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iPhone 15, 14 and 16 standard/slow charger?

I've been reading multiple pages on the Apple website, and on this forum, about which charger to use for an iPhone and am just confused. I realise I can fast charge at the various wattages mentioned, there's loads of info about that, but what if I don't want to fast charge? Which charger should I buy for overnight charges from a wall socket, 7-8 hours in duration, if I want to preserve battery life? It'll be a USB-C charger for a new iPhone 16, or maybe a secondhand 14/15 if I go down that route.


The phone only comes with a cable.


I can't even start a chat on the website to ask Apple - it thinks I'm asking about the other sort of charging and gives me links to web pages on price plans to buy a phone....

Posted on Sep 10, 2024 10:23 AM

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Sep 10, 2024 10:50 AM in response to RobM77

What charger you use won't have any effect on the battery life (unless of course the charger is of poor quality which many of the "no name" brands are). The iPhone will control the charging wattage itself and if the wattage is higher than what the iPhone needs, it just won't take more. You can if you wish use a charger with a wattage lower than what the iPhone can accept, but it won't do anythiing really useful other than charge more slowly.


For Apple's general tips on batteries, see:


Batteries - Maximizing Performance - Apple


Regards.


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Sep 11, 2024 2:00 AM in response to RobM77

I wrote a long reply with multiple links to Apple's website that was deleted, so I won't bother trying to repeat it in full lest it's deleted again, but this doesn't answer my question. I already know what you've said above. Yes, the phone will draw "what it can", and that's the bit I'm worried about. According to Apple, this is a "fast charge mode" if the charger is over 20W according to Apple. Apple's iPhone tech specs say the iPhone 16 is "fast-charge capable", and their info page on charging talks about "fast charging". So if that's a "capability" that the phone has that's great, and I understand that, but what's "normal charging"? What do I do for overnight charges 7-8 hours in length?

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Sep 11, 2024 4:48 AM in response to RobM77

As I said above, the iPhone will control how fast it draws current. So the wattage of the charger you use will not affect the battery life, which is what you asked about. So I don't understand your concern. You can use any charger of good quality that's physically compatible with your iPhone. If you use a charger that provides power lower than what the iPhone can handle, the iPhone will just charge more slowly. If you use a charger that's higher wattage then what the iPhone needs, which with prior iPhones was 15 watts but with the iPhone 16 is 25 watts, the iPhone will just restrict the amount of power it takes. In neither case will the battery usage or battery health be affected (all other things being equal).


If that still doesn't answer your question, you're going to need to clarify what your concern is or what it is you wish to know.


Regards.

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Sep 11, 2024 8:01 AM in response to RobM77

"What do I do for overnight charges 7-8 hours in length?"


To add to Varjak Paw's exellent information, charging overnight with any charger, even a charger that supplies enough wattage to fast charge will not damage the battery. The phone will stop charging when it reaches 100%, you cannot overcharge the battery.

Apple actually recommends charging your phone overnight, they would not make such a recommendation if it would damage the battery.

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iPhone 15, 14 and 16 standard/slow charger?

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