Best charger for the 17 Pro Max?

[SammyxVine]

If you don't want to think too much about it, and only need one port, the recent Apple Dynamic 40W would be a safe choice, and charge the PM at full speed.

It is available in the UK, with folding prongs even, and supports the latest AVS spec that has yet to even make it to Apple's devices, so it will be future proof to a degree. It costs more, sure, but should be durable and built to a higher standard, if past practice is any guide.

Apple is being transparent about how it performs as well, by describing it as (sustained) 40W output, that can peak at up to 60W. Most, if not all, other brands, would advertise it as a 60W adapter, and try to hide the fact that a number of the adapters, particularly the higher wattage models, can't sustain their advertised rating and will throttle their output when they heat up, or can only achieve them in locales with higher voltages (not a problem for you).

If you've ever been an audio enthusiast, you would well know that "watts" aren't necessarily watts, and a lot of marketing manipulation occurs.

On the budget end the IKEA adapters linked are considered sleepers; solid and good value. The 20W Apple adapter would be solid as well.

Otherwise, stick with a reputable brand name that has some experience, and submits their products for testing to receive safety marks. But every brand has good and bad models; that is where reading to reviews (real ones, not the common feature regurgitation "reviews") comes in to play to determine which ones perform.

Thanks for the detailed reply
Somebody posted above that the 40w charger overheats their phone.

 

[TheIntruder]

Thanks for the detailed reply
Somebody posted above that the 40w charger overheats their phone.

The device, not the adapter, determines how much power it will draw.

Apple, which has traditionally had a more conservative attitude toward charging rates, has determined that a 17P will peak at ~30W, and the 17PM at ~40W.

Subjective interpretations of "too hot" or "overheats" ignore the fact that Apple, and the cell manufactures have objective parameters of what their products and those components can normally operate under.

 

[SammyxVine]

Any other recommendations? I do not want a charger that will make my iPhone 17 Pro Max hot. I am guessing a 20W charger will be best?

 

[Cobalt Blizzard]

Any other recommendations? I do not want a charger that will make my iPhone 17 Pro Max hot. I am guessing a 20W charger will be best?

I use a 65W Ugreen charging station, and it barely makes my 17 PM hot.

 

[drunkaviator]

This is incorrect. Modern battery systems mitigate the threats to battery life from fast charging by dramatically reducing the charging rate as charge approaches 100% (think like slowing down a car as you approach a barrier). There is no other repeatable, measurable impact to battery life from charging speed and it is nearly unique to MacRumors the extent to which this misconception is repeated. The factors that can impact battery life in a measurable manner are:

1. Excessive, extremely high heat for prolonged periods. This does not include the heat from charging or normal use.
2. Keeping the battery at 100% or 0% charge for extended periods of time.
3. Age.

Otherwise, the correct charger to use is the one you have available when you need to charge your phone. 5W, 12W, 20W, 40W, even a 96W MacBook Pro charger. Your iPhone will happily use any of them and draw only the power it needs at the rate it can support for the time it needs to support it.

For the OP, this means you should buy the charger that makes the most sense to your needs. Apple's chargers are "fine," if overpriced for what you get. Third party chargers from reputable sellers (Anker, UGreen, etc.) that offer the size, power, and other features that are useful to you are all good choices.

Reading through this for info, but you are incorrect. Apple's chargers are noticeably superior in terms of component quality, heat management, and efficiency and while I've had Ankers and Belkins fail over the years (some quickly, some after a few years of use), I have Apple Chargers from 15 Years ago and have never had a single failure. Make of that what you will. This needs to be corrected, some of the Ankers are a friggin mess inside when you tear them down, the bare minimum of workmanship. Apple is safest.

 

[SammyxVine]

Reading through this for info, but you are incorrect. Apple's chargers are noticeably superior in terms of component quality, heat management, and efficiency and while I've had Ankers and Belkins fail over the years (some quickly, some after a few years of use), I have Apple Chargers from 15 Years ago and have never had a single failure. Make of that what you will. This needs to be corrected, some of the Ankers are a friggin mess inside when you tear them down, the bare minimum of workmanship. Apple is safest.

Which Apple charge do you think I should get for my new 17 Pro Max? 20w or 40w?

 

[cateye]

Reading through this for info, but you are incorrect. Apple's chargers are noticeably superior in terms of component quality, heat management, and efficiency and while I've had Ankers and Belkins fail over the years (some quickly, some after a few years of use), I have Apple Chargers from 15 Years ago and have never had a single failure. Make of that what you will. This needs to be corrected, some of the Ankers are a friggin mess inside when you tear them down, the bare minimum of workmanship. Apple is safest.

I mean, you do you, but given that GaN-based chargers tend to all be the same reference designs, including Apple's, I suspect you have some ulterior motive here.

 

[drunkaviator]

Which Apple charge do you think I should get for my new 17 Pro Max? 20w or 40w?

I've actually been charging with a mix of 40W at home, and the older 20W one at work. As you can see it hasn't yet impacted my battery health. I'd say go for 40W, especially if there are times when you forget to charge, and have to rush out somewhere, or you want to be able to fast charge an iPad (I think the newer iPads take around 45W). Devices only seem to demand higher wattage year on year as well, and most take north of 30W these days; given that this charger will probably last at least a decade, I'd get the future proof option.

 

[drunkaviator]

I mean, you do you, but given that GaN-based chargers tend to all be the same reference designs, including Apple's, I suspect you have some ulterior motive here.

I disagree, but we're not talking primarily about design, we're talking about workmanship and component quality. Get a list of components, and see where Apple sources from vs Anker for example; then physically take the thing apart and look at the internal state of an Anker charger, with everything covered in that messy pink potting compound (which is a pretty desperate measure for keeping heat down). What ulterior motive mate? Do you think I'm Tim's son or something...lol

 

[Aneef]

Reading through this for info, but you are incorrect. Apple's chargers are noticeably superior in terms of component quality, heat management, and efficiency and while I've had Ankers and Belkins fail over the years (some quickly, some after a few years of use), I have Apple Chargers from 15 Years ago and have never had a single failure. Make of that what you will. This needs to be corrected, some of the Ankers are a friggin mess inside when you tear them down, the bare minimum of workmanship. Apple is safest.

my apple brick from iPhone 7 plus failed after 5 years, though they definitely have better MTTF