After months of waiting, and more leaks than we have seen in quite some time, the iPhone 12 lineup has finally arrived. For the first time ever, Apple unveiled four new iPhones, with screen sizes ranging from a minuscule 5.4-inches and going all the way up to 6.7-inches. With all of the latest features of iOS 14, paired with a complete hardware redesign, there’s a lot to be excited about.
Chances are, you have a million of those little 5W charging blocks that Apple has been including in both the iPhone and Apple Watch packaging. Well, Apple has said “enough is enough”, but you won’t be getting a faster charger. Nope. Instead, Apple is getting rid of both the charging brick AND EarPods. These have been main staples for years, but Apple is turning its focus onto being less wasteful.
In fact, during the iPhone launch event, Apple’s VP Lisa Jackson was shown on the roof of the Spaceship Campus to explain why. Jackson stated that there are already more than 2 billion power adapters in the world. To be fair, a few of the tech giants (Apple and Google) have been focusing more on reducing the amount of e-waste that is taking over the planet.
Jackson also stated that all of the company’s offices, data centers, and retail locations will be “Carbon Neutral” by the end of the year. This is great for not only the environment, but it’s also another example of how Apple is leading the way in the tech industry. On one hand, this may seem like another way for Apple to save some money, but that’s not the entire story. Apple started this trend with the launch of the Apple Watch Series 6 and Watch SE, and now it comes to the iPhone 12.
Finding the right iPhone 12 charger
Before you just throw any old charger in your Amazon cart and hit “Buy Now”, make sure you know exactly what kind of charger to get. See, the 5W charger that Apple had been including was pretty much useless, but the majority of folks weren’t aware. Over the last few years, the charging speeds of the iPhone and iPad have been greatly increased.
Gone are the days where you would have to wait for a couple of hours to go from 0-100%. Now, you can get a full charge in less than 30 minutes, provided that you have the right charger. So, what kind of charger do you need for the iPhone 12 to get the fastest charge? Well, Apple states that you can fast charge the iPhone 12 at up to 20W. Instead of providing a new 20W charger in the box, Apple just opted to remove it from the packaging altogether.
Best iPhone 12 charger for the wall
The display looks great on every iPhone 12 device.
Now that you know what to look for in an iPhone 12 Charger, there is something else to be aware of when searching. If you find a charger that is rated for up to 36W, 60W, or anything over 20W, you don’t have to keep scrolling. There are fail-safes built into both the iPhone 12 and the charger itself to stop the iPhone from being “over-charged”. But this also adds a bit of versatility because many of the recommended chargers can fast-charge your iPad, or other devices that are laying around the house.
The Aukey Focus 36W charger features a foldable design while providing up to 30W of juice with one of the dual USB-C ports. This makes for a charger with a low profile, which is perfect for throwing in your bag and taking with you. In fact, this charger is powerful enough to quickly juice up your MacBook Air or iPad Pro 12.9, without breaking a sweat. If both ports are in use, however, the speeds will be limited to 18W, so there’s enough power to go around.
Chances are, you’ve heard of Anker at some point in time, as the company makes some of the best charging accessories for all smartphone and tablet owners. The PowerPort III comes in with 60W of charging capacity, while sporting two USB-C ports on the back. The added benefit of the PowerPort III over another iPhone 12 is that the wall plugs are interchangeable. Anker includes a plug adapter for the US, UK, and EU, making for the perfect lightweight charger to take abroad.
If you enjoyed having the small 5W Apple Charger to take with you, then you’ll love the Anker Nano. This option is perfect for the iPhone 12 as it provides a single USB-C charging port, but is capable of matching the 20W of output needed. You’ll miss out on prongs that retract, and are limited to just a single USB-C port, but that’s not a big deal if you want the smallest fast charger possible.
RAVPower’s Fast Charger is a bit different than the ones we’ve already mentioned. That’s because instead of offering two USB-C ports, there’s a single USB-C port and a traditional USB-A plug. It’s the perfect iPhone 12 Charger, as you can use the USB-C port for your iPhone and then use the other charger for your AirPods or Apple Watch.
Some folks just like living in the Apple ecosystem, and that includes the various accessories that accompany the iPhone. Since the iPhone 12 charger is compatible with up to 20W of power, it only makes sense for Apple to provide one. There is only a single USB-C charging port, but that should be more than enough for what you need.
Best iPhone 12 Wireless Chargers
It’s clear that Apple is semi-focused on cutting the cord entirely for iPhone owners. The company surprisingly (or not if you paid attention to leaks) reintroduced the MagSafe branding. But this has nothing to do with your MacBook, and is completely focused on offering a great wireless charging experience. With a MagSafe charger, your iPhone can wirelessly charge at up to 15W. That is double the speed of which your current iPhone 11 can (7.5W).
It’s important to note that other than Apple’s MagSafe charger, only one other company has announced a MagSafe compatible charger (Belkin). However, Apple will be providing the specifications to other interested company’s so that more of your favorite accessory makers can create unique charging devices for your iPhone 12.
The MagSafe charger snaps onto the back of the iPhone 12.
With the new MagSafe charger, your iPhone will perfectly align the magnets and attach to your iPhone. Charging is done wirelessly and provides up to 15W of juice. This is not the fastest iPhone 12 charger, as you will still get faster speeds with a wired charger. However, wireless charging is more about convenience, and the MagSafe Charger delivers.
As we mentioned before, Belkin is the first company that has partnered with Apple for new MagSafe accessories. This brings us to the Belkin MagSafe 3-in-1 Wireless Charger. Not only is there a stand for both your iPhone 12 and Apple Watch, but there’s one more charger built-in. That’s in the base, and where you can put your AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones for charging.
We are expecting Nomad to jump on the MagSafe train, but the company has not announced anything as of yet. Instead, we would recommend the Nomad Base Station. In our review, we recommended everyone to pick one of these up, as you can charge three devices at once. It makes for a great AirPower replacement since that is dead and gone for good. There are even charging ports on the back if you want to plug something else in. The only downside is that the iPhone is only capable of charging at 7.5W wirelessly.
Some folks would rather have a wireless charging stand and not just a charging pad. That’s where the Native Union Dock Charger comes in. Native Union’s offering provides a lip for your iPhone 12 to comfortable rest. Charging speeds are limited to just 7.5W, but this charger makes for a great addition. Native Union’s charger is available in a few different colors, so you can match your charger to your aesthetic.
Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.
He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.
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