How many watts does your charger need? iPhone, Samsung and laptop explained
20W is enough for most phones, Samsung's Plus and Ultra want 45W with PPS, and laptops start at 65W. The real numbers, what GaN means, and why the cable matters.
The most common mistake we see: someone buys a 100W charger for their phone and expects it to charge faster. It won't. A phone draws only what it is designed for, and the rest of that wattage sits unused. What matters is knowing your device's number and buying to match.
The numbers by device
| Device | Wattage it actually uses | Sensible minimum |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone (most models) | 20 to 27W | 20W USB-C charger |
| Newest iPhones (16 and 17) | about 30 to 40W | 30 to 45W charger |
| Samsung Galaxy S (standard) | 25W | 25W charger with PPS |
| Samsung Plus and Ultra | 45W | 45W charger with PPS |
| iPad | 20 to 30W | 30W charger |
| MacBook Air | 30 to 35W | 35W or higher |
| Windows laptop / MacBook Pro | 65 to 100W | 65W or 100W charger |
In short: if you only charge a phone, a 30W charger covers you with room to spare. If you want one charger for phone and laptop together, get 65W with at least two ports.
What do PD and PPS mean?
PD (Power Delivery) is the fast-charging standard over USB-C, and every decent charger supports it today. PPS is an extension on top of PD that lets the charger fine-tune the voltage, and it is what Samsung phones need to reach 25W or 45W. Without PPS, a Samsung charges at around 15W no matter how big the number on the charger is. Look for the letters PPS on the box.
What does GaN mean?
GaN stands for gallium nitride, a material that replaces silicon inside the charger. The practical benefit: a smaller, lighter, cooler charger at the same power. A 65W GaN charger is roughly the size of an old iPhone cube. If you travel, or want one charger for everything, GaN is the way to go.
The cable matters, and everyone ignores it
A standard USB-C cable is limited to 60W. To charge a laptop at 100W you need a cable marked 100W (or 240W). It has a small chip inside that tells the charger it can safely carry the higher current. A cheap cable on a powerful charger gives you cheap-cable speed.
A note for anyone in Qatar
Mains power here is 240V and the sockets are the British three-pin type (Type G). Every charger we sell comes with the right plug. If you bring a charger from abroad with a US or EU plug, don't just stick a cheap travel adapter on it and forget about it. Poor adapters get hot under high-wattage chargers. Better to use a charger with a proper UK plug, or a travel adapter from a known brand.
Summary
- Phone only: a 30W charger.
- Samsung Plus or Ultra: 45W with PPS.
- Phone plus laptop: 65W GaN with two ports.
- Don't forget the cable: 100W-rated for laptops.
All of these are in our chargers section. Thinking about wireless charging instead? Read our guide to MagSafe vs Qi2.