The best charger for your phone is a USB-C Power Delivery (USB PD) charger rated at or slightly above your phone’s maximum wired speed, from the phone maker or a known brand. In practice: 20W or more for most iPhones, 40W for the iPhone 17 series, a 60W-capable adapter for iPhone 18 Pro, 25W PPS for a Galaxy S26, 45W PPS for the S26+ and 60W PPS for the S26 Ultra, and 30W or more PPS for recent Pixels. A bigger charger will not damage the phone, because the phone only draws what it supports, but a fake one can.
Last checked: 20 October 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
How many watts charger for iPhone and Samsung? Quick table
This is what each maker says you need for full fast-charging speed. Lower-wattage chargers still work, just slower.
| Phone | Charger for top wired speed | What the maker promises |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max | 60W-capable USB-C (USB PD 3.2 with AVS), e.g. Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max | About 50% in around 15 minutes |
| iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max | 40W or higher USB-C | About 50% in around 20 minutes |
| iPhone 17e, iPhone Air | 20W or higher USB-C | About 50% in around 30 minutes |
| iPhone 15, iPhone 16 | Apple 18W or greater USB-C, or any USB PD adapter | Fast charge |
| Galaxy S26 | 25W USB PD with PPS | 25W wired |
| Galaxy S26+ | 45W USB PD with PPS | 45W wired |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 60W single port, USB PD 3.0/3.1 with PPS, 5A cable | 60W, about 1% to 80% in 30 minutes (reported) |
| Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 10 and 11 series | PPS adapter rated 30W or more | “Up to 30W or more” |
Sources: Apple: Fast charge your iPhone, Android Central: Galaxy S26 charging speeds, SamMobile: charging the S26 Ultra at 60W, Google Pixel Help: charging.
USB-C PD charger basics: PD, PPS and watts in plain words
USB Power Delivery (PD)
USB PD is the USB-IF standard that lets a charger and phone agree on a voltage and current over a USB-C cable. Before 2021 it topped out at 100W; Revision 3.1 raised the ceiling to 240W using 28V, 36V and 48V levels for laptops and bigger devices (USB-IF: USB Charger (USB Power Delivery)). Every recent iPhone, Galaxy and Pixel speaks PD.
PPS (Programmable Power Supply)
PPS is a part of USB PD that adjusts voltage in small steps while charging. Samsung’s “Super Fast Charging” and Google’s fastest Pixel charging both need PPS. A PD charger without PPS will still charge a Galaxy or Pixel, but at a lower speed. Look for “PPS” printed on the charger or listed in its specifications.
Apple’s AVS
For iPhone 18 Pro, Apple says a third-party adapter must support USB PD 3.2 with Adjustable Voltage Supply (AVS) to reach full speed. Older PD chargers still work, just slower.
Why more watts will not hurt your phone
A 65W laptop charger will not push 65W into a phone. The phone and charger negotiate, and the phone takes only what it is designed for. The risk is not high wattage, it is a badly built charger that ignores the rules.
How to choose the best charger for your phone: 6 checks
- Find your phone’s maximum wired speed on the maker’s spec page or the table above.
- Buy USB-C PD, with PPS if you use Samsung or Pixel. Avoid USB-A “quick charge” bricks for modern phones.
- Match or slightly exceed the wattage from one port. On multi-port chargers, the total is shared. A “65W” two-port charger may give only 45W to one port when a second device is plugged in.
- Use the right cable. For 60W and above, use a cable rated for 5A, as SamMobile notes for the S26 Ultra. Google says USB-C to USB-C charges faster than USB-A to USB-C.
- Check safety markings and the seller. Buy from the phone maker, an authorised distributor or a known accessory brand with a working warranty.
- Consider GaN only for size. GaN chargers are smaller and run cooler for the same wattage. GaN itself does not make a phone charge faster.
Fast charger safety and how to avoid fake chargers
Fake and unsafe chargers are a real problem worldwide. In June 2026, the UK consumer group Which? bought 15 USB phone chargers from online marketplaces and found nine were so poorly made they risked electric shock, eight posed fire or explosion risks, and all 15 lacked legally required information. One fake “Apple” charger was weighted with modelling clay to feel genuine (Irish News / PA report on the Which? test).
Warning signs of a fake or unsafe charger:
- Price far below the official one for a “branded” charger.
- Missing or misspelled brand name, model number, rated input/output or importer details.
- No PD or PPS rating printed, only a big wattage number.
- Pins that feel loose, a casing with uneven gaps, or a charger that gets too hot to hold.
- Your phone shows a warning such as Pixel’s “Check charging accessory”, or charges slower than normal.
Look for recognised safety marks for your country (for example CE and UKCA in Europe and the UK, or UL/ETL listings in North America) and, where offered, USB-IF certification. Marks can be faked too, so the seller matters as much as the logo.
Wireless and MagSafe chargers
Wireless is convenient but slower and warmer. Apple says MagSafe fast charging on iPhone 16, 17 and Air needs a MagSafe Charger plus a 30W or greater USB-C adapter, while iPhone 18 Pro can reach about 50% in 30 minutes with a 35W or higher adapter. iPhone 15 and earlier charge wirelessly at up to 15W with a 20W adapter. Google says Pixel 10 and later (except the 10a) support Qi2 magnetic charging, while older Qi chargers run them at up to 5W.
Pakistan buying note
In Pakistan, buy chargers from the brand’s official online store, authorised distributors or large retailers that give a written warranty. Keep the receipt. A charger sold as “original” in a plain bag or at a fraction of the official price is very likely a copy. If you are importing a phone, the charger is usually the cheaper part of the bill; check the phone’s tax first on our PTA tax calculator or the iPhone PTA tax by model page. For a charger bought abroad, read the input line printed on it: “100-240V” means it works on Pakistani mains with a simple plug adapter.
Buying a second-hand iPhone? Battery health matters more than the charger, so follow our used iPhone checklist, and read about JV iPhones before you pay.
Common mistakes
- Buying a “100W” multi-port charger and expecting 100W from each port.
- Using an old USB-A cable with a new USB-C charger.
- Charging under a pillow or on a car dashboard in summer. Google advises keeping the phone cool with air around it.
- Assuming the phone is broken when fast charging stops in heat. Apple notes fast charging may not work when it is too hot or too cold.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a Samsung charger on an iPhone?
Yes, if it is a USB-C PD charger. iPhones with USB-C accept any compliant USB PD adapter.
Will a 65W charger damage my phone?
No, a genuine USB PD charger only supplies what the phone requests. Fake chargers are the risk, not wattage.
What is the best charger for iPhone 17 Pro Max?
A USB-C PD adapter of 40W or more. Apple says that reaches about 50% in around 20 minutes.
Do I need a PPS charger for Samsung?
For Super Fast Charging, yes. A non-PPS PD charger still works, at lower speed.
Is GaN better than a normal charger?
GaN chargers are smaller and run cooler for the same power. Charging speed depends on wattage and PD/PPS support, not GaN.
Why does my phone charge slowly with a fast charger?
Check the cable, try a single port, remove thick cases for wireless charging, and let the phone cool. Heat makes phones slow charging on purpose.
