How Many Watts Do You Need to Charge Your Phone?

Buying a high-wattage charger doesn't guarantee fast charging, because the phone only draws what it supports. A 100W charger on a phone capped at 25W charges at 25W, so matching matters more than raw wattage.

Match the charger to the phone

Check your phone's maximum charging speed first. Many Androids support 25W to 65W, while iPhones top out around 27W. A charger that matches or slightly exceeds your phone's limit is all you need.

The cable is the hidden limit

A cable's wattage rating caps the flow just like the charger does. A 60W cable is fine for phones but will throttle a 100W laptop. Buy a cable rated for at least what your charger outputs.

What to buy

• A 20W to 30W charger for most phones
• A 65W or higher charger if you also charge a laptop
• A 100W-rated cable for future-proofing

The rule: match charger, cable, and phone. A 30W charger and a 100W cable cover nearly every phone, and a single 65W GaN charger handles both a phone and most laptops.