AirPod Charging (Fast Chargers, 18W, 20W, 30W Checked Out)


AirPods improve user experience by offering a Bluetooth headset experience. If you have a 20W iPhone, you may be interested in knowing whether you can use it with your AirPods and improve the charging speed.

So, can you use a 20w charger on AirPods? It is possible to use a 20W charger on your AirPods. In this case, you should use an Apple charger given its security features to avoid spoiling your charging case. However, a higher wattage charger will not speed up your AirPods charging, and it will intake the charge as per its limits.

Charging your phone’s battery within the shortest time possible is an evolutionary experience that saves you the inconvenience of waiting for so long before you can use it again. For Apple fans, it is a concern whether it is possible to use the new 20-watt charger on their AirPods and enjoy a similar experience.

It is possible to charge your AirPods using a 20w USB charger if you have its accompanying charging case. The charger should be compatible with Apple products even if the manufacturer is not Apple.

However, you should be cautious with non-Apple manufactured cords and ensure their reliability in terms of safety mechanisms in their internal circuitry. Your AirPods will be compatible with an iPhone, iPad, AirPods Max, AirPods 2, or AirPods Pro charger.

Apple products feature cross-compatibility in their hardware and software components. For instance, the iPhone and AirPod chargers are the same, using the 20w, USB type C charger. With this charger, you need not worry about overheating or damage.

This is because Apple has built-in components that monitor and prevent any damages from charging malfunctions. On the other hand, third-party products often lack the components that monitor energy transfer, hence the risk in using them. Even though some brands are safe, there is not enough information available that highlights them.

So far, Apple is proving effective in its charger security features, preventing them from damaging its products. However, you should not plug your charger into a 20-watt charger for more than 2hours. Once the case is full, unplug it from the charge to prevent overheating and potential damages to your charging case and AirPods. You will also extend the charging case’s overall life by doing this.

Can I Charge My AirPods With a Fast Charger?

The experience of using AirPods is great, with the headsets delivering up to three hours of listening time after charging. However, none of this will matter if the AirPods take too long to charge. Read on to know whether you can speed up the charging by using a fast charger.

It is possible to use a fast charger on your AirPods, but this will not affect the charging speed. Instead, your AirPods will charge at their standard rate. On average, your AirPods will take about twenty to thirty minutes to fully charge though some models may take up to one hour.

As stated earlier, you cannot charge your AirPods directly unless through the charging case. Therefore, you should place AirPods into their pod. After closing it, power will transfer from the pods to the earbuds.

Also, you do not have to connect to a charger to charge your AirPods every other time. All you need to do is charge the casing before leaving your house, and while on the go, place your AirPods inside to charge them.

There are two main ways you can charge your AirPods in their case, including using the wireless charging pad or via a lightning cable. You can charge all AirPods wirelessly, except the first-generation AirPods. The wireless capability is more dependent on the charging case than the AirPods.

First-generation AirPods, made in 2016, lacked the wireless charging capability, and you could only rely on the lightning cable. However, with a charging case featuring wireless charging, you can charge these AirPods wirelessly.

Wireless charging features convenience, thus users who start using it prefer to stick to it in most cases. However, it will take you up to five times more time to charge your AirPods battery to full since this system loses some energy in the process.

This may not be a big issue, especially if you charge your AirPods once weekly. To charge your AirPods via the wireless charging case, start by placing the casing on a Qi-compatible charging mat. Once charged, put your AirPods inside and let them charge to full battery.

To charge your AirPods using the charging cable, fit a Lightning cable, which is the same charger you use on your iPads and iPhones on the charging port, at the bottom of your AirPods case.

Afterward, leave your AirPods to charge, and when fully charged, you can use the casing several times to charge your AirPods before recharging it. Your AirPods will take an average of twenty minutes to recharge while in their case.

To know if your AirPods are charging or not, check the indicator light on the casing. This light will blink for about eight seconds after plugging your AirPods into the charger or laying them on the mat. When the AirPods battery is full, the lights will turn green.

Whether using the Lightning cable or charging wirelessly, your AirPods should be full within the shortest time possible. If you are using the right cable and charging block, but the AirPods are not charging, you should inspect some potential faults and fix them accordingly.

First, ensure you are using an Apple charging cable and Adapter. This is necessary since, with third-party products, you will likely have difficulty locating or fixing issues. While they offer convenience in terms of pricing, third-party chargers break down more often than Apple cables. An Apple cable is white and made of smooth plastic. You will get this cable with every Apple device, but you can also purchase directly from the website. 

If you suspect that your cable is faulty, you can try charging your AirPods wirelessly to establish if it is still charging. If it is not, your AirPods may be faulty. Otherwise, move on to the next troubleshooting method.

With wired charging, the cable is the first thing you should check. The common problems that may affect charging, in this case, include a damaged cable, twists, cracks, or slits. Also, the cable will generally wear out and break.

To check the functionality of your cable, use it to charge a different device, and if it works, you can conclude that it is still functional. If it is not functional on your AirPods charging case, check that the connections on both ends are tight. Also, ensure you plug in the wall outlet in its powerstrip. If all these fail, replace the charging cable, and you should be good to go. 

While replacing your cable will solve the charging issue, this may not always be the case, forcing you to inspect your outlet adapter. Start by connecting the pins and check that there is no heat damage on the connection ports. With charging blocks featuring a longer lifespan, it is unlikely that they will have a problem without your knowledge, but this does not rule out the need to troubleshoot its functionality.

Inspecting the charging case should be your next step if all the above factors are in order.  Ideally, your charging case should click in position when you place your AirPods in them.

This sound is courtesy of the magnet in the case that places your AirPods in place. If you do not hear the faint click, your charging case is broken, forcing replacement. You may also need to replace this case if your battery no longer holds the charge.

While checking your charging case, you should inspect your AirPods and ensure no wax or dirt is blocking the charging ports. For your AirPods to charge, the electrical circuit should be complete.

AirPods accumulate dust and dirt over time such that the bottom tip can no longer touch the charging case, affecting the circuit. If this is the case, clean your AirPods thoroughly with a clean cloth and charge it afterward.

Lastly, if none of the above options works, your AirPods may be broken. However rare, this can happen, and you should take them to an Apple store for inspection. Unfortunately, Apple has a limited warranty of one year during which they can repair damages within the warranty criteria. They may also replace your AirPods within this period for free, depending on the defects they establish and their cause.

Can You Use an 18w Charger on AirPods?

The temptation to use a higher wattage or lower wattage to charge your AirPods is common, especially if that is what is available in your home. Luckily, you can charge your iPods with the same charger you use for your phones; however, you need to know how far you can stretch with the power supply.

It is possible to use an 18w charger on your AirPods, but you should note that this will not affect its charging rate. Your AirPods will stick to their wattage limit and not take advantage of the high wattage and charge faster.

Using any wattage to charge your AirPods is safe, as long as the charger is an Apple Product. This is because Apple features controlled electric current transfer, and it is less likely that your AirPods will get spoiled from using a higher wattage charger to charge them.

On the other hand, if you use any charger from unreliable brands, you will likely experience safety challenges. If you must use a different brand, stick to the 5W chargers. Excess charger power may cause the AirPods to heat up and damage the components or cause an explosion. On the other hand, too low charger power will shorten your AirPods lifespan.

Can I Charge AirPods With a 30w Charger?

If you have a 30w charger and are wondering whether you can use it to charge your AirPods, you are at the right place. Read to understand the risks involved and whether this charger will speed up the charging process for you.

You can charge your AirPods with a 30w charger, but you should note that this will not improve the charging speed. The charging case features a wattage limit and will continue to draw the current or power it requires to charge instead of the whole 30w capacity of the adapter or charger.

It will take an hour to fully charge your AirPods case with this charger and up to 20% longer if charging wirelessly. The wireless option will take longer since some energy gets lost in the process.

A 30w charger is harmless and will not affect your AirPods casing lifespan. Also, you should not worry about overcharging your case. Hence, if this is the only available charger, go ahead and use it. AirPods and their cases will stop charging once the battery percentage is 100%.

If this were not the case, the battery would overcharge and damage. Such incidents would cause consumers to file lawsuits against Apple given the losses they would incur, which explains why Apple designed these devices in this manner.

With this feature in place, it is advantageous to leave your AirPods to charge fully or leave them in their case when not using them. Leaving your AirPods without charge for longer periods will cause more damage than charging them fully. This is because their lithium batteries require some power to charge. As such, you can charge your AirPods overnight to ensure they are never at 0%.

Wrap Up

Apple products feature compatibility, and you can use the chargers across devices. This means that you can charge your AirPods using your iPad or iPhone charger. Given the safety features in place, your AirPods will stop charging once full, and there is no risk of damage.

As such, you can use different wattages to charge your AirPods even if their wattage intake is lower. However, you should note that using a higher wattage charger will not speed up the charging.

With the above in mind, it is advisable to stick to Apple chargers for safety reasons. While other charger brands can charge your AirPods, there is no safety guarantee, and you may end up damaging your AirPods charging case, something that your warranty will not cater for. Hence, for a better experience, stick to Apple chargers, regardless of the wattage to charge your AirPods.

Bal Kang

Bal Kang is a technology expert based in the UK, with experience across a number of technology areas from phones, tablets, computers to gaming.

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