In iOS 18, Apple has introduced a clever new way to identify if your iPhone charging setup is running at less than optimal speeds. The new feature appears directly in Settings, making it easy to spot when you’re not getting the fastest possible charge.
The Battery section displays a Slow Charger message when your iPhone detects a “slow” charger in use. You’ll also see charging periods with an orange bar. This visual indicator appears in both the 24-hour and 10-day battery usage views.
What Makes a Charger “Slow”?
- Wired chargers providing 7.5W or less power
- Standard Qi1 wireless chargers (less than 10W)
- USB ports in cars or hubs
- Chargers with multiple connected devices sharing power
Common Causes of Slow Charging
Several situations can slow down your iPhone’s charging speed. A counterfeit charger could be the culprit, for example. Even some authentic third-party wireless chargers claim MagSafe compatibility but only deliver standard Qi charging speeds.
If you keep accessories like headphones connected during wireless charging, your device automatically limits power to 7.5W to meet safety standards. Running demanding apps, playing graphics-intensive games, or streaming video at high brightness while charging can also reduce charging speeds as your iPhone manages power and heat. Lastly, it’s worth bearing in mind that charging in a warm environment may cause your iPhone to temporarily pause charging until the temperature falls.
Get Faster Charging Speeds
To get the fastest possible charging speeds, you’ll want to use a USB-C Power Delivery charger along with the appropriate cable – USB-C for iPhone 15 and later, or USB-C to Lightning for earlier models. Alternatively, you can opt for either Apple’s MagSafe Charger or any Qi2-certified wireless charger, both of which provide significantly faster charging than standard Qi chargers.
Popular Stories
Apple Releases Firmware Updates for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4
Monday November 11, 2024 11:28 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today released firmware updates for both AirPods 4 models (version number 7B20) and the AirPods Pro 2 with both Lightning and USB-C charging cases (version number 7B21). All of these AirPods models were previously on firmware version 7B19. It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in firmware versions 7B20 and 7B21, but we will update this story if we find…
Apple Likely to Announce Final Cut Pro Update This Week With These New Features
Sunday November 10, 2024 12:13 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
In its announcement video for the new Mac mini last month, Apple teased an “upcoming” version of Final Cut Pro for the Mac. Apple will likely announce the update during the annual Final Cut Pro Creative Summit, which begins this Wednesday. The conference is held in association with Apple, and attendees will be visiting Apple Park on the first day. Apple already teased four new features…
iPhone 17 ‘Air’ May Not Be Much Thinner Than iPhone 6
Next year’s iPhone 17 “Air” model may not be as thin as Apple planned, according to a rumor originating in Korea. According to the news aggregator account “yeux1122” on Naver, citing industry sources, Apple has run into problems making the new iPhone 17 model sufficiently thin. The device’s reduced thickness is apparently dependent on manufacturing a battery with a thinner substrate, but…
The Best Early Black Friday Mac Deals
Black Friday is getting closer, and prices on MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, and Mac mini computers have started to drop as the shopping holiday nears. These deals include the latest models of the M4 MacBook Pro and iMac. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site…
Best Buy Reveals Black Friday Plans With Sitewide Sales Available Now
Black Friday sales are continuing today with Best Buy kicking off early Black Friday deals that will last for the next few days. Similar to other retailers, Best Buy’s early Black Friday event includes sitewide savings on Apple products, headphones, TVs, monitors, video games, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may…
Apple Announces iOS 18.2’s New AirTag Location Sharing Feature Coming to These 15+ Airlines
Monday November 11, 2024 8:18 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Last week, we reported on a new feature in the Find My app on the iOS 18.2 beta that allows you to temporarily share an AirTag’s location with a trusted person, and soon with airlines. Apple today announced the feature, providing more details. Apple said more than 15 airlines will offer the feature “in the coming months,” including Delta, United, Air Canada, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, …
Here’s Everything New in iOS 18.2 Beta 3
Monday November 11, 2024 4:53 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple seeded the third betas of iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 to developers for testing today. While the third betas of each update are minor relative to the first two betas, there are still a handful of changes across the Photos app, TV app, and more. A corresponding iOS 18.2 public beta with these changes will likely be released later this week, and Apple previously confirmed that the software…
Apple Continues to Prepare for Next-Generation CarPlay in iOS 18.2 Beta
Monday November 11, 2024 12:42 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
It has been nearly two and a half years since Apple first previewed next-generation CarPlay at WWDC 2022, and it has still yet to become available in any vehicles. Fortunately, though, Apple continues to work on the software system. Within the code for the third beta of iOS 18.2 seeded to developers today, there are redesigned “Climate” and “Media” app icons for next-generation CarPlay,…
