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thedoc46

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 22, 2015
81
28
Using an OEM Apple USB-C to Lightning cable.

Does it make any difference to speed of charging (30mins for 50%) if you use a stronger wattage on the official three chargers available. Or is USB-PD designed to only ever draw a max of 29w regardless of which charger is being used?

The three official Apple USB-PD chargers available are 29W, 61W, or 87W

And there's a few third party ones out there like Anker, iCharger and i'm sure that list will grow...
 
Kinda found out my own question. There is no difference between the 29w and higher wattage chargers. I'm actually charging today for the 1st time using USB-C PD, and i was at 72% 30mins ago, on an X.. After 30mins its at 91%. (but i did use the phone for a couple of things) Anyway, using GPS, Waze and Facetime in the morning and as someone who enjoys a bright OLED screen, it often takes a good 20-30% out by noon, so i only ever top up charge, if needed. But truth of the matter is on an X, as long as i remember to charge when i go to bed, which i always do! i'm always good for the entire day even without a top up. May get down to as low as 20% by the end of the day if heavy using. Guess i just like always being over 50% even at bed time.. Go figure.
 
Kinda found out my own question. There is no difference between the 29w and higher wattage chargers. I'm actually charging today for the 1st time using USB-C PD, and i was at 72% 30mins ago, on an X.. After 30mins its at 91%. (but i did use the phone for a couple of things) Anyway, using GPS, Waze and Facetime in the morning and as someone who enjoys a bright OLED screen, it often takes a good 20-30% out by noon, so i only ever top up charge, if needed. But truth of the matter is on an X, as long as i remember to charge when i go to bed, which i always do! i'm always good for the entire day even without a top up. May get down to as low as 20% by the end of the day if heavy using. Guess i just like always being over 50% even at bed time.. Go figure.

I haven’t tried the 29W charger and only have the 5W one that came with the X, but I do know that the phone charges from 0-80 % at a faster rate than 80-100 % according to the batteries page on Apples website. From 80-100 it trickle charges to extend the overall life of the battery. So when you went from 72% to 91%, once your phone reached 80%, the charging speed would have automatically slowed down. If you go from 0-50 % or 20-70 % or any increment of 50 % below 80 % with the 29W vs 5W, you’ll notice a difference in charging speed and time.

https://www.apple.com/batteries/why-lithium-ion/
 
If you always charge your phone from 70% or higher battery capacity, then you won't notice much difference in speed between the 29W and the stock 5W power adapter, a bit of waste of money. Fast charging only really shines from 0% up to about 70%. After 70% the charging will slows down.
 
Yes, currently doing a top up charge. From 85% to 98% so far its taken 38mins. using USB PD.. I just do a top up whenever i can get away with having my phone tethered to a cable.. For example if im on a conf call using my deskphone.. At least for the rest of the day i can hit the phone hard and not worry about getting low towards the end of the day.

I suspect like most, i will charge at bedtime using the 12w charger. The USB PD will come in handy for the one time i pass out and forget to plug in... Rare but it happens.
 
I feel like it’s best to use the fast charge when your very low on battery in the middle of the day. Other wise any charger will do if your charging over night imo.
 
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