Many phones now come without a charger in the box, and charger listings are full of terms like PD, PPS, Qi2 and SUPERVOOC. Buy the wrong one and your phone may charge well below its rated speed, even though the plug fits. Buy a cheap uncertified one and you may also take a safety risk.
Here is how the main standards work, why wattage claims mislead, why cables matter and how to pick a safe charger in India. We checked the pages cited below in October 2026.
Quick answer
- USB Power Delivery (USB PD) is the open, cross-brand fast charging standard used over USB-C. Recent iPhones and Pixels, and many Samsung phones, use it.
- PPS (Programmable Power Supply) is part of USB PD and allows finely adjusted voltage and current. Samsung and Pixel fast charging rely on it.
- Qi2 is the wireless standard with magnetic alignment, based on Apple’s MagSafe. Original Qi2 tops out at 15W; Qi2 25W raises that to 25W.
- Proprietary systems such as OnePlus SUPERVOOC reach full speed with the brand’s own charger and cable, and charge more slowly on standard PD chargers.
- The phone, charger and cable must all support the same mode. The slowest link sets the speed.
- In India, choose chargers that carry the BIS registration mark and check the R-number in the BIS Care app.
USB Power Delivery: the common language
USB Power Delivery is a specification from the USB Promoter Group and USB-IF. The charger advertises what it can supply over the USB-C cable, and the device requests a level it can accept. So a higher-wattage PD charger does not force extra power into a phone; Apple, for example, says you can charge an iPhone with a Mac USB-C power adapter.
USB PD revision 3.1, announced in May 2021, raised the maximum from 100W to 240W by adding 28V, 36V and 48V levels to the existing 5V, 9V, 15V and 20V. Phones use far less than 240W; the higher levels mainly serve laptops.
PPS: why some phones insist on it
PPS is an option within USB PD. Instead of a few fixed voltages, a PPS charger can adjust its output in small steps (20 mV for voltage and 50 mA for current limits, according to one charger reference design description). The aim is to minimise conversion losses during charging.
PPS support decides whether some Android phones reach top speed. Google’s Pixel specifications list fast charging with a “USB-C PPS charger” sold separately. Samsung’s own 45W Super Fast Charger 2.0 lists “PD 3.0 PDO/PPS max. 45W”. A charger that offers PD without PPS will still charge these phones, but usually not at the headline rate.
AVS on newer iPhones
Apple’s fast charging page for the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max lists the Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max, or “a comparable third-party 60W-capable (or greater) adapter that uses Adjustable Voltage Supply (AVS)” supporting USB-PD 3.2, for up to 50% in around 15 minutes. For the iPhone 17 family Apple quotes around 20 minutes with a 40W or higher adapter, and for the iPhone Air and iPhone 17e around 30 minutes with 20W or higher. The right charger depends on the exact model.
Qi2: magnetic wireless charging
Qi is the Wireless Power Consortium’s (WPC) wireless charging standard. Qi2 adds the Magnetic Power Profile, which the WPC says is based on MagSafe technology contributed by Apple. Magnets line up the charging coils for you.
The WPC’s consumer site says the original Qi2 “topped out at 15W”, while Qi2 25W (also called Qi 2.2) allows up to 25W. A Qi2 25W phone on an older Qi2 charger still works, but without the faster speed. Google lists the Pixel 11 series at up to 25W with its Qi2.2-certified Pixelsnap charging.
“Qi2 Ready” phones
Some phones support Qi2 charging but have no built-in magnets. The WPC calls these “Qi2 Ready”. They need a compatible magnetic case for snap-on alignment, and the WPC names Samsung’s Galaxy S25 and S26 series as examples. Without it, you align the phone yourself.
Wireless is usually slower than the best wired option. Apple, for example, quotes around 30 minutes to 50% for the iPhone 18 Pro on a MagSafe charger with a 35W or higher adapter, against around 15 minutes wired. Look for the Qi2 or Qi2 25W mark and confirm the product in the WPC’s certified products database.
Proprietary fast charging
Some brands use their own systems, such as SUPERVOOC on OnePlus phones. PhoneArena reported that the OnePlus 15 box includes an 80W SUPERVOOC charger and a SUPERVOOC USB-C cable, and that the phone also accepts third-party USB PD and PPS chargers, but charges more slowly on them.
The trade-off: a proprietary charger can be very fast with its matching phone, but may do less for your other devices. A good USB PD charger with PPS works across brands.
Wattage claims: what the number really means
- The phone decides. A 100W charger does not make a 45W phone charge faster than 45W.
- Peak, not constant. Brands quote times to 50%, not 100%. Apple notes fast charging may not work when it is too hot or too cold.
- Protocol beats watts. A 65W charger without PPS can be slower on a Samsung phone than a 45W charger with PPS.
- Multi-port chargers. The headline figure may be the total across all ports, so check the per-port rating.
- Lab conditions. Google says its rates are based on its own 45W charger and actual results may be slower. Samsung says speed may vary by device, cable and environment.
Cables matter more than you think
USB-IF certified USB-C cables carry logos for 60W or 240W. A 60W cable carries up to 3A at 20V, which is enough unless your phone’s maker asks for more. Some do: Anker’s support page says Samsung’s 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0 needs a USB-C to USB-C cable rated at 5A, and Samsung’s 45W charger kit includes a 5A cable. Higher-rated cables use an electronic marker (e-marker) chip to tell the charger what they can carry; UL notes e-markers must be used in 240W cables.
Cheap cables are a weak point. UL lists poorly built cables, out-of-spec connectors and wrongly used e-markers among the causes of fire risk in USB-C charging. For proprietary systems, use the matching cable supplied in the box, such as the SUPERVOOC cable that comes with the OnePlus 15.
Chargers sold separately: what changed
Apple stopped including a power adapter with iPhones in October 2020, when the iPhone 12 range launched. Google’s Pixel specifications also list the charger as “sold separately”. Box contents can differ by brand and market, so check before buying.
Regulation is pushing towards one port. In the EU, common charger rules have applied since 28 December 2024: phones need a USB-C port, devices charging above 15W must support USB PD, phones can be sold without a charger, and labels must show the charging power range and whether USB PD is supported. In India, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has adopted IS/IEC 62680-1-3:2022, the USB Type-C cable and connector standard. Reports said the government aimed for a common charging port by March 2025; we could not confirm a final compliance date for all phones.
Safety: what to look for in India
Power adapters for IT equipment fall under the BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS), tested to IS 13252. A legitimate charger should carry the BIS Standard Mark with a registration number (R-number). The official BIS Care app lets you enter the eight-digit R-number to check it, and to file a complaint if the mark seems misused. Apple’s guidance makes the same general point: use adapters that meet safety standards, because others “could pose a risk of death or injury”.
How to choose a fast charger
- Check your phone maker’s support page for the protocol it uses (USB PD, PPS, AVS or proprietary) and the wattage needed for top speed.
- Buy a USB-C charger that lists that protocol on the box or spec sheet, not just a big wattage number.
- Match the cable: a certified 60W cable, or a 5A e-marked cable if your phone’s maker requires one.
- For several devices, check the per-port output of a multi-port charger.
- For wireless, look for Qi2 or Qi2 25W certification, and a magnetic case if your phone is Qi2 Ready.
- Check the BIS mark and R-number in the BIS Care app, and buy from authorised sellers.
- Avoid unbranded chargers with no markings or labels that do not match the claims.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my laptop’s USB-C charger for my phone?
Usually yes, if it uses USB PD, because the phone requests only what it can accept. Top speed still depends on protocols such as PPS.
Why doesn’t my Samsung phone show “Super fast charging 2.0”?
According to Anker’s support page, you need a Samsung phone that supports 45W charging, a 45W or higher PPS charger and a 5A-rated USB-C cable. Anker adds that some PPS chargers show only “Super fast charging” with similar charge times.
Will a Qi2 charger work with a phone without magnets?
A Qi2 Ready phone, such as the Galaxy S25 or S26, can charge on it, but snap-on alignment needs a compatible magnetic case. For older phones, check the charger maker’s compatibility list. Speed depends on what both sides support.
Sources
- USB Promoter Group: USB Power Delivery 3.1 announcement (May 2021)
- Display Daily: USB-IF certified cable power rating logos
- UL: 240W USB-C cable testing and safety considerations
- Components101: USB-C PPS adapter reference design
- Apple: Fast charge your iPhone
- Apple: About Apple USB power adapters
- Google: Pixel phone hardware tech specs
- Samsung: 45W Super Fast Charger 2.0
- Anker Support: Samsung Super Fast Charging 2.0 requirements
- Wireless Power Consortium: What is Qi2 25W?
- WPC: Qi2 certification announcement (November 2023)
- audioXpress: Qi 2.2 wireless charging deployment
- PhoneArena: OnePlus 15 box contents
- 9to5Mac: iPhone 12 ships without a charger
- ChargerLab: EU Directive 2022/2380 requirements
- ComReg: EU common charger rules
- FoneArena: BIS standard for USB Type-C
- BIS: BIS Care app
- G&M Compliance (IEEE PSES): BIS CRS product categories
