Device · iPhone SE (2nd & 3rd gen)
iPhone SE: 20W and the right cable — the cable is the part people get wrong.
The SE fast-charges to 50% in about 30 minutes, but only from a USB-C adapter through a USB-C to Lightning cable. Plug the same phone into a 65W charger with a USB-A cable and it drops to 5W. The connector, not the wattage, is the whole story here.
The spec
Max input: 18–20W. This is a small battery in a 4.7″ body; it fills quickly and there is nothing above 20W for it to use.
Protocol: USB-C Power Delivery from the adapter side.
Cable: USB-C to Lightning, MFi-certified. This is non-negotiable — the Lightning port is the phone's only wired input on the 2nd- and 3rd-generation SE.
Wireless: Qi at 7.5W. No MagSafe magnets, so alignment is manual and the rate is half what a modern iPhone manages.
| Setup | Result |
|---|---|
| 5W USB-A brick + USB-A to Lightning | The in-box experience from 2020. Roughly 2.5 hours to full. |
| 12W USB-A brick + USB-A to Lightning | Modestly faster, still no PD handshake. |
| 20W USB-C + USB-C to Lightning | Fast charge: about 50% in 30 minutes. |
| 65W USB-C + USB-A to Lightning | Back to 5W. The cable, not the brick, sets the ceiling. |
| Qi pad | 7.5W, no magnetic alignment. |
Three picks
- 20W
Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter
Budget pick, and the exact class Apple names in the SE's own fast-charge instructions. Pair with a certified Lightning cable.
- Output
- 20W USB-C PD
- Ports
- 1× USB-C
- Cable
- Sold separately
- 20W
Anker 511 Nano Pro 20W
Best overall. Same 20W target in a plug barely bigger than the prongs, which suits a phone people keep as a compact second device.
- Output
- 20W USB-C PD
- Ports
- 1× USB-C
- Tech
- GaN
- 35W
Apple 35W Dual USB-C Compact
Multi-port pick. Charges the SE at full speed while an iPad, Watch puck or AirPods case takes the second port.
- Output
- 35W shared
- Ports
- 2× USB-C
Don't waste money on
Anything above 30W. The battery in this phone is around half the capacity of a Pro Max; it cannot use the current. A 20W adapter is a complete answer, and 30W is only worth it if a tablet shares the brick.
Multi-cable "6-in-1" bundles. One good MFi USB-C to Lightning cable outlasts a bag of unbranded ones, and the failure mode of cheap Lightning cables is a frayed strain relief within months.
A MagSafe puck. There are no magnets in this body — a MagSafe charger will work as a plain 7.5W Qi pad at best and will not stick.
Moving on from the SE? Apple's successor to it, the 16e, switched to USB-C and charges like the rest of the current line — see the iPhone 16 page for that class, or the iPhone 15 page for the generation that made the change. Full method: iPhone fast charging, and every other device is on the device index.
FAQ
Why isn't my SE fast charging on a 65W charger?
Almost certainly a USB-A to Lightning cable. Fast charge needs Power Delivery, which only runs over a USB-C port — swap to a USB-C to Lightning cable and the same brick jumps to 20W.
Is 20W safe for such a small battery?
Yes. The phone requests its own profile and stops at its own ceiling; the adapter never pushes. 20W is precisely the class Apple specifies for it.
Does the SE support MagSafe?
No. It supports plain Qi wireless charging at 7.5W with no magnetic alignment, so a MagSafe puck offers no advantage over a flat pad.
Can I use a Samsung charger on it?
Yes, if it has a USB-C port. The PPS features go unused, but the standard PD profiles charge the phone normally at up to its 20W limit.