After years of bundling a 5W charger with the iPhones, Apple finally got around to bundling an 18W USB-C fast charger with its iPhone 11 Pro series this year. So how does the fast charger affect the charging times of the new iPhones? And what about the iPhone 11 which still comes with a paltry 5W charger?
On its spec page, Apple highlights that the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are able to charge from 0-50% in just 30 minutes using the bundled 18W charger. As charging tests show, that’s indeed true. Despite coming with batteries bigger than the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, the iPhone 11 Pro series is able to charge from 0-50% in just 30 minutes and to 75% in around 45 minutes.
As for the iPhone 11, it comes with a 5W charger and takes over 3 hours to charge from 0-100%.
While noticeably fast compared to previous iPhones, the charging times are still slower than most other flagship Android devices which can charge to around 65-70% in around 30 minutes. The likes of Galaxy Note 10+, Huawei P30 Pro, and the OnePlus 7 Pro do come with a higher wattage charger which helps them achieve this.
Despite charging to 75% in just 45 minutes though, the iPhone 11 Pro takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes for a full charge. The reason behind this is that Apple is using extreme trickle charging once the battery level crosses 75% to ensure that fast charging does not affect the battery’s lifespan. Apple has even added an optimized battery charging feature in iOS 13 that tweaks the charging pattern of your iPhone depending on your use and wake up time.
A battery’s lifespan is greatly affected if it is charged rapidly after the 80% mark. Apple is avoiding that and charging the phone as slowly as possible. Given that the new iPhones feature noticeably better battery life than their predecessor and even other Android smartphones in the market, a 70% charge in the tank is also going to be enough for most people to make it through the day with these phones.
Another thing one must keep in mind here is that Apple is using the USB-PD fast charging technology. This means that one can use their MacBook Pro or their iPad Pro charger to fast charge their iPhone 11 Pro as well. The iPhone 11 also supports fast charging, though Apple continues to bundle a 5W charger with it.
How are you liking the fast charging experience on your iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max? Are you glad that Apple finally got around to bundling an 18W fast charger with its iPhones?
