How to Unlock Fast Charging on the iPhone 17 Series

How to Unlock Fast Charging on the iPhone 17 Series

One of the notable upgrades in the new iPhone 17 lineup is faster charging. Apple claims the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max can now reach 50% battery in just 20 minutes.

But what do you actually need to hit those speeds? And what role does Apple’s new AVS charger play? Let’s break it down.

What You Need for Fast Charging

If you’re upgrading to the iPhone 17 and want the fastest possible charge, here’s the formula:

✅ A charger rated 40W+ with PD 3.2 AVS support
✅ A quality USB-C to USB-C cable rated for 3A / 60W

Apple’s New 40W Dynamic Power Adapter

Apple has released a 40W Dynamic Power Adapter (with a short peak up to 60W). It’s their first charger to use the USB Power Delivery (PD) 3.2 AVS protocol (Adjustable Voltage Supply).

AVS allows the charger to supply power in smaller, more precise voltage steps. In theory, this makes charging more efficient and reduces heat. Apple advertises “50% in 20 minutes” when the iPhone 17 series is paired with this adapter.

What this means in practice

  • Right now, at the time of the iPhone 17 launch (iOS 26): The iPhone 17 series charges over PD 3.0 but still achieves Apple’s advertised speeds when paired with the 40W Dynamic Power Adapter.
  • Future updates: Apple may enable AVS later to further improve efficiency. This would align with Apple’s history of unlocking hardware features via iOS updates (e.g., Qi2 support on MagSafe accessories).

Do You Need Apple’s Charger?

  • iPhone 17 / 17 Pro / 17 Pro Max: To unlock Apple’s advertised fast charging, you’ll need a charger rated at least 40W. While Apple’s 40W Dynamic Power Adapter is the only option today guaranteed to deliver the claimed speeds, third-party AVS-capable chargers may catch up once AVS support becomes more widespread.
  • iPhone 17 Air: This model is capped at ~20W wired charging, so AVS has no effect, even with a 40W charger, it won’t charge faster.

And don’t forget: the cable matters. You’ll need a USB-C to USB-C cable rated for 3A / 60W.

What Happens With Older Chargers?

  • PD 3.0, PPS, or non-AVS chargers: They’ll still work, but charging will be slower (~50% in 30 minutes instead of 20).
  • Lower-wattage chargers (20W / 30W): They’ll charge, but won’t unlock the faster 40W speeds.

So your old chargers are still useful, they just won’t hit Apple’s new performance ceiling.

The Bottom Line

  • The iPhone 17 series does hit 50% in 20 minutes, but only with a high-wattage PD 3.2 AVS-capable charger.
  • Today, under iOS 26, charging still appears to rely on PD 3.0 negotiation, not active AVS.
  • AVS support may be enabled in a future iOS update, improving efficiency and unlocking more precise charging control.
  • For now, Apple’s 40W Dynamic Power Adapter is the safest bet if you want the advertised fast charging performance.
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