How to tell if your iPhone is charging

This is the wrong way around, the picture on the left means it is charging and on the right that the charger needs to be connected.

On the left: needs to be charged, charger not connected.

ON the right: needs to be charged, currently charging.

The fact that this can be wrong way around is proof, if ever it was needed, that the symbolism is highly ambiguous.

Since a lightning bolt is used at top menu to indicate phone is charging, why not also use it next to the big red battery to indicate the same?

The inclusion of the bolt symbol with the cable is the source of the confusion.

No, that's exactly backwards. On the left, the phone is plugged in. On the right, it's not - the charge cable in the image is telling you to plug it in.

I think it's the other way around. If you see the cable in the image, it is not charging / connected.

isnt it the other way around?

I agree, it's the other way around (at least on iPhone 6, iOS 10). logo with cable means "not charging", logo without cable means "charging".. I lost many hours to this, thought my phone was dead when in reality I was wrongly assuming it was charging because I saw the logo with cable.. thanks!

Hi

As you are having issues charging, follow the steps here, including checking the charging port for any debris:

If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch won't charge - Apple Support

More information:

http://help.apple.com/iphone/9/#/iph63eecc618