Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup has officially arrived, and one of the more notable changes is faster wired charging. The new models now support up to 40W via USB-C, an improvement over the 27W speeds seen in previous generations. While this still lags behind rivals like Motorola, OnePlus, and Xiaomi—some of which offer blazing-fast 90W or even 125W charging—it marks a meaningful step forward for Apple, a company known for incremental updates.
The upgraded charger, which Apple sells separately as usual, delivers the increased speed without changing its overall size. Unlike many accessory makers that have embraced GaN (gallium nitride) technology for more compact and efficient adapters, Apple is sticking with its established approach for now. Industry watchers speculate that Apple may eventually transition to GaN, but likely only once the technology has matured further, possibly closer to the end of the decade.
Apple has often been late to adopt new hardware trends, yet when it does, the company tends to introduce them with a unique twist that fits seamlessly into its ecosystem. For example, future GaN chargers from Apple could offer multi-device charging—something especially appealing to users who typically juggle an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods.
For the time being, iPhone 17 owners will need to settle for 40W wired charging and MagSafe wireless charging. Wireless remains slower, with Apple trailing behind competitors that already provide 50W wireless charging on select devices. Even so, the bump to 40W brings noticeable improvements for users upgrading from earlier models.
Looking ahead, rumors suggest that Apple is experimenting with more radical designs. The upcoming iPhone Air, which is expected to refresh less frequently than the Pro series, may lean into extreme thinness and feature advanced silicon carbide batteries. To achieve that vision, Apple could eventually eliminate physical ports altogether and rely exclusively on MagSafe for charging. While that future isn’t here yet, the groundwork is clearly being laid with each generation.