01Step one: find your phone's top charging speed
To choose a phone charger, start with your phone, not the charger. Every phone has a maximum wired speed, and a bigger brick won't push it past that number. Buy just enough to hit it, and only go bigger when another device needs the extra power.
The phone is always in charge of the conversation. It asks the charger for a certain voltage and current, and a decent charger only supplies what's requested. That's why a 100W laptop charger is safe for a phone, and also why it won't make a 25W phone charge four times faster.
| Phone | Top wired speed | Charger to buy |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15, 16, 16e, iPhone Air | Fast charging with 20W | 20W+ USB-C PD |
| iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max | Apple's fastest claim needs 40W | 40W+ USB-C PD (20W still fast-charges) |
| iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max | About 50% in 15 min with 60W | 60W USB-C PD for the top speed |
| Galaxy S26, Z Fold7 | 25W | 25W+ USB-C PD with PPS |
| Galaxy S26+ | 45W | 45W+ USB-C PD with PPS |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 60W | 60W+ USB-C PD with PPS |
| Pixel 10 Pro | 30W class | 30W+ USB-C PD with PPS |
Got one of these phones? Our model guides go deeper: iPhone 18 Pro, Galaxy S26 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro.
02USB-C PD and PPS: the labels that decide your speed
Watts get the attention, but the protocol on the label decides whether your phone fast-charges at all. Look for these in the listing or printed on the brick:
- USB Power Delivery (PD)
- The universal USB-C fast-charging standard. iPhones, Pixels, Galaxies, iPads and most laptops use it.
- PPS (Programmable Power Supply)
- An add-on to PD that lets the phone fine-tune voltage in small steps. Samsung's Super Fast Charging and Pixel fast charging rely on it.
- Quick Charge (QC)
- Qualcomm's older standard, mostly on USB-A ports. Useful for some older Androids, irrelevant for iPhone.
- USB-A port
- The old rectangular port. Fine for earbuds and watches, usually slower for phones.
Here's the trap. Plenty of 20W cubes made for iPhones are PD without PPS. Plug a Galaxy S26 Ultra into one and it falls back to a slower standard rate, even though the brick seems "fast". The same happens with many older laptop chargers. If you own any Samsung or Pixel, PPS is the line to check. Our Samsung fast charging fixes cover what that looks like on screen.
A standard USB-C to USB-C cable carries up to 60W. Anything above that, like a 100W laptop or a phone charging past 60W, needs a 100W or 240W-rated cable with an e-marker chip. A cheap cable is the most common reason a good charger underperforms. See our USB-C cables.
03One port or four? Add up what you charge
If the charger lives by your bed and only ever sees your phone, a single-port charger is the cheaper, smaller choice. If it's going on a desk or in a travel bag, count your devices first. Tap everything you'd plug in at once:
Multi-port chargers share their total. A "65W" two-port brick might give 65W to one port alone, then split to something like 45W and 20W when both are busy. The split is printed on the label or in the listing, usually as a small table. Read it, because that's what your phone gets when the laptop is plugged in. How multi-port chargers share power explains the pattern.
- Phone only: one USB-C port at your phone's top speed.
- Phone plus watch or earbuds: 30W to 45W with two ports.
- Phone plus laptop: 65W minimum, 100W if it's a larger laptop.
- Family desk or travel kit: 100W or more, three or four ports.
04GaN, size and the safety details
GaN (gallium nitride) chargers use a different kind of semiconductor that runs cooler and switches faster than the silicon parts in older bricks. The practical result: a 65W GaN charger is a fraction of the size of an old silicon laptop brick with the same output. If you travel or hate bulky plugs, GaN is worth paying a few dollars more for. Our blog has more on what a GaN charger is.
The cheapest chargers cut corners where you can't see them: thin insulation, missing fuses, poor temperature control. You don't need a famous brand, but you do want a charger that lists its protections and output clearly.
Worried about knockoffs? How to spot a fake charger walks through the warning signs.
05Three chargers that cover almost everyone
20W–30W single USB-C
- Full fast-charging on most iPhones
- Smallest and cheapest
- Too little for 45W+ Galaxies or a laptop
45W–65W, two ports
- Covers every phone's top speed short of 60W models
- Shares power across two devices
- Check PPS for Samsung
100W+ multi-port GaN
- Runs a laptop and phone together
- Replaces two or three bricks
- Overkill for a nightstand
We'd pick the middle option for most people. It's barely bigger than a phone-only cube, it covers almost every current phone, and it won't be obsolete when you upgrade. A small 20W cube still makes sense if all you own is an iPhone and you want the least bulk.
From a single-port USB-C cube to a three-port GaN brick. Pair anything over 60W with a 100W-rated cable.
Questions people ask
Can I use a higher-watt charger than my phone needs?
Yes. The phone only draws what it's designed for, so a 65W or 100W USB-C PD charger is safe for a phone rated for 20W or 25W. It just won't make it charge any faster than its own maximum.
What does PPS mean on a charger?
PPS stands for Programmable Power Supply, part of the USB Power Delivery standard. It lets the phone adjust voltage in small steps while charging. Samsung's Super Fast Charging and Google's Pixel fast charging need it, so check for PPS if you use either.
Is a 20W charger enough for an iPhone?
For most iPhones, yes. A 20W USB-C PD charger fast-charges every model with USB-C or Lightning since the iPhone 8. Newer Pro models can charge faster with 40W to 60W, but 20W is fine overnight and for everyday top-ups.
Are GaN chargers better?
They're smaller and usually run cooler for the same wattage, which matters most for 45W and above. A GaN charger doesn't charge your phone faster than a regular charger with the same output and protocol.
Do I need a new cable for a faster charger?
Only above 60W. Any decent USB-C to USB-C cable handles up to 60W. For 100W laptops, or phones that charge faster than 60W, use a cable rated 100W or 240W.