What's the fastest charging speed your iPad or iPhone port can handle?
Apple's latest iPhones and iPads support charging from 20 to 60 watts, but the included chargers are often too slow to take advantage of these speeds.
To get the most out of your iPhone or iPad's battery, it's crucial to know the maximum charging speed your device supports. Apple rarely lists these specifications on its spec sheets, and with new models no longer including a charger, many users are stuck with slow chargers from older devices.
Battery capacity is measured in milliamp-hours (mAh). For instance, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has 5,088mAh, while the base iPhone 17 has 3,692mAh. The 11th-generation iPad has 7,698mAh, and the 13-inch M5 iPad Pro packs 10,290mAh.
Charging speed is measured in watts. The latest iPhones—the iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max—support up to 40W, while the thinner iPhone Air tops out at 20W. Tablets are more powerful: the 2025 base iPad reaches 45W, and the M5 iPad Pro can charge at up to 60W.
The problem is that Apple stopped including chargers with iPhones. The last bundled charger was a 5W brick with the iPhone 11 or an 18W unit with the iPhone 11 Pro. iPads still come with a charger, but it's only a 20W unit—far too weak to fully utilize the tablet's potential. This means many users waste hours waiting for their devices to charge.
To achieve maximum speed, it's recommended to buy a compatible charger—either from Apple or third-party manufacturers like Anker, Ugreen, or Satechi. The key is to ensure the charger's maximum output is at least equal to what your phone or tablet supports.
