Skip to main content

The iPhone 16 Pro could get a charging upgrade we’ve waited years for

An iPhone 15 Pro Max charging with a USB-C cable.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends

Charging speeds for Apple iPhones have not improved for a considerable period. However, this may change with the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. As per ITHome, both models could support 40-watt wired charging and 20W MagSafe charging.

Interestingly, the news suggests only the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models will receive the charging improvements, not the expected iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models. While 40W still won’t match phones like the OnePlus 12 with its 80W charging, it’ll be a significant upgrade compared to previous iPhones.

Recommended Videos

The iPhone 15 series models can charge up to 27W using supported USB-C power adapters and can wirelessly charge at 15W with MagSafe and select third-party solutions. All four iPhone 15 models, as well as the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 series, support fast charging and can reach 50% battery in around 30 minutes when using a 20W or higher adapter.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Every year, Apple introduces new features to set its iPhone Pro models apart from the regular iPhone models. This has previously involved using different chips, cameras, body materials, color choices, and other methods. This year, in addition to potential differences in battery charging, Apple is likely to modify the display sizes to favor the Pro models.

The upcoming iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to have 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, while the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max may feature 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively. Comparatively, the current iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro have 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR displays, and the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max come with 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR displays.

Apple is likely to reveal its new iPhone lineup in early September. At that time, it will also reveal the next-generation versions of its Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra.

Bryan M. Wolfe
Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.
The latest iOS update might have reactivated Apple Intelligence features
A person holding the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Some iPhone users have reported that yesterday's update to iOS 18.3.1 reactivated once-disabled Apple Intelligence features on specific devices. Certain features, like Notification Summaries, had been shut off over concerns about accuracy. Now users are reporting that these features have been re-enabled following the update.

Devices that displayed a welcome screen after updating seem to have a higher chance of these features being re-activated. Reddit user u/Hanthunius reported the bug on their iPhone 15 Pro Max, while others saw the features make a comeback on Mac devices. MacRumors tested this theory, and while Apple Intelligence remained disabled on iPadOS and iOS in their tests, the Mac Mini was a different story.

Read more
Apple seeds critical update to guard iPhones from USB hacking tools
Installing iOS 18.3 update on an iPhone 16 Pro.

Apple has released a fresh software update for iPhones and iPads to plug a critical flaw that could allow bad actors to extract data even from a locked device. The company says if granted physical access, an attacker could break past the safety of USB Restricted Mode on the target iPhone or iPad.

The aforementioned guardrail prevents USB accessories from pulling data from an iPhone that has been sitting in a locked state for over an hour. It seems there was an authorization flaw within Apple’s Accessibility framework that could allow an attacker to disable the USB Restricted Mode safety net.

Read more
This Reddit user wrote a Shortcut to estimate iPhone charging time
Black Nomad Stand One Max charging stand on household table with iPhone, Apple Watch Ultra, and AirPods Pro docked and charging.

For a long time, iPhone users have requested an estimate for how much longer it would take their phone to charge, but Apple has yet to come through. Reddit user u/AlxR25 grew tired of waiting for the feature and decided to create one themselves, sharing it on the r/iPhone subreddit.

They created the Shortcut through a combination of commands and instructed it to run immediately upon connecting the iPhone to a charger. When enabled, a message pops up with an estimate for how long until the phone is fully charged.

Read more