Which Fast Charger Does Your Phone Need? USB PD vs PPS

Most iPhones fast charge on any USB-C charger that supports USB Power Delivery (USB PD) at 18 W or more. The iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max need 40 W to reach their top speed. A Samsung Galaxy or a Google Pixel needs one more thing: PPS, a mode inside USB PD. Samsung asks for 25 W or 45 W, Google for 30 W or 45 W depending on the model. A charger rated higher than your phone needs is fine, because the phone only takes what it can use.

That is the short answer. Below: what the labels on a charger actually mean, what Apple, Samsung and Google each ask for in their own words, and why the cable can cap your speed without you noticing.

USB PD, PPS and Quick Charge: what the charger labels mean

USB Power Delivery is the fast-charging standard from the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), the body behind USB itself. Before real power flows, the charger and the phone talk over the USB-C cable and agree on a voltage. That handshake is why one charger can safely feed a phone, a tablet and a laptop. According to the USB-IF's own USB PD page, the latest revision (USB PD 3.1) goes up to 240 W. Before that, USB PD stopped at 100 W, and only over cables rated at 5 A.

PPS (Programmable Power Supply) is an option within USB PD 3.0. A basic USB PD charger has a set of fixed voltages. A PPS charger can adjust while the phone charges. Samsung's description is that PPS "adjusts voltage and current in real-time based on device charging status." Samsung and Google both build their fastest wired charging on it.

Quick Charge and other brand names are proprietary protocols that some phone makers run alongside the standard. In the EU they can no longer replace it. The EU's common charger rules require phones to have a USB-C port and to support the USB PD protocol, as the European Parliament's summary of the law sets out. The European Commission says the aim is to stop makers "unjustifiably limiting charging speed", so a phone charges at the same speed on any compatible charger.

Which charger each phone needs, according to Apple, Samsung and Google

iPhone

Apple's requirement is the simplest of the three. Its fast charging support page asks for an Apple 18 W or greater USB-C adapter, or "a comparable third-party USB-C power adapter that supports USB Power Delivery (USB-PD)." PPS isn't mentioned anywhere, so any decent USB PD charger works. The iPhone 15 and later charge over a USB-C to USB-C cable. Older models need a USB-C to Lightning cable.

Samsung Galaxy

For Super Fast Charging, Samsung's fast charging help page asks for "a 25W or 45W Samsung-approved adapter" and notes that not every Galaxy supports 45 W. The 45 W adapter's product page goes into more detail. Super Fast Charging 2.0 "requires a USB Power Delivery (PD) 3.0 compatible device supporting Direct Charging," the power arrives over PPS, and Samsung tells you to use its 5 A cable.

Check the setting as well. On a Galaxy, open Settings, tap Battery, then Charging settings, and make sure Fast charging is switched on. With that switch off, the charger makes no difference.

Google Pixel

On its Pixel tech specs page, Google quotes every recent Pixel's charging time with a "USB-C PPS charger" of 30 W or 45 W, depending on the model. The fine print says the rates were measured on Google's own charger and "Actual results may be slower." Older Pixel spec sheets write the requirement out in full: "USB-PD 3.0 (PPS)."

What happens if you use a different charger

A charger more powerful than your phone needs

That is safe. Samsung says a Galaxy "will automatically choose the best supported charging speed when plugged into a higher rated charger." A USB-C PD laptop charger won't push more into your phone than the phone asks for.

A USB PD charger without PPS, on a Samsung or Pixel

The phone still charges, just below the speed on the box. Samsung and Google both quote their headline figures with a PPS charger, so without PPS, expect slower. When you buy, look for "PPS" printed on the charger or in the listing, next to the wattage.

An old USB-A cube from the drawer

USB PD runs over USB-C, so an old charger with only a USB-A port generally can't negotiate fast charging. The phone falls back to basic charging and takes a lot longer.

The cable can cap your charging speed

A fast charger on the wrong cable charges slowly. For phones that take 20 W to 30 W, a sound USB-C cable from a known brand is enough. The cable starts to matter at the top end. The USB-IF notes that USB PD's old 100 W ceiling needed cables rated at 5 A, and Samsung asks for its 5 A cable for 45 W charging. If your Galaxy supports 45 W but never reaches it, try a different cable first.

Samsung also strongly advises against uncertified or counterfeit chargers on its charger guide. The same page gives the older 15 W Adaptive Fast Charging figure used in the table above.

The EU label on the box tells you what to buy

Since 28 December 2024, phones sold in the EU have had to charge over USB-C. Laptops followed on 28 April 2026. Two markings on the box help with the charger question. A pictogram shows whether a charger is included, since you can now buy a phone without one. A label covers the charging side: according to the European Commission's common charger page, makers must give "information on the power the device requires and whether it supports fast charging." Read that label before you buy a charger, and match its wattage to what the charger offers.

The Commission estimates that consumers save at least €250 million a year on chargers they don't need, and that making and throwing away fewer chargers cuts electronic waste by 980 tonnes a year. For what the USB-C switch means to venues that offer charging, see fixed charging cables vs shared powerbanks.

Does a faster charger wear out your battery faster?

Less than most people think. Heat does the damage, not the number on the charger, and phones slow the charge as the battery fills. We went through the research in Does fast charging damage your battery? If battery lifespan is what worries you, the setting worth a look is the charge limit, covered in Is the 80% charging limit worth it?

The best charger is still the one you have with you. If yours is at home and your phone is on 8% halfway through an evening out, powerbank rental networks like Brick are built for that moment: rent one at the venue, return it at any station on the network.

FAQ

Can I charge my phone with a USB-C laptop charger?

Yes, if the charger supports USB PD. The phone only draws what it supports. Samsung says a Galaxy "will automatically choose the best supported charging speed when plugged into a higher rated charger." For a Samsung or Pixel to reach its top speed, the laptop charger also needs PPS.

Does an iPhone need a PPS charger?

No. Apple asks for a USB-C adapter with USB Power Delivery, 18 W or more, and doesn't mention PPS. The iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max need 40 W or more for their fastest rate.

Why isn't my Samsung super fast charging?

Check the charger first: Samsung asks for a 25 W or 45 W Samsung-approved adapter, and its 45 W mode uses PPS and a 5 A cable. Then check Settings, Battery, Charging settings, where Fast charging has to be on. Not every Galaxy supports 45 W either, so check your model.

What wattage charger does a Google Pixel need?

Google quotes recent Pixel fast-charging times with a 30 W or 45 W USB-C PPS charger, depending on the model. Your model's exact figure is on Google's Pixel tech specs page.

Do new phones in the EU come with a charger?

Not necessarily. EU rules let you buy a phone without a charger, and a pictogram on the box shows whether one is included.

Is fast charging bad for my battery?

Heat matters more than charging speed, and phones slow the charge as the battery fills. Our evidence review on fast charging and battery wear goes through the research.