Apple’s iPhone 17 family supports significantly faster wired charging speeds. They can top up to 50% in just 20 minutes — 10 minutes faster than previous iPhones.
However, the speed improvements only apply to the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. The iPhone Air only supports 20W charging speeds.
Apple finally speeds up iPhone 17 charging
Apple talked about the longer battery life of the new iPhones during its “Awe Dropping” event, but longer times between recharges is only one part of the equation — fast charging speeds are also equally important. And Apple has considerably improved the iPhone’s wired charging speeds.
With the iPhone X in 2017, Apple promised 50% of battery juice with just 30 minutes of charging. For years, the timing remained unchanged, although newer models packed bigger batteries.
The iPhone 17 family changes that, bringing a notable reduction in the 0-50% time. Instead of 30 minutes, you can top up the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro from a nearly empty cell to 50% in 20 minutes. A 10-minute reduction might not seem like much on paper, but it will have major real-world benefits.
Due to its thin design and the danger of overheating, the iPhone Air is limited to 20W charging speeds and can top up its cell from 0-50% in 30 minutes.
To enjoy such charging speeds, Apple recommends using a 40W power adapter. Otherwise, with a 30W brick, the phones will only top up to 50% from an empty cell in 30 minutes.
Wireless charging speeds also remain unchanged, with the phones charging to 50% in 30 minutes with a 30W MagSafe charger.
New thermal design helps with faster charging speeds
The new iPhones appear to sustain higher 40W charging for longer on an empty battery compared to previous models. Apple’s revamped thermal architecture likely plays a key role here, improving heat dissipation to keep charging speeds consistent.
While not mentioned, the time taken for a full charge should also see a reduction. However, don’t expect radical improvements, as Apple tends to significantly slow down charging speeds once the battery level reaches 80%.
Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple’s products and ecosystem.
