Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max finally bring faster wired charging, but the full speed requires specific hardware.
The phones can reach 50% in about 15 minutes, roughly a quarter faster than the iPhone 17 Pro's 20 minutes.
A quick five-minute charge is claimed to provide around six hours of video playback. The improvement comes from higher peak power delivery.
To hit those advertised speeds, you need a charger supporting peak 60W, USB Power Delivery 3.1, and Adjustable Voltage Supply (AVS).
Apple's 40W Dynamic Power Adapter, which can output up to 60W, plus a compatible USB-C cable will do the job.
Higher-wattage MacBook chargers, including the 96W and 140W models, do not qualify because they lack the adjustable voltage feature.
Many popular third-party options over 40W, such as some Anker 45W adapters, will still charge the phone but typically max out at the previous generation's roughly 20-minute mark for 50%.
As usual, there is no power adapter in the box, only a USB-C cable.
If you want the fastest wired speeds, you will need to buy the Dynamic Power Adapter separately.
Wireless and Foldable Get the Same Boost
Wireless charging also improves.
With a MagSafe charger and any 35W or higher adapter, you can reach 50% in about 30 minutes.
The upcoming foldable iPhone Duo, expected next month, supports the same faster speeds under the exact same conditions.
Again, the right adapter is required for peak performance.
The fact that Apple's own higher-wattage MacBook chargers are not fully compatible with the 18 Pro series continues a long-running pattern of gating the top experience behind official accessories.
The good news is that Adjustable Voltage Supply is not an Apple-only proprietary standard.
It is an open protocol defined by the USB-IF, so any charger or power bank that properly supports PD 3.1 or newer should be able to deliver the peak power.
