iPhone and iPad: Which chargers can be used
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
The introduction of the USB-C port in Apple’s portable devices has enabled the company to expand its capabilities for increasing charging power using the Power Delivery (PD) standard, which it has been consistently implementing to boost charging power and speed in its new devices.
Apple Smartphones 2025-2026 (April):
iPhone 16e (2025) supports PD charging at 5V, 9V up to 3A (up to 25W at 9V in real use, theoretical max. is 26W - documentation)
iPhone 17 (2025) supports PD (non-AVS) charging at 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V up to 3A (up to 29W at 15V in real use, documentation)
iPhone 17 Air (2025) supports PD (non-AVS) charging at 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V up to 3A (up to 21W at 15V in real use, theoretical max. is 18W - documentation)
iPhone 17 Pro (2025) supports PD (non-AVS) charging at 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V up to 3A (up to 30W at 15V in real use, theoretical max. is 35W - documentation)
iPhone 17 Pro Max (2025) supports PD (non-AVS) charging at 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V up to 3A (up to 38W at 15V in real use, theoretical max. is 42W - documentation)
iPhone 17e (2026) supports PD up to 26W (documentation)
Tablets Apple 2025-2026 (April):
iPad 2025 (11-inch A16) supports PD charging up to 45W (documentation)
iPad Air 2025 (11-inch M3) supports PD charging at 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V up to 3A and max power up to 45W (up to 31W at 15V in real use) (documentation)
iPad Air 2025 (13-inch M3) supports PD charging at 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V up to 3A and max power up to 45W (up to 31W at 15V in real use) (documentation)
iPad Air 2026 (11-inch M4) supports PD charging up to 60W (documentation)
iPad Air 2026 (13-inch M4) supports PD charging up to 60W (documentation)
iPad Pro 2025 (11-inch, M5) supports PD charging 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, 20V up to 3A (up to 60W (40W in real use)) (documentation)
iPad Pro 2025 (13-inch, M5) supports PD charging 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, 20V up to 3A (up to 60W (40W in real use)) (documentation)
It’s important to note that iPhone and iPad users aren’t limited to Apple’s original chargers. If a third-party adapter supports USB Power Delivery and complies with safety standards, it can be used to charge iPhones and iPads. This is particularly convenient with high-quality multi-port adapters, which allow you to charge a laptop, smartphone, and other devices simultaneously without having to carry several different power adapters, which is especially useful when traveling.
Charging cables for Apple devices.
Before Apple adopted the USB-C port for its portable devices and switched entirely to USB-C to USB-C cables, the Lightning connector was used, which came in two variants: USB-A to Lightning and USB-C to Lightning.
USB-A to Lightning is obviously not compatible with PD charging adapters. When using a USB-C to Lightning cable with a PD-compatible charging adapter, the PD protocol can be activated if the cable is MFi-certified and the device being charged also supports PD charging.
With the transition to USB-C, Apple device owners are no longer limited to using original cables and can use any USB-C to USB-C cable. However, it is recommended to choose cables capable of delivering higher power, such as 100W or 240W, as they often have lower internal resistance since they are designed to handle currents up to 5A.
Follow the link below to find a selection of tested cables. In the detailed description of each cable, you can view the measured internal resistance, data from the e-marker chip, jacket specifications, and photos. This is useful because the cable’s resistance affects the voltage drop and, consequently, the actual power that reaches the device, while the power losses themselves manifest as heat in the cable. You can find more details about measuring internal resistance in this article.
I hope your Apple portable device continues to delight you with long battery life and fast charging!
