Apple quotes up to 50% charge in 20 minutes for the iPhone 17 "with 40W adapter or higher", and that adapter is "available separately". Macworld's charge test suggests you needn't chase it: an iPhone 17 charged from flat peaked at about 26 watts, reaching 41% in twenty minutes on Apple's 40W Dynamic Power Adapter and 42% on a 61W one. So the useful question is how many things you want charging at once. All three picks below charge an iPhone 17 quickly; they differ in what else they do.
Top picks
1. Anker Nano 45W USB C Charger (Foldable) - Best Overall
SPP Score: 8.8 / 10 - 45W foldable single-port plug. Our all-round pick.
Capability 7.6/10 - Versatility 8.0/10 - Build 9.8/10 - Value 8.9/10 - Fit 9.8/10
Fit for this guide: An iPhone 17 needs a plug that keeps up, and this 45W foldable single-port charger clears every figure Apple quotes.
Every pick here is scored out of 10: four marks rate the product and are the same in every guide, and the fifth rates its fit for this guide - how we test and score.
Nothing Apple quotes for the iPhone 17, wired or over MagSafe, sits above 45W, so this plug never leaves you short of a figure on the spec sheet. Anker's listing title gives it a GaN build and a foldable plug, so the pins tuck away in a bag.
Pros
- ✓ Clears every charging figure Apple quotes for the iPhone 17, wired and magnetic
- ✓ Folding pins on the plug that ends up living in an iPhone bag
- ✓ A GaN charger, per Anker's listing title
Cons
- ✗ One USB-C port, so everything else in the house waits its turn
- ✗ On the measured figures the phone never draws all 45W, so some of what you buy sits idle
Who it's for: iPhone 17 owners who want one plug, no footnotes, and something that folds for a bag.
Who it's not for: Anyone who wants to charge more than one device from the same plug.
2. UGREEN Nexode 30W USB C Charger (Foldable GaN) - Best Budget
SPP Score: 8.4 / 10 - 30W foldable GaN plug. Our value pick.
Capability 7.6/10 - Versatility 8.0/10 - Build 9.4/10 - Value 8.9/10 - Fit 8.5/10
Fit for this guide: A 30W foldable GaN plug suits an iPhone 17 owner adding a bedside or weekend-bag charger.
On Macworld's measurements, 30W covers an iPhone 17 with a little to spare, from the lowest power class here. UGREEN's listing title pairs PD3.0 with a foldable GaN build. The limit: 30W sits below the 40-watt adapter behind Apple's 20-minute figure, so treat this as a fast charger rather than a record-setting one.
Pros
- ✓ 30W covers what an iPhone 17 was measured drawing, with a little spare
- ✓ Lowest power class of the three, and the pins still fold away
- ✓ PD3.0 and GaN, per UGREEN's listing title
Cons
- ✗ 30W matches Apple's 30-watt MagSafe bar exactly rather than clearing it, so there is no margin
- ✗ The least headroom of the three, so it's the first one you would outgrow
Who it's for: iPhone Air owners, whose 20-watt bar this clears outright, and anyone adding a bedside or weekend-bag plug.
Who it's not for: Readers set on matching Apple's 20-minute figure on its own terms.
3. UGREEN Nexode 65W GaN Charger (3-Port) - Best Premium
SPP Score: 8.3 / 10 - 65W GaN. Our pick for maximum capability.
Capability 8.5/10 - Versatility 8.0/10 - Build 9.4/10 - Value 8.9/10 - Fit 7.6/10
Fit for this guide: Three ports and 65W go beyond one iPhone, fitting homes where a tablet and other devices share the socket.
Buy this one for everything except the iPhone. UGREEN's listing title gives it 65W across three ports in a foldable GaN plug, so the phone shares the socket with whatever else needs charging. The title doesn't break down the port mix, so check the listing if you need a USB-A socket for older kit. If this power class is what you're after generally, our 65W GaN charger guide compares that tier properly. Charging an iPad rather than the phone? Our iPad charger guide picks for that.
Pros
- ✓ Three ports, so the iPhone stops being the only thing that gets the socket
- ✓ The most output of the three, per UGREEN's 65W rating
Cons
- ✗ For one iPhone on its own, two of the three ports sit empty
- ✗ Apple's highest iPhone 17 figure is the 40-watt adapter, so 25 of the 65 watts serve other devices, not the phone
Who it's for: Homes where the iPhone shares the plug with a tablet and a watch.
Who it's not for: Anyone charging only an iPhone, which a single-port plug above already covers.
Quick verdict
For most iPhone 17 owners the Anker Nano 45W USB C Charger (Foldable) is the one to buy: a single fast port that folds for the bag. For a bedside or weekend-bag plug, choose the UGREEN Nexode 30W USB C Charger (Foldable GaN). If other devices share the plug, choose the UGREEN Nexode 65W GaN Charger (3-Port). Away from the wall completely, a magnetic power bank does the other half of this job.
How we chose
We read Apple's own spec pages for the iPhone 17 and the iPhone Air, then Macworld's charge test, rather than the marketing. Then we weighed what else each plug does: how it folds, how many devices it serves at once, and whether its extra features help an iPhone in particular. We take no payment for placement. Do check each listing for what's in the box, since Apple's figures assume a USB-C cable and we don't verify what ships with any plug.
FAQ
Q: Does the iPhone 17 need Apple's 40-watt charger? A: No. Macworld's conclusion was that "No matter what power adapter you use, your new iPhone 17 isn't going to draw more than 25-28 watts." Every plug here gives 30W or more.
Q: What charger does the iPhone Air need? A: Apple rates the Air at up to 50% in 30 minutes with a 20-watt adapter or higher, a lower bar than the iPhone 17's. All three picks clear it, so choose on ports instead of wattage.
Q: What wattage do I need for MagSafe on an iPhone 17? A: Apple quotes 50% in 30 minutes from a 30-watt adapter or higher paired with its MagSafe Charger, and rates MagSafe and Qi2 wireless at up to 25 watts on the iPhone 17 and up to 20 watts on the Air. All three picks meet or clear that 30-watt bar. If you're wondering how those two names differ, our Qi2 vs MagSafe explainer covers it.
Q: Will a more powerful charger damage my iPhone? A: No. USB-C Power Delivery is a negotiation, so the phone asks for what it wants and the charger holds the rest in reserve. Check the cable instead, since it can only pass what it is rated to carry; our USB-C cable guide covers that end.
Q: Can I keep using my old iPhone plug? A: Yes. A lower-wattage plug still charges an iPhone 17, just more slowly; it can't reach the 20-minute figure Apple quotes against a 40-watt adapter or higher.
More questions, answered in full
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