The best iPhone charger depends on several factors. Are you topping off your battery on the go? Do you want to charge your iPhone as quickly as possible? Are you charging it overnight on your nightstand? The best gear recommendation is going to change with the situation. Luckily, the WIRED Reviews team tests iPhone chargers in the field all year long. There’s not a day that goes by that at least one of us is not assessing at least one iPhone charger. I’ve gathered up our favorite picks for every scenario.
Be sure to check out our related buying guides, like the Best Power Banks, the Best 3-in-1 Chargers, and the Best Wireless Chargers.
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- The Best iPhone Chargers
- Best Wall Charger for iPhone
- Best Power Bank for iPhone
- Best MagSafe Portable Charger for iPhone
- Best 3-in-1 Charger for iPhone
- Best 2-in-1 Charger for iPhone
- Best USB-C Cable
- Best Lightning Cable
- How Fast Can My iPhone Charge?
- What Wattage Do I Need?
The Best iPhone Chargers
Best Wall Charger for iPhone
This Anker charger is slick and has folding prongs so it’s easy to travel with, but the best part is that it can charge your phone at 40 watts (average is 20 to 27 watts). That means you can get up to 50 percent battery life in only 20 minutes. Not all iPhone models support charging this fast—it’s limited to iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max—but you may as well future-proof your gear if you’re shopping for a wall charger, even if your phone can’t take full advantage of those speeds yet.
Best Power Bank for iPhone
We do recommend the Anker Laptop Power Bank as our top-pick power bank, but if you’re only trying to top off your iPhone, this is a very reliable and neat-looking power bank. It’s svelte, smaller than a deck of cards, and can deliver 20 watts to two devices at once. Nimble also makes a slightly larger version, which has a larger capacity and can charge at up to 65 watts. Aside from the cool design featuring speckled colors and a lanyard loop, Nimble also uses bioplastics, recycled materials, and minimal packaging. A USB-C charger is included in the box.
Best MagSafe Portable Charger for iPhone
This 10,000-mAh power bank can charge your device at up to 15 watts, but it’ll also charge older devices at a slower rate. It has a built-in kickstand and an LED display that lets you know how much power is left at a glance. It works in portrait or landscape modes. Be aware that it won’t be able to charge most phones fully more than once, but it’s hard to beat if you’re seeking wireless charging on the go. If you want a bigger capacity or faster charging, you don’t want MagSafe.
Best 3-in-1 Charger for iPhone
The Belkin 3-in-1 can charge your compatible iPhone at 15 watts, plus your AirPods and your Apple Watch at the same time. The charging pad can be tilted to your preferred angle, including in landscape orientation if you want to watch a video or put your phone in StandBy mode. The USB-C cable is permanently attached, which you may or may not like. Check our best 3-in-1 chargers buying guide for additional picks.
Best 2-in-1 Charger for iPhone
I love a 3-in-1 charger as much as the next tech nerd, but sometimes they’re overkill. My Apple Watch battery usually lasts all day long, but I can chew through my older AirPods battery before my lunch break hits, and my iPhone battery might be depleted too, depending on whether or not I’m streaming Max Velocity off to the side. This 2-in-1 charger has been my steadfast desktop companion. Mophie makes another version that tops off your Apple Watch and iPhone instead of your headphones, which might be what you want if you’re rocking wired headphones or you’re making intense use of a walking pad throughout the day. There’s a 40-watt wall charger in the box—a rarity these days!—plus a USB-C cable that winds neatly into the base. It’s easy to adjust the angle of your iPhone as well, and I’ve found the base very sturdy. If you want to charge, but not necessarily all of the possible devices simultaneously, these might be what you seek.
Best USB-C Cable
This braided nylon USB-C cable has a durable exterior made from recycled plastic. The cable is rugged, with Anker promising that it can operate in temperatures ranging from negative 40 degrees to 176 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s backed by a lifetime warranty. It’s got a built-in cable management loop. It’s more than enough cable for your iPhone. Read our guide to the Best USB-C Cables for more picks.
Best Lightning Cable
If your iPhone is still rocking the Lightning cable, this is gonna be way better than whatever shoddy cable Apple sent you. It’s durable and is Made for iPhone-certified, so you won’t have any problems getting it to work. It comes in 3-, 6-, or 10-foot lengths with a two-year warranty. Best of all, the exterior casing will stay intact, unlike what you’d probably get with Apple’s cables.
How Fast Can My iPhone Charge?
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Charging speeds depend on the equipment you use. If you aren’t using cables or wireless chargers that can handle these speeds, your experience may vary. The same goes for your phone usage—if you’re using your phone while it’s charging, or while it’s hot, or both, your speeds might diminish. But generally, the maximum charging speeds are as follows:
- iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, 16, and 16 Pro: 40 watts (wired), 25 watts (MagSafe)
- iPhone 15 and earlier: 20 watts (wired), 15 watts (MagSafe)
You can fast-charge your iPhone 8 or newer using specific equipment. Read more about fast charging here.
What Wattage Do I Need?
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That depends on how fast you want your iPhone to charge, and how much money you want to spend. A 15-watt charger is plenty fast and is basically the standard for phone charging these days, usually topping off your phone in an hour or two, but it’s not going to be as blazingly fast as some other options. Older “slow” chargers are usually 5 or 7.5 watts, and you want to avoid these unless your device calls for them specifically. Charging at slower 15-watt speeds is better for long-term battery health, and might be the best choice for an overnight charge, whereas an eyewatering 40-watt charger is going to be the better option if your phone is at 1 percent battery life and your Uber is on the way, since it can take most modern phones from 0 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. Go with 15 watts at a minimum, and upgrade based on your device, budget, and personal need for speed.
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