Do you think that it‘s better to use the 5w charger when there‘s enough time and only use 18w when you need it? Maybe it‘s better for the battery to get charged with 5w. Maybe the iPhone gets warmer when charging with 18w and that‘s not good for the battery.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 11 Pro Is charging with the 5w charger better than with 18w
- Thread starter MacBnc
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
If you charge overnight, definitely use the 5w. If you want a quick charge at other times, use the 18w
I will be using the 18w, it came with the phone and I am only to assume they have expected me to use it. Maybe not overnight but the phone is already setup to charge to 80%, then later charge the rest about the time I normally use it. It will learn your use pattern.
Exactly right. Additional current creates heat and is an enemy of battery longevity. Apple has partly mitigated this with smart charging. Still, lower power is better. Where time is not an issue and I would always select that option when possible.
Newer (good quality) Li-ion batteries can accept a charge current of 1/2 the rated capacity of the battery with no harmful effects.
For example:
If a lithium ion battery has a rated capacity of 3000mAh, it can safely be charged at 1500mA. (1.5A). Charging below about 0.4C doesn't offer any benefit and only increases charging time.
The charge circuitry in the iPhone regulates how much the battery can accept anyway. So using a larger charger won't exceed the safe charging current of the battery.
If the back of the iPhone feels warm during charging, that's normal and ok. If it feels hot, use the 5watt charger.
If the ambient temperature is over 95°, the battery will get too hot during charging regardless of what charger you use
For example:
If a lithium ion battery has a rated capacity of 3000mAh, it can safely be charged at 1500mA. (1.5A). Charging below about 0.4C doesn't offer any benefit and only increases charging time.
The charge circuitry in the iPhone regulates how much the battery can accept anyway. So using a larger charger won't exceed the safe charging current of the battery.
If the back of the iPhone feels warm during charging, that's normal and ok. If it feels hot, use the 5watt charger.
If the ambient temperature is over 95°, the battery will get too hot during charging regardless of what charger you use
I have a box full of 5w chargers that have come with devices over the years. I have used none of them for phones. I have used a few here and there for other devices like my bike computer. Mostly I charge using an Anker multiport fast charger. It reduces the number of adapters I have to have plugged into my power strip.
I am not a fast charger kind of guy. That’s all I use is a 5w charger. In my own opinion I feel these fast chargers do worse damage on these batteries. When I got my iPhone X on lunch day that battery remained 100% for 2 years and I blame that on me using only the 5w chargers. No scientific data to prove that but that’s just my own observation.
I think you may be on to something. It takes all day to charge with the 5W adapter so in those two years you only got a year of use out of it. I'm only kidding with you but it really comes down to charge cycles and not speed. If you need to charge a couple of times per day and really make use of the fast charge feature of getting topped off because you use it, the battery life will show a lower number. If you charge once or less per day then your charge cycles are going to add up much slower. A battery for an iPhone X out of warranty is $69, or free within your AppleCare coverage period. So, really even if you had to buy a battery after two years your averaging $.09 per day. If you want to wait for the phone feel free but if not charge however and maybe you will still come out ok.
Great post. I used the 5W adapter to charge my XS Max most of the time during the last year and will probably continue to do so with the 11 PM, but I know that it's unnecessarily cautious, as the post above says.
A related question that has been kicked around here but for which I don't think I've seen any definitive answers: does inductive charging cause more battery heat/shorten the life of the battery? I don't have any charging pads so for me it's just academic curiosity, but there are a lot of people using these and it would be interesting to know. (Maybe there was and answer to this question and I just missed it...)
Just as an FYI, I used my Macbook Pro Charger to charge my iPhone X everyday. Within 2 years (had iPhone X on launch day), my battery capacity was at 90%. I saw no noticeable difference between someone who used the 5W charger, and me charging all the time with my Macbook Pro charger. YMMV.
So, do you think there’s no difference for the battery, using 5w or 18w? Some people said, that the iPhone only charges as much as is good for the battery.
Agree.
I mostly charged my launch day iPhone X for two years overnight on a 5W wireless charger & the battery health is now at 93% - I don't think it makes all that much difference.
Best to avoid letting it discharge completely, and to not get too hot, but otherwise don't sweat it.
My last year model xs Max went from 100% to 95% battery capacity in less than a year.. and I was always using fast charging.
2.1A is the amount of power supplied by older iPad power bricks. 5vDC @ 2.1A gives you 10.5W.
Newer non-USBC power supplies offer a slightly higher charging rate of 2.4A, or 12W of power.
I was using a mixture of 'fast' (iPad speeds really) charging and wireless, and my batter health was 93% after a year.
I used a 28w power adapter(it will only charge at safe Watts no matter how big.) for XS max every night. It went down to 89% after a year. But... I was on iOS 13 beta since it came out. That drained my battery so much quicker having the beta.
Now with 11Pro Max. I laid down at night and went to put my phone on The charger and saw I still had 60%. And I am a heavy user. (non beta version is iOS 13.1) So less charging for me, going to try and stick it out 2 days.
Now with 11Pro Max. I laid down at night and went to put my phone on The charger and saw I still had 60%. And I am a heavy user. (non beta version is iOS 13.1) So less charging for me, going to try and stick it out 2 days.
Better for battery health?
Yes, charging with 5W will be better.
But when you need to top off your battery ASAP, then the tradeoff between slightly lowered battery health and speed to a full battery may be worth it.
Yes, charging with 5W will be better.
But when you need to top off your battery ASAP, then the tradeoff between slightly lowered battery health and speed to a full battery may be worth it.