The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are expected to support 40W fast charging over the wire and 20W fast-charging over MagSafe, rumor has it.
By comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max support a peak charging speed of 27W when paired with a USB-C power adapter, or 15W via MagSafe.
The rumored increase in charging wattage doesn’t necessarily mean this year’s iPhone 16 Pros will have shorter charging times.
When fast-charging any iPhone from the iPhone 13 onward, the battery recharges from dead to about fifty percent in around thirty minutes no matter its capacity.
iPhone 16 Pros may charge faster
ITHome claims this year’s Pro models will be equipped with bigger batteries than their predecessors, with a 3355mAh battery for the iPhone 16 Pro and a 4676mAh one destined for the flagship iPhone 16 Pro Max.
By comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have 3290mAh and 4,441mA batteries, respectively.
As the site explains, the charging wattage increase (27W for the wire and 20W via MagSafe) is to counter longer charging times due to the rumored increase in battery capacity. The primary goal is to enable users to bring their iPhone to 50 percent battery with a quick 30-minute charge, regardless of battery capacity.
A steel battery case as a thermal solution
This plays into an earlier rumor that this year’s Pro models would use stacked batteries to boost capacity and extend battery lifespan.
For its fast charging feature, the iPhone uses the USB Power Delivery protocol to negotiate power requirements with the charger and continually monitor charging to protect battery health and avoid overheating.
Actually, overheating shouldn’t be much of a problem on the flagship iPhone 16 Pro Max, which could use a stainless steel battery case as a thermal solution.