I tested how fast the iPhone 18 Pro Max really charges

By Victor Hristov · Review Content Lead

Published: Sep 19, 2026, 2:00 PM

Apple

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I tested how fast the iPhone 18 Pro Max really charges

Will the iPhone 18 Pro live up to Apple's fast charging promises? | Image by PhoneArena

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Apple surprised everyone by introducing faster charging speeds for the new iPhone 18 Pro series. It claimed that you can now get a 50% top-up in just 15 minutes, an impressive speed considering the iPhone now has a much larger battery.

But we can't just take companies at their word, so we had to double-check those claims.

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For a limited time, you can pre-order the new iPhone 18 Pro Max at Walmart. You can pre-order the high-end model in the spectacular new Burgundy color with a plan by Verizon through Walmart. For a limited time, you can save $100 on the high-end A20 Pro-powered flagship.

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iPhone 18 Pro Max charging speed test:

Model	15 min top-up	30 min top-up	45 min top-up	Full Charge
iPhone 18 Pro Max	43%	71%	86%	1 hour 8 mins
iPhone 17 Pro Max	36%	63%	80%	1 hour 20 mins
Galaxy S26 Ultra	46%	78%	98%	48 minutes
Pixel 11 Pro XL	40%	67%	86%	1 hour 8 mins

*We have used the global iPhone models for this test: iPhone 17 Pro Max with 4,823mAh battery, iPhone 18 Pro Max with 5,391mAh battery.

**We have used the official chargers paired with the cables that came in the box for each phone: Apple Power Adapter 40W Dynamic with 60W Max for iPhones, Samsung Super Fast Charger 3.0 60W charger, Google 45W USB-C Power Charger for Pixel.

Time to answer the big question: is this increase in charging speed actually noticeable?

Well, it kind of is. Apple promises 50% top-up in just 15 minutes, and we got close to that number at 43%, but not as close as we hoped. This is still a noticeable improvement over the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which only gets 36% charge back in 15 minutes.

And if you leave your phone charging for 30 minutes, you will get 71% back on the 18 Pro Max vs 63% on the 17 Pro Max.

A full charge now takes 1 hour and 8 minutes on the 18 Pro Max, while you need to wait 1 hour and 20 mintues on the 17 Pro Max.

Apple has never given users truly fast charging, so can it finally match the mainstream Android flagships?

This is still not quite as fast as the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which gets 78% in the same time. A full charge on the Galaxy is also insanely fast, finishing in just 48 minutes, while it takes an extra 20 minutes for the iPhone 18 Pro Max to fully top up, but Samsung's flagship also admittedly has a smaller battery.

But the iPhone managed to beat the Pixel, which this year also got faster charging, but is now outshined by the iPhone.

Not every USB-C charger will give you those speeds

You need the AVS standard to get the fastest speeds

And it all starts with finding the right charger. You would think that with the universality of the USB-C standard, finding a proper charger for your smartphone would be easy. It really is not, though, especially if you want to hit the maximum charging speeds.

The easiest route is to just use the official Apple Power Adapter 40W Dynamic with 60W Max.

However, many people might want something a bit cheaper and something that will work universally with all sorts of devices. Think of a charger from companies like Anker, Ugreen, Belkin, etc.

And that's where you can really go into a rabbit hole of standards, but long story short, you should look for a charger that specifically supports the AVS standard. This is a newer standard adopted by Apple. Most Android phones don't use it, and instead they just need the PPS standard.

To save you half an hour or more of Googling and ChatGPT-ing, you should probably get something like the Ugreen Nexode Air 65W or Ugreen Nexode Air 100W. Preferably in a version with just a single port to ensure you always get optimal speeds.

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Victor, a seasoned mobile technology expert, has spent over a decade at PhoneArena, exploring the depths of mobile photography and reviewing hundreds of smartphones across Android and iOS ecosystems. His passion for technology, coupled with his extensive knowledge of smartphone cameras and battery life, has positioned him as a leading voice in the mobile tech industry.

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