iPhone 16 Pro Max Charging Speed Test Proves 45W Rumor Was Wrong

[MacRumors]

While a Chinese regulatory filing showed that all iPhone 16 models are rated for up to 45W charging speeds, tests have since shown that the devices do not actually charge this fast. However, there are still improvements.

ChargerLAB last week tested the iPhone 16 Pro Max with a variety of Apple and third-party chargers, and it found that the device achieved maximum sustained charging speeds of around 30W. In one image, the website showed the iPhone 16 Pro Max reaching a peak charging speed of 37W with Apple's 140W USB-C power adapter, but it is unclear how long the device kept charging at that speed. Overall, this seems to be an improvement over the reported 27W peak charging speed for iPhone 15 Pro models, but it is clear that iPhone 16 models are not actually reaching the theoretical 45W ceiling that was rumored.

PhoneArena saw similar results with the standard iPhone 16. In its review last week, it said the device reached a peak charging speed of 38W only when it was "under extremely heavy loads such as benchmark testing or playing games." The website said the iPhone 16 achieved a sustained charging speed of closer to 20W.

Apple merely says that all iPhone 16 models can achieve up to a 50% charge in around 30 minutes with a 20W or higher USB-C charger, which is exactly the same claim that it advertised for all iPhone 15 models.

All in all, just because all iPhone 16 models safely support the USB-C Power Delivery 3.0 protocol of 15V/3A = 45W, it has been proven that the devices do not actually charge at 45W speeds. The rumor was wrong, or at least misinterpreted. However, modestly faster charging speeds still seem to occur in certain scenarios.

Article Link: iPhone 16 Pro Max Charging Speed Test Proves 45W Rumor Was Wrong

 

[rotvaldi]

Thanks I was going to trade in my 15P for a 16PM but I’ll wait till 17PM

 

[MrRom92]

Wasn’t it first a rumor and then supposedly later “confirmed” and “official” or whatever? So why are we back to calling it a rumor and not just false advertising?

 

[contacos]

I’ll be fine. I still use my 5W charger over night 😅

 

[I7guy]

For me charging with the 20W brick is fast enough.

 

[rotvaldi]

Wasn’t it first a rumor and then supposedly later “confirmed” and “official” or whatever? So why are we back to calling it a rumor and not just false advertising?

I mean you are kinda right lately macrumors is becoming macfake~

 

[BorisDG]

The higher the W, the worse for the battery (life). I rather charge on slower speed than higher. Even if was 15-20W and not 30W I'd be fine.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Wasn’t it first a rumor and then supposedly later “confirmed” and “official” or whatever? So why are we back to calling it a rumor and not just false advertising?

you can't call "false advertising" on something that wasn't and still isn't advertised at all.

 

[Getabeard80]

I’ll be fine. I still use my 5W charger over night 😅

Never charge your phone overnight.

 

[t.linn]

Chris Niccolls of PetaPixel is the only one that seems to have gotten this right. In his review, he said that max charging rate is about 30W but the phone can exceed this number if more power is required for other concurrent uses.

 

[SactoGuy18]

Matt Talks Tech on YouTube got 25 watts from the new MagSafe charging puck from a 100 watt charger and 35 watts from a wired charging connection to a 100 watt charger. I'm confused.

 

[golgo1313]

Maybe next year they'll wrap the battery in metal and use the same glue as iPhone 16 and let us do 45W charging?

 

[bigjnyc]

Increasing charging by 3W is such an Apple thing to do lol.... This company and its trickle incremental updates I sware 🤣🤣

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Something that seems to be getting lost in all of this talk is that, even if 45W is disabled in software, that does not mean the phone doesn't have the hardware to support it.
also, phones only usually charge at their highest rated number when they are:
1: below 20%
2: are in a very cold environment or are cold due to not being used.

the second you start heating the phone up, either by continuing to charge it or begining to use it while it charges, the wattage goes down fast.

 

[SactoGuy18]

By the way, a reason why the Galaxy 24 Ultra can do 45 watt charging is the fact the phone has a vapor chamber cooling system. Otherwise, with 45 watt charging the phone will get REALLY hot when charging. This is why I have concerns about OnePlus' fast charging, because I fear the very high charging rate will shorten battery life.

 

[contacos]

Never charge your phone overnight.

Optimized charging

 

[segfaultdotorg]

I'm disappointed they didn't test the Apple 12w charger.

 

[Octavius8]

Good to know!. Actually that was a decision factor for me, but I didn’t find information to confirm it. Nos I know what to(not) expect. I will keep my 15PM another test when Apple removes the photos button

 

[StrangeNoises]

Wasn’t it first a rumor and then supposedly later “confirmed” and “official” or whatever? So why are we back to calling it a rumor and not just false advertising?

It was never advertised as such, so that's not false advertising.

as for "confirmed". frankly that's just a word overenthusiastic youtubers use to get clicks, and is frankly a red flag IMHO. It's not confirmed until the maker of the product announces it. It's definitely in the territory of "I do not think that word means what you think it means."

 

[NVDA]

The higher the W, the worse for the battery (life). I rather charge on slower speed than higher. Even if was 15-20W and not 30W I'd be fine.

People still believe these false claims in 2024?

 

[cwwilson]

I just use the Apple branded 20W USBC brick with the MagSafe puck and it’s worked great for years.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Charging speed matters less and less. Battery life per charge is where it's at.

 

[MrRom92]

It was never advertised as such, so that's not false advertising.

as for "confirmed". frankly that's just a word overenthusiastic youtubers use to get clicks, and is frankly a red flag IMHO. It's not confirmed until the maker of the product announces it.

Right, but as someone who keeps up with the blogs and rumormill and such, just like the site we’re on, I pretty clearly recall 1. The announcement of this rumor, and 2. Multiple subsequent proclamations that it was actually a new feature of the pro models, so calling it a rumor again is a really strange way of backpedaling. Really, let’s just call it gaslighting.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

I just use the Apple branded 20W USBC brick with the MagSafe puck and it’s worked great for years.

Yeah, as battery life per charge has gotten better over the years charging speed matters less.

 

[ikjadoon]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-16-battery-capacities-revealed.2437059/post-33417816

If anyone wants the explanation ^^

TL;DR: Some rumor sites found the real Apple.com page showing that iPhone 16s support the 15V3A (45W max) USB-IF profile. They immediately assumed that the iPhone would max out the profile.

No, it's simply because even just 28W (+1W only!) is not possible with the lower profile (9V3A = 27W): Apple did slightly increase charging speeds over 27W → thus, Apple was forced to enable the 15V*3A profile. But Apple supporting the 15V*3A profile does not mean iPhones must use all 3A.

The profile is just named "15V3A" to indicate the maximum:

9V@3A profile: >15W to 27W max (3A)
15V@3A profile: >27W to 45W max (3A)

Apple had to move to 15V to increase charging speeds beyond 27W.

ELI5: imagine if Apple.com store suddenly showed 200-lb-rated caster wheels for the Mac Pro, vs the older 100-lb-rated casters. Does that mean the next Mac Pro WILL weigh 200 pounds?! No. It may just be 105-lb, but even those +5lb would not be allowed on the 100-lb-rated casters.