What charger do I need?
A USB-C PD charger with PPS: 45 W suits a Pixel 10a or Galaxy, and the iPhone 18 Pro needs a 60 W AVS adapter for its fastest charge. UK picks from £13.99.
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What charger do I need for my phone?
Most phones need a USB-C Power Delivery (USB PD) charger with PPS, at the wattage the phone's maker names for its fastest charge: 45 W for a Pixel 10a, 45 W or 60 W for a Galaxy S26 Ultra, and a 60 W-capable charger with AVS for an iPhone 18 Pro. A charger above the phone's ceiling is safe but adds no speed.
The Android pick is the Samsung 45W Power Adapter at £21.95 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026), and the iPhone 18 Pro pick is the Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter at £39.00. The ranked shortlist is in Best fast charger UK 2026, and chargers to carry are in Best power bank UK 2026.
| Phone or job | Charger it needs | Pick | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max | 60 W-capable with AVS | Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter | £39.00 |
| iPhone 17, 17 Pro or 17 Pro Max | 40 W or higher | Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter | £39.00 |
| iPhone 17e or iPhone Air | 20 W or higher | Anker Nano Charger 30W | £13.99 |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | PPS, 45 W (60 W for the peak) | Samsung 45W Power Adapter | £21.95 |
| Google Pixel 10a | 45 W PPS or higher | Samsung 45W Power Adapter | £21.95 |
| Phone and laptop from one plug | 65 W, three ports | Anker 735 Charger (65W) | £20.89 |
Which wattage does each phone need?
The iPhone 18 Pro needs the most: Apple rates it at up to 50% in around 15 minutes with a 60 W-capable adapter that supports Adjustable Voltage Supply (AVS). Samsung rates the Galaxy S26 Ultra at 60 W with Super Fast Charging 3.0, up from 45 W, and Google names a 45 W USB-C PPS charger for the Pixel 10a. Compare Electronic's table takes each figure from the maker's own spec or support page.
| Phone (source) | Charger the maker names | Time to 50% | Time saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max (Apple) | 60 W-capable adapter with AVS, USB-C cable | Around 15 min | 15 min, against 30 min on MagSafe with a 35 W adapter |
| iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max (Apple) | 40 W adapter or higher | Around 20 min | One figure published |
| iPhone 17e and iPhone Air (Apple) | 20 W adapter or higher | 30 min | One figure published |
| Pixel 10a (Google) | 45 W USB-C PPS charger or higher | About 30 min | One figure published |
| Pixel 11 and 11 Pro (Google) | 30 W USB-C PPS charger or higher | 55% in about 30 min | No 0 to 50% figure |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra (Samsung) | Super Fast Charging 3.0, 60 W | 75% in around 30 min | No 0 to 50% figure |
Apple is the only maker that publishes two 0 to 50% figures for the same phone. On a 60 W AVS charger and a USB-C cable, the iPhone 18 Pro reaches 50% in around 15 minutes; on a MagSafe Charger fed by a 35 W adapter, Apple quotes 30 minutes. The wired route halves the wait and saves 15 minutes per top-up. On Apple's figures, an iPhone 18 Pro on the right charger also reaches 50% about 5 minutes sooner than an iPhone 17 Pro on a 40 W adapter.
Google and Samsung name the charger rather than the phone's peak. Google does not publish the Pixel 10a's wattage on its spec page, only that its 50% in about 30 minutes needs a 45 W PPS charger. Samsung quotes 75% in around 30 minutes for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, so a buyer cannot compare it directly with the 50% figures. Owners weighing a new handset should read Should I upgrade my iPhone in 2026? before buying a charger for it.
What do USB PD, PPS and AVS mean on a charger?
USB Power Delivery is the USB-C standard that lets a phone and a charger agree a voltage, and PPS and AVS are two modes within it that phones use for their fastest speeds. According to the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), USB PD was limited to 100 W at 20 V until Revision 3.1 added 28 V, 36 V and 48 V for 140 W, 180 W and 240 W.
- Fixed USB PD steps:the charger offers set voltages. Samsung's 45 W adapter lists 9 V and 15 V at 3 A and 20 V at 2.25 A.
- PPS (Programmable Power Supply): the phone asks for any voltage within a range. The same Samsung adapter lists PPS ranges of 3.3 to 11 V at 4.05 A, 3.3 to 16 V at 2.8 A and 3.3 to 21 V at 2.1 A. Google and Samsung both quote their fast-charge figures with PPS chargers.
- AVS (Adjustable Voltage Supply):USB-IF describes it as letting the device request intermediate voltages between 15 V and the charger's top fixed voltage. Apple requires it for the iPhone 18 Pro's 15-minute figure.
A charger without the mode a phone wants still charges it, at a slower standard USB PD rate. Heat is the other limit on speed, which is why phones slow down on warm pads; that trade-off is covered in Is wireless charging bad for your battery?.
How much does a phone charger cost per watt?
The Anker 735 Charger (65W) costs the least per watt, at 32.14p for £20.89 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026), and the Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter costs the most, at 65.00p per watt of its 60 W peak. Compare Electronic's price per watt divides the Amazon UK price by the maker's top single-port output.
| Charger | Top single-port output | Price | Per watt | PPS | AVS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anker 735 Charger (65W) | 65 W | £20.89 | 32.14p | Yes | Not listed |
| Anker Charger 100W 3-Port | 100 W | £37.99 | 37.99p | Not listed | Not listed |
| Anker Nano Charger 30W | 30 W | £13.99 | 46.63p | Yes | Not listed |
| Samsung 45W Power Adapter | 45 W | £21.95 | 48.78p | Yes | Not listed |
| UGREEN Nexode 30W | 30 W | £14.99 | 49.97p | Yes | Not listed |
| Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max | 60 W peak | £39.00 | 65.00p | Not listed | Yes |
Per watt only matters up to the phone's ceiling. A Pixel 10a gets Google's quoted speed from the 45 W Samsung adapter, so the Anker 735's cheaper watts buy headroom for a laptop, not a faster phone. The Apple adapter's premium pays for AVS, the mode the iPhone 18 Pro needs for its 15-minute figure. Buyers charging from a battery on the move should match the same protocols and size the capacity with How many mAh power bank do I need?.
Which phone charger should you buy?
The Samsung 45W Power Adapter is the charger to buy for an Android phone, at £21.95 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026). Samsung rates it for Super Fast Charging 2.0 at 45 W and USB PD 3.0 PPS at 45 W, and supplies a 1 m 5 A USB-C cable in the box.
Samsung 45W Power Adapter specifications (Samsung)
- Output: Super Fast Charging 2.0 up to 45 W; USB PD 3.0 PPS up to 45 W
- Port: 1 x USB-C
- Fixed outputs: 9 V and 15 V at 3 A, 20 V at 2.25 A
- PPS ranges: 3.3 to 11 V at 4.05 A, 3.3 to 16 V at 2.8 A, 3.3 to 21 V at 2.1 A
- In the box: wall charger and 1 m USB-C to USB-C 5 A cable
- Weight: 120.42 g (Samsung UK listing)
- Input: 100 to 240 V
The adapter meets the charger Google names for the Pixel 10a and the 45 W Super Fast Charging 2.0 level on Galaxy phones. It stops short of the Galaxy S26 Ultra's 60 W peak, and Samsung lists no AVS, so an iPhone 18 Pro charges on it below Apple's quoted speed. The single port charges one device at a time.
Samsung 45W Power Adapter - pros and cons
Where to buy
Check price
Three alternatives cover iPhones, tight budgets and laptops, at Amazon UK prices on 6 October 2026.
Also consider
Radar · 0-100 scores
- 45W Power Adapter with USB-C Cable (EP-TA845)
- 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max
- Nano Charger 30W
- 735 Charger (65W)
Verdict
A phone needs a USB-C Power Delivery charger with the mode and wattage its maker names: PPS at 45 W for the Pixel 10a, PPS at 45 W or 60 W for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and a 60 W-capable AVS charger for the iPhone 18 Pro. The Samsung 45W Power Adapter at £21.95 is the Android pick and the Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter at £39.00 is the iPhone 18 Pro pick. The ranked list is in Best fast charger UK 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What charger do I need for an iPhone 18 Pro?
The iPhone 18 Pro needs a 60 W-capable USB-C charger with Adjustable Voltage Supply (AVS) for its fastest charge, which Apple rates at up to 50% in around 15 minutes. The Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max meets that and costs £39.00 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026). Any USB Power Delivery charger still works, more slowly.
What charger does the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra need?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra needs a USB-C charger with PPS. Samsung rates its Super Fast Charging 3.0 at 60 W, up from 45 W, and quotes up to 75% in around 30 minutes. The Samsung 45W Power Adapter costs £21.95 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026) and delivers Super Fast Charging 2.0 at 45 W with a 5 A cable in the box.
What charger does the Pixel 10a need?
Google quotes the Pixel 10a at up to 50% in about 30 minutes using a 45 W USB-C PPS charger or higher, sold separately. The Pixel 10a box holds a 1 m USB-C cable and no charger. The Samsung 45W Power Adapter is rated for USB PD 3.0 PPS at 45 W and costs £21.95 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026).
Can I use a higher-wattage charger on my phone?
Yes. A phone draws only the power it requests, so a higher-wattage USB-C Power Delivery charger is safe and simply goes partly unused. The Anker Charger 100W 3-Port charges a phone and a laptop together and costs £37.99 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026). Extra wattage only helps a phone up to that phone's own ceiling.
What is PPS on a phone charger?
PPS (Programmable Power Supply) is a USB Power Delivery mode that lets a phone request a voltage within a range instead of a fixed step. The Samsung 45W Power Adapter lists PPS ranges from 3.3 V up to 21 V alongside fixed 9 V, 15 V and 20 V outputs. Google quotes the Pixel 10a's fast-charge figure with a PPS charger.
Do new phones come with a charger in the UK?
No. Apple lists a 1 m USB-C charge cable and no power adapter in the iPhone 18 Pro box, and Google lists a 1 m USB-C cable and a SIM tool with the Pixel 10a. The cheapest charger here is the Anker Nano Charger 30W at £13.99 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026), with PPS and a foldable UK plug.