhone 8 or later for fast charging,” with a time of “up to 50 percent battery in around 35 minutes.” That 35-minute figure is the adapter page’s own; the 17e, Air and 16 spec pages say 30 minutes.
Skip this one if you own, or plan to buy, an iPhone 17, 18 Pro or Duo, or if you want MagSafe at full speed. Those want 30W to 60W, per the table above. For $20 more, the 40W adapter covers those phones as well.
For wireless: Apple MagSafe Charger
Apple’s current MagSafe Charger is “certified for Qi2 25W and Qi charging” and gives “faster wireless charging up to 25W when paired with a 30W power adapter.” The 1-meter version costs $39 at Apple, and a 2-meter version is also sold. No wall plug is in the box, only the charger and its built-in USB-C cable.
The wall plug decides the speed. Apple’s help page sets the bar for 25W at a “30W or greater power adapter” rated at “15V/2.0A or higher,” and says higher-wattage plugs at or above 15V/2.0A also top out at 25W. The 25W tier also needs a newer MagSafe Charger, which Apple identifies by the part number “on the device or its cable”: A3502, A3503, A2580 or A3250. The original A2140 charger is listed only for the 15W tier. On a 20W plug, Apple’s MagSafe Charger page promises “fast wireless charging up to 15W for iPhone 12 or later.” The iPhone 18 Pro’s spec page asks for 35W, as noted above, so the 40W adapter is the safe pairing.
Three limits from Apple’s help page are worth knowing:
- The iPhone Air peaks at 20W. The iPhone 17e and iPhone 15 and earlier top out at 15W, and the iPhone 12 mini and 13 mini at 12W.
- With USB-C accessories such as wired headphones plugged in, an iPhone 18 Pro is limited to 16W on MagSafe.
- If the phone is on MagSafe and plugged into a cable at the same time, it “will charge via the connector.”
Wireless is slower than a cable on the newest phones. The iPhone 18 Pro reaches 50 percent in about 15 minutes wired and in 30 minutes on MagSafe. GSMArena tried Apple’s 25W charger on the 18 Pro Max and confirmed “the phone reached 50% in 30 minutes.”
If you charge a phone, a watch and earbuds on one nightstand, a 3-in-1 stand may suit you better than a single puck; the 3-in-1 charger guide covers those.
Do you need an AVS charger for the iPhone 18 Pro?
AVS is part of the USB Power Delivery specification, LTT Labs notes, not a proprietary Apple mode. Apple says it “precisely adjusts voltage for a more efficient charge.” Apple’s footnote for the 18 Pro reads: wired fast charge is supported with a “60W-capable USB‑C cable and USB PD 3.1 (or better) power adapters with Adjustable Voltage Supply (AVS).” Apple’s fast-charge help page words it as a “third-party 60W-capable (or greater) adapter that uses Adjustable Voltage Supply (AVS) and supports USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) 3.2”. The help page names version 3.2 in its instructions, but its own testing footnote says “USB PD 3.1 (or better),” the same as the spec page.
So that is Apple’s condition for its 15-minute number. One independent test compared an AVS charger with one that lacks it, and a second checked Apple’s time with a third-party AVS charger.
LTT Labs compared Apple’s 40W adapter with a UGREEN Nexode 140W charger that does not offer AVS. It wrote that it was “able to achieve effectively the same speed using a power adapter that doesn’t support SPR AVS,” and that the AVS adapter “was slightly faster, it was only by a minute or two.” Its explanation: without AVS, the phone falls back to a 15-volt, 3-amp mode that LTT says “should be supported by all modern chargers of sufficient capacity(45 W).” LTT measured “a negligible difference for the iPhone 18 Pro, and a very minor speedup for the iPhone 18 Pro Max.” On the Pro Max, LTT explains, AVS charging already runs near the 3-amp maximum, so at 15 volts the phone gets less total power.
GSMArena tested with a Google 67W charger, which it describes as a “dual-port PD/AVS charger” that “supports the same charging standards as Apple’s adapter.” Its 18 Pro review names it as the Pixel Flex Dual Port 67W USB-C Fast Charger. The 18 Pro Max hit 50 percent in 15 minutes and 81 percent in 30. The smaller 18 Pro reached 42 percent at 15 minutes; GSMArena wrote, “we weren’t able to get to 50% in 15 minutes.” Both reviews tested phones with a physical SIM card; GSMArena lists a larger battery for the eSIM-only Pro Max (5,567mAh against 5,391mAh for the nano-SIM model it reviewed).
What that means for you: LTT’s rule of thumb is that “As long as you’re using a charger capable of 40-50 W output power, the USB PD version won’t significantly hold you back.” That rests on one AVS charger and one non-AVS charger, tested on the two Pro phones. If you are buying a new plug anyway, an AVS one costs nothing extra in Apple’s case, since the 40W adapter has it.
The iPhone Duo is different. Its spec page asks for a “60W-capable adapter or higher,” and its footnote asks only for “USB PD power adapters,” with no AVS named.
Other chargers whose makers say they have AVS
Two other makers state AVS on their own sites. Both are alternatives if you want a second port or a lower price.
Google Pixel Flex Dual Port 67W USB-C Fast Charger. Google’s spec sheet lists “AVS: 9-15V/4A, 15-20V/3.35A max 67W” on both of its USB-C ports. With one device plugged in, either port gives up to 67W; with two, one port can give up to 60W, and the two share 67.5W in total. GSMArena named it as the charger for its iPhone 18 Pro test above. Google’s store listed it at $59.99 on October 21, 2026.
Anker Nano Charger Neo. Anker’s own charger guide says this one “pushes up to 65W with AVS.” Its product page does not use the word AVS. It lists “Dynamic 45W - 65W Fast Charging” and an Anker claim that it charges an “iPhone 18 Pro Max to 80% in 32 minutes.” Anker also notes that “the actual charging power is determined by the connected device.” Anker’s store listed it at $25.99 on October 21, 2026.
If a charger’s spec sheet does not mention AVS, LTT’s test suggests a USB-C charger of about 45W or more still gets close; LTT says the 15-volt, 3-amp fallback mode needs that much. Anker, which sells AVS chargers, says the opposite in its guide: older adapters without AVS support “will not reach the 0–50% speed Apple advertises.” Anker’s guide reports no side-by-side test of that claim; LTT timed both kinds of charger and found a gap of a minute or two.
Will your MacBook charger work?
Yes, it will charge the phone. Anker’s guide says “Any USB-C PD charger will power the iPhone 18 Pro.” Whether a laptop plug gets the very fastest speed is the open question.
Apple’s store pages for its 70W, 96W and 140W USB-C Power Adapters describe them as MacBook chargers and say nothing about AVS or iPhone charging times. Of the Apple adapter pages checked for this guide (20W, 40W, 70W, 96W and 140W), only the 40W page mentions AVS. LTT Labs’ non-AVS test charger was itself a 140W unit, from UGREEN, and it came within a minute or two of Apple’s 40W. No test covers Apple’s own MacBook adapters, but by LTT’s measure a laptop plug of 45W or more should come close to the $39 one. A smaller laptop plug falls under the 45W that LTT says the fallback mode needs.
Do you need a new cable?
Probably not. For the iPhone 18 Pro’s 15-minute time, Apple’s help page says to “use the USB-C cable that came in the box.” If you need a spare, Apple’s 60W USB-C Charge Cable (1 m) costs $19 at Apple and “supports charging of up to 60 watts.” That 60W rating matches the “60W-capable” cable Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro footnote asks for. For an iPhone 14 or earlier, which has a Lightning port, Apple’s help page says to “use a USB-C to Lightning cable” with these USB-C plugs.
Why the 30W adapter is not a pick
Apple’s MagSafe Charger page still recommends Apple’s 30W USB-C Power Adapter for 25W charging. On October 21, 2026, Apple’s US store search for power adapters listed 18 products and no Apple-made 30W adapter, and the old 30W product link sent shoppers to a search page. The 40W adapter meets the 30W bar and the 18 Pro’s 35W bar, for $39.
Questions people ask
Does the iPhone 18 Pro come with a charger? No. The box holds the phone and a 1-meter USB-C Charge Cable.
Will an old 20W charger work on an iPhone 18 Pro? Yes, it will charge, just more slowly. Apple says its 15-minute time needs a 60W-capable plug. Anker’s guide says a 20W or 30W charger “will charge the phone safely but more slowly during the initial burst.”
Is the iPhone 18 Pro charger different from the iPhone 17 charger? The port is the same USB-C. What changed is Apple’s fast-charge condition: the iPhone 17 hits 50 percent in 20 minutes with a 40W adapter, while Apple ties the iPhone 18 Pro’s 15-minute time to a 60W-capable adapter with AVS. Apple’s 40W Dynamic Power Adapter meets both.
Does fast charging work when it is cold or hot? Apple says, “Fast charging might not work in conditions that are too cold or too hot.”
Which iPhone should I buy? That is a separate question, and the iPhone buying guide compares every model Apple sells. For a battery to carry, see the MagSafe power bank guide.
Sources (22)
- apple.com iPhone 18 Pro tech specs
- apple.com iPhone Duo tech specs
- apple.com iPhone 17 tech specs
- apple.com iPhone Air tech specs
- apple.com iPhone 17e tech specs
- apple.com iPhone 16 tech specs
- support.apple.com Apple Support: Fast charge your iPhone
- support.apple.com Apple Support: How to use your MagSafe Charger with iPhone
- apple.com 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max
- apple.com 20W USB-C Power Adapter
- apple.com MagSafe Charger (1 m)
- apple.com 60W USB-C Charge Cable (1 m)
- apple.com 70W USB-C Power Adapter
- apple.com 96W USB-C Power Adapter
- apple.com 140W USB-C Power Adapter
- apple.com Apple Store: power adapter search results
- lttlabs.com Your iPhone 18 Pro Doesn't Need a New Charger
- gsmarena.com iPhone 18 Pro Max review
- gsmarena.com iPhone 18 Pro review
- store.google.com Google Store: Pixel Flex Dual Port 67W USB-C Fast Charger
- anker.com Nano Charger Neo
- anker.com iPhone 18 Pro Charger Guide
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