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01What charger for iPhone 15 works best
A 20W USB-C PD adapter is the right charger for an iPhone 15. Apple rates it for up to 50% in around 30 minutes on 20W, and the same adapter runs Apple's MagSafe Charger at its full 15W on this phone.
The iPhone 15 comes with a USB-C charge cable and no adapter. If you have a USB-C adapter from an iPad, a Mac or a recent Android phone, try it first. Anything with USB Power Delivery at 20W or more will fast-charge the phone. A bigger adapter is safe; the iPhone only takes what it needs. See can I use a higher-watt charger.
- Port
- USB-C (first iPhone to have it)
- Wired fast charge
- Up to 50% in ~30 min with 20W+ adapter
- MagSafe
- Up to 15W with 20W+ adapter
- Qi2
- Up to 15W
- Basic Qi
- Up to 7.5W
- In the box
- USB-C charge cable only
02Which of your old chargers still work
Moving from Lightning to USB-C sounds like a full reset, but it's mostly the cable that changed. Use this to sort the drawer. Our Lightning vs USB-C page covers the bigger picture.
| What you have | Works with iPhone 15? | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Apple 20W USB-C adapter (from an iPhone 12-14 era) | Yes, with a USB-C to USB-C cable | Full fast charging |
| Apple 5W USB-A cube | Yes, with a USB-A to USB-C cable | Slow |
| USB-C to Lightning cable | No, wrong plug on the phone end | N/A |
| MacBook or iPad USB-C adapter | Yes | Full fast charging |
| Android USB-C PD charger | Yes | Full fast charging |
| Apple MagSafe Charger (any) | Yes | Up to 15W with a 20W+ adapter |
With a USB-C cable, the iPhone 15 can top up AirPods or an Apple Watch straight from its port. Handy on a trip when you've only packed one charger.
03How fast the iPhone 15 really charges
Apple's 50% figure is the fast part. Charging slows down after about 80% to protect the battery, so a full charge takes well over an hour on any adapter. Play with the estimator to see how much the adapter and method matter.
If your iPhone 15 seems to stop at 80% every time, that's often a setting rather than the charger. The iPhone 15 introduced a charge limit in Settings > Battery > Charging, where you can cap charging at 80%. Details in why your iPhone stops charging at 80%.
04MagSafe, Qi2 and wireless speeds
Every iPhone 15 model charges at up to 15W on Apple's MagSafe Charger and on certified Qi2 chargers. Newer 25W chargers are safe to use but still deliver 15W to this phone. A basic Qi pad gives 7.5W, and so do most magnetic pads that aren't Qi2 certified. That's fine overnight, slow for a quick top-up.
| Model | MagSafe / Qi2 | Adapter needed |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15 | Up to 15W | 20W+ USB-C |
| iPhone 15 Plus | Up to 15W | 20W+ USB-C |
| iPhone 15 Pro | Up to 15W | 20W+ USB-C |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | Up to 15W | 20W+ USB-C |
A MagSafe-compatible case keeps magnetic chargers locked onto the coil. If wireless charging cuts out, the fixes in iPhone not charging wirelessly usually sort it in minutes. Upgrading later? The iPhone 17 charger guide explains what changes.
Cases with built-in magnets and a magnetic charger that stays aligned overnight.
05Charging from a laptop, car or power bank
Because the iPhone 15 uses USB-C, it can charge from far more places than a Lightning iPhone could. A MacBook or Windows laptop's USB-C port, a USB-C car charger and most power banks all work with the same cable. What changes is speed.
- Laptop USB-C port: charges, but usually at well below 20W. Fine at a desk.
- Car charger with USB-C PD: 20W or more per port matches the phone's fast-charge spec.
- Power bank with USB-C PD: a 10,000 mAh bank refills an iPhone 15 about twice. The power bank calculator gives a closer number.
- Magnetic power bank: handy for one-handed use, but slower and less efficient than a cable.
If a USB-C cable charges your iPhone 15 slowly or not at all, the cable is the usual suspect. Cheap charge-only cables and frayed ends are common. Our USB-C cable not charging guide shows how to tell.
06The kit we'd put together
- At home: one 20W USB-C adapter and the cable from the box.
- In the bag: a second USB-C to USB-C cable. Braided ones survive being stuffed in pockets.
- In the car: a car charger with a USB-C PD port. See car charging setup.
- Sharing with a laptop: a multi-port GaN charger instead of separate bricks.
USB-C power at the right size, plus cables with USB-C on both ends.
Questions people ask
What wattage charger does the iPhone 15 need?
20W or more, USB-C with USB Power Delivery. That gets you Apple's fast charge of about 50% in 30 minutes by cable and 15W on MagSafe. Higher-watt adapters are safe but won't make a big difference.
Can I use my old iPhone charger on an iPhone 15?
If it's a USB-C adapter, yes, with a USB-C to USB-C cable. Lightning cables don't fit. Old USB-A cubes work with a USB-A to USB-C cable but charge slowly.
Does the iPhone 15 support 25W MagSafe?
No. The iPhone 15 lineup charges at up to 15W on MagSafe and Qi2. Faster 25W MagSafe started with the iPhone 16 lineup. A 25W charger is safe on an iPhone 15 but delivers 15W.
Is a 30W charger bad for an iPhone 15?
No. USB Power Delivery lets the phone request only the power it can use, so a 30W, 65W or even 100W USB-C adapter is safe on an iPhone 15.
Does the iPhone 15 come with a charger?
No, just a USB-C charge cable. Apple stopped including power adapters with the iPhone 12 and has kept that policy since.