Types of iPhone Chargers: The Complete Guide

There are really only two things that decide which iPhone charger you need: the cable connector and the wall brick wattage. iPhones through the iPhone 14 use a Lightning cable; the iPhone 15 and later switched to USB-C. For fast charging, pair either one with a USB-C wall brick of about 20W or more.

The two halves of every iPhone charger

An iPhone charger is two parts working together:

1. The cable, plugs into your iPhone on one end.
2. The wall brick (power adapter), plugs into the outlet and feeds power to the cable.

Get either part wrong and you'll charge slowly, or not at all.

iPhone charging connectors: Lightning vs USB-C

Lightning (iPhone 5 through iPhone 14)

Every iPhone from the iPhone 5 (2012) up through the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro uses Apple's small, reversible Lightning port. If you have one of these phones, the cable that plugs into the phone is Lightning. The other end can be either:

• USB-C to Lightning, the modern choice, needed for fast charging.
• USB-A to Lightning, the older style with the flat rectangular plug.

USB-C (iPhone 15 and later)

Starting with the iPhone 15, Apple moved to the same USB-C port used on modern iPads and MacBooks. If you have an iPhone 15, 16, or newer, you'll use a USB-C to USB-C cable. A bonus: the same cable can often charge your MacBook, iPad, and iPhone.

If you're not sure which port you have, just look at the bottom of the phone. Lightning is a slim connector with visible gold contacts on one flat side; USB-C is a small, symmetrical oval that's the same on both sides.

iPhone wall bricks: how many watts do you need?

The wall brick controls how fast your phone charges. The common options:

• 5W (the old cube): Apple's original tiny USB-A charger. It works, but it's slow, often overnight-slow for a modern phone.
• 20W USB-C: It suits almost every iPhone. This is what enables fast charging (roughly 0 to 50% in about 30 minutes on supported models). If you buy one brick, make it this.
• Higher-watt USB-C (30W, 61W, 96W, etc.): These absolutely work with an iPhone. Your phone only pulls what it needs, so a big MacBook brick won't hurt it, it just won't charge the phone any faster than ~20 to 27W. Handy if you want one brick for a laptop and a phone.

In short: for fast charging, you want a USB-C brick rated around 20W or higher, paired with a USB-C-to-Lightning or USB-C-to-USB-C cable depending on your phone.

If you want a straightforward option, this 20W USB-C charger with a US plug and USB-C cable covers most iPhones in one box.

What about MagSafe? (The confusing part)

Apple uses the name "MagSafe" for two completely different things, and this trips up a lot of people:

• iPhone MagSafe is a wireless magnetic charger. A round puck snaps onto the back of your iPhone (iPhone 12 and later) and charges without plugging into the port. It's wireless.
• MacBook MagSafe is a magnetic power plug that clicks into the side of certain MacBooks. It's a physical cable, not wireless.

They share a name and the magnet idea, but they are not interchangeable. A MacBook MagSafe adapter will not charge your iPhone, and an iPhone MagSafe puck will not power a MacBook. If you came here about a Mac, our MacBook charger guides cover those separately.

For iPhone, wireless MagSafe is a convenience option, it's usually a bit slower than a good wired 20W setup, but great for a nightstand or desk.

Fast charging: what you actually need

To fast-charge a modern iPhone, three things have to line up:

1. A phone that supports fast charging (iPhone 8 and later).
2. A USB-C wall brick rated ~20W+.
3. A USB-C cable with the right end for your phone (Lightning for iPhone 14 and older, USB-C for iPhone 15+).

Miss any one of those, for example, using a USB-A brick or the old 5W cube, and you drop back to slow charging.

Car, travel, and backup options

• Car chargers: Look for a USB-C car adapter rated 20W+ for fast charging on the road.
• Power banks: A USB-C output of 20W or more will fast-charge in a pinch.
• Travel: A single higher-watt USB-C brick can cover your phone, tablet, and laptop, saving space in the bag.

FAQ

Can I use my old 5W iPhone cube? Yes, it's safe, it's just slow. For meaningfully faster charging, switch to a 20W USB-C brick.

Will a MacBook charger hurt my iPhone? No. A higher-watt USB-C brick is fine. The iPhone only draws the power it needs, so it charges at its normal fast-charge speed, not faster and not in a harmful way. (Note: this means a USB-C brick, not a MacBook MagSafe magnetic plug, which won't fit an iPhone at all.)

Do I need a special cable for iPhone 15? You need a USB-C to USB-C cable, because the iPhone 15 and later have a USB-C port instead of Lightning.

Is wireless MagSafe as fast as a wired charger? Usually a little slower than a good 20W wired setup, but it's convenient and fine for overnight or desk use.

The short version

• iPhone 14 and older: Lightning cable + a 20W USB-C brick.
• iPhone 15 and newer: USB-C to USB-C cable + a 20W USB-C brick.
• Bigger bricks are safe and can double for a laptop; they just won't charge the phone faster than it's designed to.

Still not sure which brick or cable fits your device? Our which-charger helper walks you through it in a few clicks, or browse all chargers and adapters to find the right match. Everything is backed by a no-hassle return policy, so it's easy to get it right.