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Apple · Discontinued · iPhone 11 Pro era

Apple 18W USB-C: superseded by 20W, barely.

The 18W (model A1720) shipped in the box with the iPhone 11 Pro and the 2018 iPad Pro. Its replacement is 2W bigger, and that is the entire difference.

If yours died, buy this

The straight replacement is the Apple 20W USB-C adapter or any certified 20–30W third-party equivalent. Both use the same 9V rail your phone already negotiates, so nothing about your charging behaviour changes except roughly two watts. If the same adapter also has to serve an iPad Air or Pro, step up to 30W instead. General procedure for dead-charger replacement: replacing a lost charger.

18W to 20W is a 2W increase on the same 9V rail — about one minute across a full phone charge. If your 18W adapter still works, there is no charging reason to replace it. Replace it when it fails, not because a bigger number exists.

The spec, and what it shipped with

RailCurrentDelivered
5V3A15W
9V2A18W

Two fixed PD rails, one USB-C port, no PPS, non-detachable prongs. Apple bundled it with the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max — the first iPhones to ship with a fast charger in the box — and with the 2018 iPad Pro. It was retired in 2020 when the 20W became the standard phone brick.

Because both rails top out at 9V, the 18W has the same structural limit as the 20W: no 15V, no 20V, so laptops and Nintendo Switch docks are out of reach. Side-by-side numbers: 18W vs 20W compared.

Devices, sorted

  • Still correct for: iPhone 8 through iPhone 14, AirPods, Apple Watch puck, iPad 9th/10th gen. These all peak at or below what 18W supplies.
  • Slightly under: iPhone 15 and 16, which can pull 20–27W. You lose a few minutes, not a charge.
  • Clearly under: iPad Pro and iPad Air (30W peak), MacBook Air (30W minimum), and the iPhone 17 generation, which is built around the 40W Dynamic adapter.

Modern equivalents worth buying

  • 30W

    Anker Nano 30W

    Folding prongs, GaN internals, and 12W more than the 18W it replaces — in a smaller body.

    Output
    30W USB-C PD
    Ports
    1× USB-C
    Plug
    Folds flat
    Check price on Amazon
  • 30W

    UGREEN Nexode 30W

    Four PD rails instead of two, so the same brick can also trickle a laptop in an emergency.

    Output
    30W USB-C PD
    Ports
    1× USB-C
    Tech
    GaN
    Check price on Amazon
  • 20W

    Amazon Basics 20W USB-C

    The minimum-change option: same 9V behaviour as the 18W, 2W more, cheapest defensible price.

    Output
    20W USB-C PD
    Ports
    1× USB-C
    Class
    Budget certified
    Check price on Amazon
  • 30W

    Belkin BoostCharge 30W

    Certified 30W GaN for a nightstand — a sensible upgrade if the same outlet also feeds an iPad.

    Output
    30W USB-C PD
    Ports
    1× USB-C
    Tech
    GaN
    Check price on Amazon

Verdict

A perfectly serviceable adapter that has simply been outgrown by newer iPhones. Do not pay a premium for a used original; buy 30W new and gain the 15V and 20V rails the 18W never had. Class overview: 18W adapters, and the tier above at 20W.

Related

FAQ

Is the Apple 18W adapter still good in 2026?

For an iPhone 14 or older, yes — it delivers the same 9V fast charge the 20W does, two watts slower. For an iPhone 15 or newer it leaves a few minutes on the table, and for an iPad Pro it is well under the 30W peak.

Can I replace an 18W adapter with a 20W one?

Yes, directly. Both are single-port USB-C PD adapters using a 9V rail; the 20W simply supplies 2.22A instead of 2A. Nothing about cables or device behaviour changes.

Did the iPhone 11 Pro come with an 18W charger?

Yes. The iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max were the first iPhones bundled with a fast charger, an 18W USB-C adapter with a USB-C to Lightning cable. Standard iPhone 11 units still shipped with the 5W cube.