iOS now warns about slow power adapters
Apple has now introduced an iOS function that detects when the iPhone is only receiving limited power. This is what you can do.
(Image: Apple)
Apple has implemented various new charging functions as part of iOS 26. This includes a new display that indicates approximately how long it will take until the battery is fully charged. The information can be seen on the lock screen as well as in the Battery section of System Settings. But that's not all: The system now also detects when an underpowered power adapter is being used, slowing down the charging process—and warns about it.
Slow charging does no harm
The so-called “Slow Charger” function has been on board since iOS 18, but many users may only have noticed it with iOS 26. It appears, for example, when an old USB-A charger with 7.5 or even just 5 watts is used. (For wireless charging (MagSafe / Qi2), it must be at least 10 watts for the message not to appear.) This would take three to four hours to charge an iPhone 17. If you have the time, you don't need to do anything else; the device will not be damaged.
Alternatively, you can get a faster charger; you can find a selection in this test. For fast charging on iPhone 15 or newer, a USB-C power adapter with at least 18 watts is required; via MagSafe, it is 20 watts (iPhone 15 or older) or 30 watts (from iPhone 16), respectively.
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Incompatibility and charging time display
iOS 26 can also detect that the user is using an incompatible charger. This can have various reasons, for example, if Power Delivery values cannot be read correctly or if there are problems with the USB-C strip. In this case, the iPhone will not be supplied with power for safety reasons, and the “Charger not compatible” dialog will appear. Users should then use a different power adapter and, if necessary, cable.
The display of how much longer the charging process will take always refers to the individual charging limit. By default, this is at 80 percent; as part of so-called optimized charging, it is ensured that the device is only fully charged shortly before use (usually in the morning). However, the charging limit can also be set to a different value or deactivated entirely; then it can be seen how long it takes to reach 100 percent charge.
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