CNET put flagship models from Samsung, Apple, and other brands through a charging test. The fastest wired and wireless charging phones have been revealed. Here's the updated list:
The CNET team conducted a test evaluating the wired and wireless charging performance of last year's popular phones. Instead of testing under ideal or artificial conditions, they focused on a scenario most of us find ourselves in: a phone with an almost completely depleted battery.
Phones Charged Down to 10%
In the test, each device's battery was drained to a maximum of 10%, then charged for 30 minutes, either wired or wirelessly. The final rankings were determined by averaging each phone's wired and wireless scores into a single composite result. When wired and wireless results were combined, the iPhone 17 Pro topped the rankings. It was noted that the iPhone charged faster thanks to its hardware and software optimization.
Apple Excelled in Wireless Charging
Wireless charging was one of the biggest surprises of the test, as Apple claimed four of the top five spots. The iPhone 17 Pro reached 55% charge in 30 minutes in the wireless charging test, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max reached 53%, iPhone 17 49%, and iPhone Air 47%. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra placed fifth with 39%.
CNET believes that Apple's MagSafe system provides an advantage to iPhones because the magnets perfectly align the phone with the charging coil, increasing charging efficiency and consistency. The test also highlighted that to achieve these speeds, the correct accessories must be used, including a 30W or higher power adapter and a MagSafe charger that supports fast charging.
Samsung Maintained Its Lead in Wired Charging
Although the iPhone 17 Pro was the overall winner, Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra was the fastest wired charging phone. The Galaxy S26 Ultra reached a 76% charge level in 30 minutes. The iPhone 17 Pro Max charged to 69% in half an hour, while the 17 Pro reached 74%.
The results also demonstrated how much charging speeds have improved in the smartphone market as more brands adopt USB Power Delivery standards and Qi2.2 wireless charging.
Fastest Charging Phones (Wired)
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: in 30 minutes - 76%
- iPhone 17 Pro: in 30 minutes - 74%
- Motorola Moto G Stylus: in 30 minutes - 74%
- OnePlus 15: in 30 minutes - 72%
- iPhone 17: in 30 minutes - 69%
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: in 30 minutes - 69%
- Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: in 30 minutes - 69%
- Motorola Razr (2025): in 30 minutes - 68%
Fastest Charging Phones (Wireless)
- iPhone 17 Pro: in 30 minutes - 55%
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: in 30 minutes - 53%
- iPhone 17: in 30 minutes - 49%
- iPhone Air: in 30 minutes - 47%
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: in 30 minutes - 39%
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