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01Which Galaxy phones can use 45W
The 25W vs 45W Samsung charger choice depends entirely on your phone. Only Galaxy models with Super Fast Charging 2.0 can draw 45W. Every other Galaxy caps at 25W, so a 45W brick charges it at the same speed as Samsung's 25W one.
| Galaxy model | Wired max | Does 45W help? |
|---|---|---|
| S26 Ultra | 60W | Yes, and 60W helps more |
| S26+ | 45W | Yes |
| S26 | 25W | No |
| S25 Ultra, S25+ | 45W | Yes |
| S25, S25 Edge | 25W | No |
| S22, S23, S24 Ultra and Plus | 45W | Yes |
| Base S22, S23, S24 | 25W | No |
| Z Fold7 and Z Flip models | 25W | No |
Own an S26 Ultra? It skips straight past this debate. It supports 60W Super Fast Charging 3.0, so a 65W PPS charger is the one to buy. Our Galaxy S26 Ultra charger guide covers it.
02How much time 45W really saves
Less than the numbers suggest. A Galaxy only holds its peak wattage for a short burst near the start of a charge, then steps down as the battery warms and fills. Independent testing by Android Authority on the Galaxy S22 Ultra found 45W charging only slightly faster than 25W over a full charge. Newer models hold the peak somewhat longer, but the pattern is the same: the gain is in the first 20 to 30 minutes, not the last 20%.
+45W is worth it if
- You often plug in for 15 minutes before heading out
- You own an S22 to S26 Plus or Ultra
- You'll share the charger with a laptop or tablet
- You already have a 5A cable
–25W is enough if
- You charge overnight or at a desk all day
- You have a base Galaxy S, Fold or Flip
- You mostly charge wirelessly
- You'd rather keep the battery cooler
03Three things 45W charging needs
-
A USB PD charger with PPS
Samsung's Super Fast Charging runs over USB Power Delivery's PPS mode. A 45W or 65W charger without PPS will still charge the phone, just at a lower standard rate. Look for "PPS" on the listing. Our PPS explainer has the background.
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A 5A USB-C to USB-C cable
Most USB-C cables are rated 3A, which caps you at the 25W mode. For 45W you need a 5A cable with an e-marker chip, usually labeled 100W or 240W. Samsung's own 45W charger came with one in the box.
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The setting switched on
Go to Settings > Battery > Charging settings and make sure Super fast charging is on. When it's working, the lock screen says "Super fast charging 2.0" (or 3.0 on an S26 Ultra at 60W).
That's the 25W mode. Nine times out of ten the cable is the culprit. Swap in a 5A cable first, then check the charger supports PPS. More fixes in Samsung fast charging not working.
04Heat and battery health at 45W
Faster charging means more heat in the first half of the charge, and heat ages lithium-ion cells. Samsung manages this by throttling when the phone gets warm, which is one reason the real-world gain is modest. If you'd rather trade a few minutes for a cooler battery, use 25W day to day and keep 45W for mornings when you're short on time.
Galaxy phones also have a Battery protection option under Settings > Battery that can stop charging short of 100%. That does more for long-term battery health than choosing 25W over 45W. For the wider picture, read is fast charging bad for your battery.
05Wireless speed is a separate question
A 45W wall charger doesn't change how fast a Galaxy charges on a pad. Wireless speeds are set by the phone and the pad: up to 15W on the Galaxy S26 and S25 series, 20W on the S26+, and 25W on the S26 Ultra with a Qi2 25W charger. None of the S26 phones has magnets built in, so Qi2 chargers need a magnetic case to snap into place. See does Samsung have MagSafe for how that works.
What the wall charger does decide is whether a wireless pad gets enough input. Fast wireless pads usually ask for a 25W or higher USB-C adapter behind them, so a 45W PPS brick on the nightstand can run a pad overnight and still fast-charge the phone by cable in the morning. If you want one charger for both jobs, that's a good reason to buy 45W even on a base Galaxy S.
06What we'd buy for each Galaxy
25W PPS charger
- Full speed on 25W Galaxy models
- Works with a standard 3A cable
- Small and cheap
45W to 65W PPS GaN charger
- Full 45W on S22 to S26+ and older Ultras
- Also charges a laptop or tablet
- Needs a 5A cable for 45W
Confirm PPS on the charger listing before you buy for a Galaxy. Pair any of these with a 100W-rated cable for the 45W mode.
Questions people ask
Is a 45W charger safe for a 25W Samsung phone?
Yes. The phone negotiates the power it can take, so a 45W PPS charger simply runs at 25W. It's a sensible buy if you also charge a Plus or Ultra model, a tablet or a laptop.
Why does my Galaxy only show Super fast charging, not 2.0?
The phone is in 25W mode. Usually the cable is rated only 3A, or the charger lacks PPS. Use a 5A USB-C to USB-C cable (marked 100W or 240W) and a PPS charger of 45W or more.
Does the Galaxy S26 support 45W charging?
The base Galaxy S26 tops out at 25W. The S26+ supports 45W, and the S26 Ultra supports up to 60W with a compatible PPS charger and cable.
Is 45W charging bad for the battery?
Not in a way most people will notice. The phone limits speed when it's warm and slows as it fills. Heat and long stretches at 100% matter more, so use Battery protection and avoid charging under a pillow or in direct sun.
Can I use a 45W Samsung charger on an iPhone?
Yes, if it's a USB-C PD charger. The iPhone takes the power it needs over Power Delivery, so it's safe and fast-charges normally.