If you have an iPhone running iOS 26, you may have noticed that the estimated time it will take to charge to 80% is now displayed on your lock screen. However, if you’re not using a fast charger, it won’t do that and will instead say “Slow Charger.”
This probably means you have an underpowered power brick or an old cable. For fast wire charging, get a new charging brick and USB-C cable rated for 30 watts or higher.
Modern iPhones have much larger batteries than models from more than five years ago. So if you recently upgraded from an older iPhone and switched from Lightning to USB-C, you might not have the latest fast charger.
For example, if you’re using an older USB-A charger with a rectangular port, your iPhone can only charge up to 7.5 watts, and maybe only 5 watts. Charging your iPhone 17 at this rate can take over 3 hours.
With the right accessories, iPhone fast charging speeds can last between 20 and 30 watts. At this rate, you should be able to charge from zero to 50% within 30 minutes.
The exact brand of the power adapter is not very important. Any USB-C charger with Power Delivery will probably work.
For iPhone 17, Apple recommends the new Dynamic Charger. This may be the most efficient option in terms of speed and power consumption, but the difference is negligible. Inexpensive USB-C fast chargers from brands like Anker and Belkin also work well.
wireless fast charging
If you’re using Qi wireless charging, you’ll also see a slow charger indicator. This may be due to using a first generation Qi charger that delivers less than 10 watts of power.
If you need fast wireless charging, look for official MagSafe accessories or Qi2 standard brands. The latest iPhones support wireless charging speeds of up to 25 watts.
For example, this Belkin MagSafe charger can charge your iPhone at speeds of up to 25 watts, as well as a spot for AirPods. A cheaper option is this simple wireless charging pad that charges your iPhone at 15 watts.
No need to upgrade
Regardless of whether your iPhone reports slow charger status, there is no safety issue or potential for damage to your phone when you use it with a slow charger. The only factor here is convenience. If you only charge your phone overnight, it doesn’t matter if your nightstand charger takes 3 hours to fully charge your phone. It works fine.
However, if you want the fastest charging speeds, such as at your desk or kitchen charging station, the options above explain how to achieve that, wired or wirelessly.
