iPhone 16e Supports USB-C Fast Charging up to 29W, Based on Chinese Regulatory Filing

[MacRumors]

The iPhone 16e reportedly supports USB-C fast charging up to 29W, according to a regulatory filing published in China (via MySmartPrice).

If accurate, this is broadly in line with the iPhone 16 models. Last year, ChargerLAB found that the iPhone 16 Pro models achieved maximum sustained charging speeds of around 30W. PhoneArena saw similar results with the standard iPhone 16, although under heavy load the phones would start charging at 38W. We'll have to wait for testing in the wild to confirm the iPhone 16e wattage figure given in the Chinese regulatory filing.

Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu has said the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will all support up to 35W wired charging speeds. He did not reveal wireless MagSafe charging speeds for any iPhone 17 models. iPhone 16 models can charge at up to 25W with MagSafe, a feature that the iPhone 16e lacks.

Apple is opening pre-orders for the iPhone 16e today at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time, with the $599 device officially launching on Friday, February 28.

Article Link: iPhone 16e Supports USB-C Fast Charging up to 29W, Based on Chinese Regulatory Filing

 

[lanomds1]

Wow, thanks apple for delivering the bare minimum in 2025 👏👏👏

 

[contacos]

Chinese phones like ...

80W wireless charging
100W wired charging

Apple is lucky people just keep buying the same phone almost out of habit

 

[cyanite]

Apple is lucky people just keep buying the same phone almost out of habit

Fast charging at that level most likely means a lot less to the average consumer than you might think.

 

[huanbrother]

Lol.

It has been tested by Chongdiantou (CDT, a website that specializes in charger and related product reviews) on the iPhone 16 series, both for wired and wireless charging.

The wired charging test involved over 10 chargers, ranging from the usual 20W to Apple's own 140W. The maximum wattage they could achieve was 24.31W.

For wireless charging using MagSafe (which, by the way, the 16E DOESN'T HAVE), they reached a max charging speed of 29W.

So, can the 16E get 29W? DOUBT IT.

And neither wired nor wireless chargers could sustain the maximum wattage throughout the entire charging process, let alone maintain "around 30W." The ChargerLab results were definitely wishful thinking.

Attachment: 16 Pro Max tested with Apple's 35w charger, where's the "sustained 30w"?

 

[contacos]

Fast charging at that level most likely means a lot less to the average consumer than you might think.

well, its not something they should be thinking about anyway! its just a convenience to have like "oh my new phone is charging so fast. thats cool"

 

[Kylo83]

Don’t trust it; the 16 pro max with the new 25w MagSafe and 30w Apple plug does not charge the same as usb c speed. It’s not that fast at all, if anything’s it’s slower than 20w wired plug in

 

[MrRom92]

Fast charging at that level most likely means a lot less to the average consumer than you might think.

A lot of features on the iPhone mean nothing to the average consumer, it doesn’t mean Apple should design phones to accommodate the lowest common denominator
The two main things I want to see out of the iPhone 17 Pro are faster wired charging and a bump to 2TB storage. We need to see 40w at MINIMUM. If other phones can do significantly higher wattage I would like to see Apple begin to approach that.

 

[I7guy]

Wow, thanks apple for delivering the bare minimum in 2025 👏👏👏

Overdelivering is always better than underdelivering.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

USB-C chargers commonly go up to 240w, and here Apple is looking like a 🤡 with 29w charging.

 

[I7guy]

Chinese phones like ...

80W wireless charging
100W wired charging

Apple is lucky people just keep buying the same phone almost out of habit

That’s really a sticking point with some. The masses like apple products for reasons of their own and keep buying the products in spite of the obvious lack of technical specs.

If you are the type where charging speed is at the top of your priority list, above all else, than an iPhone is not for you.

 

[I7guy]

USB-C chargers commonly go up to 240w, and here Apple is looking like a 🤡 with 29w charging.

Commonly, no. That would imply a majority of usb bricks can supply 240w and that is false.

Any phones out there that charge at 240w? What’s your point?

 

[splifingate]

Transcripts from Design Meetings at AAPL would be an enlightening read...

"Studies show that--while some Consumer interest has been shown for speedy file-transfer via direct USB-C connections, and PD charging in our iPhone designs--it continues to be in the best interests of Shareholders to meet only the minimum-standards implicit in the design."

 

[Slix]

Does anyone have any actual statistics on how fast these wattages charge these phones? I know everyone is like "bigger number is better!" but I've been using a 5W charger for my SE for the last 5 years and it charges pretty fast. If the difference between a 5W and a 20W and a 29W is like, a few minute difference, then does anyone actually notice?

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Commonly, no. That would imply a majority of usb bricks can supply 240w and that is false.

Any phones out there that charge at 240w? What’s your point?

Even Apple agrees 29w is slow:

240W USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)

This 2-meter charge cable is made with a woven design — with USB-C connectors on both ends — and is ideal for charging, syncing, and transferring data between USB-C devices. It supports charging of up to 240 watts and transfers data at USB 2 rates. Pair the USB-C Charge Cable with a compatible...

www.apple.com

 

[akbarali.ch]

Not having magsafe is such a letdown, there's huge magsafe ecosystem that wont work with it. I doubt this will sell well. There was no reason for it to exist. Instead of 16e one can go for 15.

 

[HJM.NL]

That’s really a sticking point with some. The masses like apple products for reasons of their own and keep buying the products in spite of the obvious lack of technical specs.

If you are the type where charging speed is at the top of your priority list, above all else, than an iPhone is not for you.

I’m really curious about which masses you you mean.

You mean the masses that just buy an iPhone because they still think it’s the best they can get?

It’s funny how brand recognition works. People buy fromout emotions instead of common sense.

I’m also curious how long Apple will be able to play the same record over and over again 🥴

 

[Jack Burton]

The bigger phone will be good for my mom, who is on the SE.

Although what sold her on her original SE was the red option. She wanted a flip phone until she saw this:

 

[I7guy]

I’m really curious about which masses you you mean.

You mean the masses that just buy an iPhone because they still think it’s the best they can get?

No the masses that buy the iPhone because they believe it’s the best overall for their needs.

It’s funny how brand recognition works. People buy fromout emotions instead of common sense.

You can’t tell billions of people how to spend their money.

I’m also curious how long Apple will be able to play the same record over and over again 🥴

They are very successful at it. People have been saying that for 14 years. Maybe apples luck will run out in another 50.

 

[Jack Burton]

Not having magsafe is such a letdown, there's huge magsafe ecosystem that wont work with it. I doubt this will sell well. There was no reason for it to exist. Instead of 16e one can go for 15.

Magsafe cases take care of that. I LOVE me some magsafe and I'm using a Google Pixel. Google is so lazy they won't put that in their phones, but work with "official case partners" to add it. Blergh. It's not the same, but I'll take what I can get.

 

[I7guy]

Even Apple agrees 29w is slow:

240W USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)

This 2-meter charge cable is made with a woven design — with USB-C connectors on both ends — and is ideal for charging, syncing, and transferring data between USB-C devices. It supports charging of up to 240 watts and transfers data at USB 2 rates. Pair the USB-C Charge Cable with a compatible...

www.apple.com

First off Apple didn’t agree to anything. That is some reverse criticism there. Second, that didn’t answer the question at hand which is how common is 240w charging.

I have that exact cable and it’s nice. But since a big deal was made of it of it in an online forum I was wondering how many phones accept 240w charges and how many bricks supply it.

But I don’t suppose we’ll get a straight answer.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Chinese phones like ...

80W wireless charging
100W wired charging

Apple is lucky people just keep buying the same phone almost out of habit

Are there people that seriously believe the only people buying iPhones in any given year are folks that already own iPhones?

 

[turbineseaplane]

Definitely better than the dog slow Qi at "up to 7.5w"

Woof 🐶

 

[akbarali.ch]

Magsafe cases take care of that. I LOVE me some magsafe and I'm using a Google Pixel. Google is so lazy they won't put that in their phones, but work with "official case partners" to add it. Blergh. It's not the same, but I'll take what I can get.

Yes actually i missed that point, but i guess having first party support is always good. But you are right, the case would add that functionality if anyone needs it. I myself use iphone 11 with magsafe case.

 

[svish]

Good to know. Faster charging might not be great for battery but if sustained charging is possible at around 29 to 30W then wonder why Apple still recommends using 20W charger. Apple should have a smaller 30w charger and start advertising that it is possible to charge device faster with the 30w charger.