Extremely slow charging

I have had 3 iPhone XR’s in the past 5 days due to extremely slow charging which made me get exchanges which I don’t think is normal due to it being the same problem with 3 brand new phones in just a few days. For example, 3 hours for it to charge to just only 69%, 1 hour and it only gets to 30%, in a quick 20 minutes only charges between 5&10%. I don’t know if it’s the brand of iPhone or if some people think this is normal but I certainly don’t! As my iPhone 6s which is 3 years old is charging to 100% within an hour and this iPhone XR is meant to be brand new on the market so this makes no sense what so ever. Is anyone else having this problem? If so please comment or if anyone knows anything which can help? Thank you

iPhone XR

Posted on Jan 8, 2019 5:01 PM

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Posted on Jan 8, 2019 5:18 PM

The Xr has a much larger battery than your previous iPhones, so it will take longer to charge. The Xr has a 3,000 MaH battery. Your 6S has a 1700 MaH battery. Based on that alone, from the same power source your Xr will take almost twice as long to charge as your 6S.


If you are using the cube that came with it that is part of the problem. It can only supply 1 amp (1,000 Ma). If you are using a computer to charge it will take even longer, because most computers only supply 500 Ma. Other options:


  • The Xr has a fast charge mode using a USB-C power source. With that it will charge to 50% in 30 minutes, and 100% in 1 1/2 hours.
  • The Xr will charge twice as fast as it does with the cube if you use an iPad 12W adapter.
  • In the middle, with a Qi wireless charger it will charge at 7.5W, between the cube and an iPad adapter.


Also, if you are using the phone while it is charging your usage takes almost half of the incoming energy, so it will take a very long time to charge with the 1 Amp adapter.


If you want to continue using the cube and not buy another power source then just charge it overnight. That way it won't matter how long it takes. It's also a best practice, because you can enable automatic iCloud backup and the phone will back up everything that has changed when the phone is locked, connected to power and connected to Wi-Fi. So you will never lose more than 1 day's content.

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Jan 8, 2019 5:18 PM in response to Millieobrien

The Xr has a much larger battery than your previous iPhones, so it will take longer to charge. The Xr has a 3,000 MaH battery. Your 6S has a 1700 MaH battery. Based on that alone, from the same power source your Xr will take almost twice as long to charge as your 6S.


If you are using the cube that came with it that is part of the problem. It can only supply 1 amp (1,000 Ma). If you are using a computer to charge it will take even longer, because most computers only supply 500 Ma. Other options:


  • The Xr has a fast charge mode using a USB-C power source. With that it will charge to 50% in 30 minutes, and 100% in 1 1/2 hours.
  • The Xr will charge twice as fast as it does with the cube if you use an iPad 12W adapter.
  • In the middle, with a Qi wireless charger it will charge at 7.5W, between the cube and an iPad adapter.


Also, if you are using the phone while it is charging your usage takes almost half of the incoming energy, so it will take a very long time to charge with the 1 Amp adapter.


If you want to continue using the cube and not buy another power source then just charge it overnight. That way it won't matter how long it takes. It's also a best practice, because you can enable automatic iCloud backup and the phone will back up everything that has changed when the phone is locked, connected to power and connected to Wi-Fi. So you will never lose more than 1 day's content.

Jan 8, 2019 5:54 PM in response to Millieobrien

The 8 Plus has a 2700 MaH battery, so it is close to the Xr. I said the Xr should charge to 100% in 1 and 1/2 hours (90 minutes) when charged using a USB-C power source. If you are using the 1 amp cube 30% in one hour is about right. All assuming the phone is locked when charging. If it isn't then it will take much longer because the phone is using energy as it is charging.


Doing the math: A 3,000 MaH battery. Power source 1,000 Ma. (1,000 Ma x 1 hour) / 3,000 MaH = .33 or 33%. The wireless pad is 7.5 watts, but wireless charging is less efficient than wired charging, so it won't be that much better than a 1 amp power source.


If you are not going to charge overnight you will be much happier if you get a USC-C power source such as 30W USB‑C Power Adapter - Apple

Jan 10, 2019 8:27 AM in response to millie227

Well, 12W @ 5.2 volts = 2.3 amps or 2300 MA, so yes, 25% in 35 minutes is reasonable. And a USC-C power source would charge even faster than that.


The 10 ampere-hour power bank would not be any faster; it is the output current it can deliver, which is probably 2.2 amps, that matters. However it is a great thing to have for those situations when your battery is low and you're away from mains power. I carry one when I travel.

Jan 8, 2019 5:40 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Thank you very much! I know my battery is bigger but my mate has got a phone with a bigger battery the iPhone 8 Plus and we both charged our phones today together to compare them and that charging was a lot faster than mine so that’s what makes me think the phone is faulty etc. Also I have used my wireless charging pad which is meant to be faster but it still took 1 hour to charge to 30% which I don’t think is normal what so ever. Your saying it should charge to 100% in 1/2 hours and mine is charging to 30% in 1 hour I just don’t understand it and no I don’t use my phone when I’m charging it and that is another really strange reason why it’s taking so long to charge, so do you think this is normal then?

Jan 11, 2019 11:11 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Yes I know but the apple shop and phone shop where I purchased it aren’t saying that, I’ve took it to apple as well for an appointment and they’ve said it isn’t normal for it to take this long to charge and I’ve had it exhanged 3 times this is the 4th phone now that’s the only reason I was so concerned because the apple shop said that and right okay thanks for everything you’ve really helped

Jan 11, 2019 10:36 AM in response to millie227

The higher capacity only means the number of times you can charge the phone before having to recharge the battery pack itself. For a 10,000 it can recharge the phone about 3 times; for the 28,800 it can recharge it 8 or 9 times. The 15 watts is more than the phone can use, so it won't be any faster. The only option that would be faster is a USB-C power source.


But why do you need it to be faster? If you charge overnight it doesn't matter how long it takes.

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Extremely slow charging

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