Can Apple Watch Charger Charge iPhone?
Apple Watch and iPhone are two of the most popular devices from tech giant Apple. With sleek designs and powerful software features, these devices have become ubiquitous in the modern world. But can you use the same charger for both your Apple Watch and iPhone? Let’s take a closer look.
Key Takeaways:
- The Apple Watch charger is compatible with iPhones, but charges them slowly due to lower wattage.
- The key components of the Apple Watch charger are the 5W USB power adapter and magnetic charging cable.
- To charge an iPhone with the Apple Watch charger, simply plug in the USB and attach the magnetic cable to iPhone.
- The Apple Watch charger is fully compatible with Apple Watch Series 5 and its wireless charging feature.
- Apple’s Optimized Battery Charging feature helps extend battery life for Apple Watch and iPhone.
Back in 2015 when the first Apple Watch was released, the idea of wearing a tiny computer on your wrist was still a novel concept. Over the years, Apple has refined and improved its smartwatch OS to the point where for many users it has become an indispensable daily accessory. Meanwhile, the iPhone has also seen many new iterations, with increasingly powerful specs and capabilities built into each new model.
Given that the iPhone and Apple Watch are core parts of Apple’s product ecosystem, it makes sense that the company would design them to work seamlessly together. But how interchangeable are they, specifically when it comes to charging? Let’s break it down step-by-step.
Can Apple Watch Charger Charge iPhone?
The short answer is yes, you can use an Apple Watch charger to charge your iPhone. However, there are caveats.
The key components of the Apple Watch charger system are:
- Apple 5W USB Power Adapter – This tiny 1-inch cube is the actual wall charger that connects to a power outlet and converts AC to DC power. It outputs 5 watts of power.
- Magnetic Charging Cable – This specialized cable has a magnetic disc at one end that snaps onto the charging port on the side of the Apple Watch. The other end is a standard USB that plugs into the power adapter.
The key factor that determines charging speed is wattage. The higher the wattage, the faster a device will charge. The 5W USB power adapter that comes with the Apple Watch is relatively low wattage. For comparison, the standard iPhone wall adapter is 12W.
What this means in practice is that you can use the Apple Watch charger to charge an iPhone, but it will charge rather slowly.
If you need to give your iPhone battery a bit of emergency juice and your regular iPhone charging cable isn’t available, the Apple Watch charger will work in a pinch. Just don’t expect fast charging times comparable to what you’d get from the normal iPhone wall adapter. Expect longer charging times the lower the battery level is.
Now for the mechanics – how do you actually attach the Apple Watch magnetic charger to an iPhone?
iPhones don’t have the same magnetic port as Apple Watches. However, the magnetic charger disc can adhere securely to the back of an iPhone if placed in the center. So you simply attach the magnetic disc to the back of the iPhone and you’re good to go.
The adhesion is strong enough to keep the charger in place as long as the iPhone is laying flat on its back. You wouldn’t want to try dangling or waving the iPhone around while attached only via magnets. But for purposes of charging while sitting on a desk or table, it works fine.
How to Charge iPhone with Apple Watch Charger
Here is a step-by-step guide to charging an iPhone using the Apple Watch power adapter and magnetic cable:
- Plug the USB end of the magnetic Apple Watch charging cable into the 5W USB power adapter.
- Plug the power adapter into a wall outlet or power strip.
- Place the iPhone flat on its back on a desk or tabletop.
- Take the magnetic charging disc and position it in the center of the iPhone’s backside. It should align cleanly and adhere securely.
- Check to make sure your iPhone screen indicates it is charging. If not, reposition the magnetic disc until the iPhone recognizes it.
- Leave the iPhone in place with the disc attached until it reaches a full 100% charge. Keep in mind this will likely take longer than charging with a normal iPhone wall adapter.
- When fully charged, simply detach the magnetic disc from the back of the iPhone by gently pulling it off.
And that’s it! With those simple steps you can leverage the Apple Watch power adapter to give your iPhone some extra juice in a bind. Again, just don’t plan on getting fast charging speeds due to the lower 5W power output.
Can Apple Watch Charger Charge Apple Watch Series 5?
If you have an Apple Watch Series 5, you may be wondering if the standard Apple Watch charger that came with earlier models is compatible.
The good news is that yes, the original Apple Watch magnetic charging cable and 5W adapter will work perfectly fine with the Apple Watch Series 5.
Apple has maintained the same Apple Watch charging port and system since the very first model. So the Series 5 will charge normally using the same process and methodology as older generations.
However, one new feature that the Series 5 does introduce is built-in wireless charging capability. This allows the watch to charge by simply placing it on top of a wireless Qi charging pad. No cables required!
While certainly very convenient, keep in mind that wireless charging speed for Apple Watch is quite slow due to the low wattage. It generally takes over 2 hours to fully charge wirelessly, versus under 1.5 hours when using the cable.
So the original Apple Watch magnetic cable and 5W adapter will provide faster charging times for Apple Watch Series 5. But the wireless charging option is great for occasional top-ups without having to plug anything in. It’s ultimately about flexibility and convenience.
Optimized Battery Charging
In addition to their sleek hardware designs, Apple has also incorporated smart software technology into both the iPhone and Apple Watch to optimize battery charging. This helps extend the overall battery lifespan of your devices.
Here are some key details on what Apple calls Optimized Battery Charging:
- How It Works – Utilizing on-device machine learning algorithms, the iPhone and Apple Watch will learn your daily charging routine and only charge the battery to 80% before your normal wake-up time. It will then wait to complete the last 20% of charging right before you typically detach the charger. This reduces time spent fully charged, which is the most stressful state for battery health.
- Benefits – Can extend the overall long-term battery lifespan of your iPhone/Watch by reducing lithium-ion battery degradation. This allows your battery to last longer over months and years of charging.
- Enabling It – Optimized Battery Charging is enabled by default on new iPhones and Apple Watches. But if you want to adjust the settings or turn it off, simply go to the Battery section in your device Settings.
- Usage Tips – For best results, keep your iPhone/Watch charging overnight while you sleep to allow the algorithms to learn your schedule. Try to charge daily at consistent times.
By leveraging Optimized Charging technology from Apple, you can keep your iPhone and Apple Watch battery in prime health condition for years to come. This ensures you’ll continue to get great performance and battery life during the lifespan of your devices.
So in summary – yes, you can charge your iPhone using the Apple Watch power adapter and magnetic cable in a pinch! Just don’t expect ultra-fast charging. And the Apple Watch Series 5 will charge seamlessly using the same Apple Watch charger as older models, while also introducing the flexibility of wireless charging. Plus the Optimized Battery Charging feature helps maximize battery health and longevity for both Apple Watch and iPhone over time.
Apple continues to deliver both elegant hardware designs and smart software enhancements to provide great user experiences. The ability to charge Apple Watch and iPhone interchangeably certainly improves convenience and flexibility. As Apple unveils more devices like augmented reality glasses down the road, look for cross-compatibility and integration to continue improving across their product ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you charge an iPhone with an Apple Watch charger?
A: Yes, you can charge an iPhone with an Apple Watch charger using the Apple 5W USB Power Adapter and an Apple or Apple certified Lightning to USB Cable.
Q: Can you charge an Apple Watch with an iPhone charger?
A: No, you cannot charge an Apple Watch with an iPhone charger.
Q: Can you charge an Apple Watch Series 5 with an Apple Watch charger?
A: Yes, you can charge an Apple Watch Series 5 with an Apple Watch charger.
Q: Can you charge an iPhone 12 with an Apple Watch charger?
A: Yes, you can charge an iPhone 12 with an Apple Watch charger.
Q: Can you charge an iPhone 13 with an Apple Watch charger?
A: Yes, you can charge an iPhone 13 with an Apple Watch charger.
Q: Can you charge an iPhone SE with an Apple Watch charger?
A: Yes, you can charge an iPhone SE with an Apple Watch charger.
Q: Can you charge an iPad with an Apple Watch charger?
A: No, you cannot charge an iPad with an Apple Watch charger.
Q: Can you charge an Apple Watch and iPhone at the same time with an Apple Watch charger?
A: No, you cannot charge an Apple Watch and iPhone at the same time with an Apple Watch charger.
Q: Can you charge an Apple Watch without a charger?
A: No, you cannot charge an Apple Watch without a charger.
Q: Can you charge an iPhone without a charger?
A: Yes, you can charge an iPhone without a charger using a wireless charger or a computer.
