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Faster charging, but with a catch
Apple’s new iPhone 17 lineup promises quicker top-ups: Apple claims the iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max can reach 50% battery in about 20 minutes, while the thinner iPhone Air requires roughly 30 minutes to hit the same mark. The acceleration in charging speed arrives alongside a new official accessory — the so-called 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max.
What that adapter actually is
Despite the headline numbers, the adapter is effectively a 40W charger that can temporarily push higher power — early hands-on tests suggest short bursts up to 60W for around 15 minutes. Apple’s documentation shows the adapter uses a newer charging protocol called Adjustable Voltage Supply (AVS), rather than the more widely used Programmable Power Supply (PPS).
AVS versus PPS — why it matters
AVS lets the device request precise voltages (about 15V–48V in 0.1V steps), which is handy for managing high-power transfers. PPS, however, already supports 40W and even 60W in many USB chargers on the market. The practical implication: many existing USB chargers may support PPS but not AVS, and the new Apple adapter reportedly does not implement PPS support.
- Hands-on reporting from a third-party user found the 40W Dynamic Power Adapter negotiates only USB Power Delivery 3.0 and AVS, not PPS.
- The adapter is priced at $39 and may be less useful for PPS-only devices.
What we still need to test
The most important unanswered question is whether iPhone 17 models can actually achieve that 50% in 20 minutes when paired with common third-party PPS chargers (40W or 60W). Will charging efficiency or thermal behavior differ when using a PPS adapter versus Apple’s AVS-equipped charger? Those are real-world tests consumers will want to see.
In the meantime, users who prioritize guaranteed peak speeds should verify charger protocol compatibility. For everyone else, the upgrade signals Apple slowly opening the door to faster wired charging, even if the ecosystem implications remain mixed.
Source: gsmarena
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