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01Which Apple charger do you have?
You can use an iPhone charger on Android as long as you have a cable that fits the Android phone. Apple's USB-C adapters speak USB Power Delivery, the same open standard Samsung, Google and others use.
| Apple charger | Works on Android? | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 20W USB-C power adapter | Yes | Fast-ish charging; often below a Galaxy's Super Fast speed |
| 30W or 35W USB-C adapters | Yes | Similar story: safe, solid speed, may not reach top Android modes |
| MacBook USB-C adapters (61W to 140W) | Yes | The phone takes only what it needs |
| 5W USB-A cube (older iPhones) | Yes, with USB-A to USB-C cable | Very slow; fine overnight only |
| 12W USB-A iPad adapter | Yes, with USB-A to USB-C cable | Slow by modern standards |
| Lightning cable | No | Doesn't fit a USB-C phone |
| Apple MagSafe Charger | Partly | Can charge Qi-compatible Androids at slower speeds, without the magnetic hold |
In practice, the Apple 20W brick in your drawer is a perfectly good Android charger for overnight, the office or a spare in your bag. Where it falls short is the quick 15-minute top-up before you leave, which is exactly when Super Fast Charging earns its name. If you charge in short bursts, a PPS charger is worth the money. If your phone sits on the charger all night, it isn't. Our charging time calculator shows the difference for your phone.
02Why Galaxy and Pixel phones charge slower on an Apple brick
Samsung's Super Fast Charging and Google's fastest Pixel charging rely on PPS (Programmable Power Supply), an optional part of the USB PD standard that lets the phone tweak the voltage in tiny steps. Apple's adapters generally list standard PD voltage levels without PPS.
Without PPS, the phone falls back to ordinary PD fast charging. On a Galaxy that usually shows as "Fast charging" rather than "Super fast charging" on the lock screen. It's still a decent speed for overnight or desk use, just not the 25W to 60W the phone can do on the right brick.
Read the output line on the brick. PPS chargers list a voltage range, such as 3.3-11V⎓3A or 3.3-21V. If you only see fixed values like 5V, 9V and 15V, it's PD without PPS.
For the full picture on Samsung's modes, see Samsung Super Fast Charging explained and what PPS charging is.
03The cable decides more than the brick
- Apple's USB-C to USB-C cable works with Android phones. Any USB-C cable rated 60W handles phone speeds.
- Lightning cables are iPhone-only. There's no Android phone with a Lightning port.
- Samsung's 45W mode needs a 5A cable, usually sold as 100W or 240W rated. A standard 3A cable caps you at 25W.
- USB-A to USB-C cables let you reuse an old Apple cube. Expect slow charging.
Not sure which cable you have? Our e-marker cable explainer shows how to tell a 60W cable from a 100W one.
04The reverse: Android chargers on an iPhone
This direction works even better. Samsung and Google USB-C chargers support standard USB PD, which is all an iPhone 15 or later needs. A Samsung 25W or 45W brick fast-charges an iPhone without any fuss. For Lightning iPhones, use a USB-C to Lightning cable.
Older Android chargers that only support Qualcomm Quick Charge over USB-A are the exception. An iPhone charges on them at basic, slow speeds. Safe, but not worth keeping as your main charger. Our non-Apple charger safety guide covers what to check on any third-party brick.
05Charging slower than you expected?
If your Android phone crawls on an Apple charger, the brick isn't always to blame. Run through these before buying anything.
Still slow after the checklist? Galaxy owners will find more in Samsung fast charging not working. If it's fine for overnight but too slow by day, that's the PPS gap, and a PPS charger is the fix.
06Buying one charger for a mixed household
If your house has both iPhones and Androids, buy a USB-C PD charger that also supports PPS. That one brick gives iPhones their fast charging and Galaxy phones their Super Fast mode.
Keep the Apple 20W
- Costs nothing
- Safe on every USB-C phone
- Galaxy and Pixel miss top speed
Multi-port PD + PPS charger
- Full speed for iPhone and Galaxy
- Charges two or three devices at once
- Check the spec label for PPS
Size it for everything at once with the charger wattage calculator.
Multi-port USB-C chargers and cables that suit both phones. Check each charger's spec label for PPS if you have a Galaxy.
Questions people ask
Will an iPhone charger damage my Samsung phone?
No. Apple's USB-C adapters follow the USB Power Delivery standard, and your Galaxy only requests the power it can handle. The only downside is speed: without PPS it won't use Super Fast Charging.
Can I use an iPhone charger on a Google Pixel?
Yes. A Pixel charges normally on Apple's USB-C adapters with a USB-C cable. Recent Pixel Pro models need a PPS charger of about 30W to reach their quoted fastest speed.
Can I use an Apple USB-C cable on Android?
Yes. A USB-C to USB-C cable is a standard part. Apple's works on any USB-C Android phone for charging. Lightning cables don't fit Android phones.
Why does my Samsung say fast charging instead of super fast on an Apple charger?
Super Fast Charging needs a charger with PPS. Apple's adapters generally don't offer it, so the phone uses its standard fast-charging mode instead. A 25W or 45W PPS charger restores Super Fast speeds.
Can I charge an Android phone on Apple's MagSafe charger?
Many Qi-compatible Android phones will charge on it, but slowly and without the magnetic hold. A magnetic case and a Qi2 charger are a better fit for Android.