A recent YouTube video shows the iPhone 18 Pro Max can charge from 0% to 100% in as little as 55 minutes with a capable charger, compared with 81 minutes for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. In other words, the iPhone 18 Pro Max can reach a full charge 26 minutes faster than the previous generation (devices continue to receive a slow trickle of power even after they display 100% battery).
iPhone 18 Pro Max charging improvements
The same footage demonstrates that the iPhone 18 Pro Max can hit 50% battery in 15 minutes, down from 20 minutes for iPhone 17 Pro models. The smaller iPhone 18 Pro is expected to deliver similar charging speeds.
During the tested session, the iPhone 18 Pro Max reached a peak charging speed of 52W for the first 12 minutes. By comparison, a separate test of the iPhone 17 Pro Max recorded a 36W peak. As with most modern phones, charging speed tapers off later in a session to help prevent overheating.
How useful the faster charging will be depends on individual habits: if you primarily charge overnight the benefit is limited, but users who top up their phone during the day may value saving nearly half an hour on a 0% to 100% charge.
Apple’s tech specs state that achieving the fastest charging on iPhone 18 Pro models requires a power adapter capable of 60W or higher with Adjustable Voltage Supply (AVS). Apple sells a 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max that meets this requirement, priced at $39 on its U.S. online store.
The video referenced is in Chinese.
