Can you charge an Apple iPhone with a Samsung power adapter?

This question came up the days when I was talking to a friend who switched from a Samsung Galaxy to an iPhone 11 Pro. And in principle the answer is simple, because if you don't have an antique Samsung cell phone, then it should have been delivered with a USB-C power supply. And this can be used with the appropriate cable to charge your iPhone.

This power supply is not an original from Samsung, but it has the USB-C port on top and the older USB-A port on the bottom (photos: Sir Apfelot).

USB C power supplies with Power Delivery mandatory since 2019

Apple iPhones can be charged quickly via the USB PD standard since the iPhone 8. All you need is a corresponding charging cable to be able to connect the iPhone to the USB-C socket of the power supply unit via its Lightning socket. As far as I know, this is not supplied by Apple.

However, you can buy such cables cheaply at Amazon. For example the following models:

• Anker PowerLine II USB C to Lightning cable
• UGREEN USB C to Lightning cable
• RAMPOW USB C to Lightning cable

With these cables, iPhones from the iPhone 8 and up charge significantly faster if they are connected to a Samsung USB-C power supply unit - or another USB-C power supply unit. From 2019, Samsung has made power supply manufacturers a requirement that they must support the USB Power Delivery Standard if they use the Power Supplies want to advertise that they are compatible with Samsung devices.

Here you can see a USB-C to Lightning charging cable that fits current iPhones.

Power Delivery is the same as "Super Fast Charging"

Even if Samsung is also using the open charging standard USB Power Delivery works, you will mostly not read this designation on the product pages. Samsung came up with its own marketing name for this charging standard and calls it "Super fast charging". Under the hood, however, Samsung supports the same standard that Apple uses with iPhone and iPad models.

What Samsung calls Super Fast Charging is actually the open USB PD 3.0 standard.

• Read more: What is Qi Charging? The standard for wireless charging in detail
• Read more: [Solved] What power adapter can I use with my Amazon Kindle?
• Read more: Samsung charging cable: charger for mobile phones, Galaxy smartphones and tablets
• Read more: These iPhone models can be charged wirelessly

Charging is also possible with old iPhones

To come back to the original question: If mine has a Samsung power supply and a USB-C to Lightning charging cable, you can basically charge any iPhone with it. Older iPhone models such as an iPhone 6 can also be charged with it, just not as fast as it was with USB PD support.

The charging speed of older iPhones is comparable to the old, small, white USB-A plug-in power supply that was previously included with Apple smartphones.

Conclusion: Yes, you can charge your iPhone with a Samsung power supply unit

For all those who have not read everything, but have only jumped to the conclusion: Charging an iPhone with a Samsung power supply or a Samsung-compatible power supply from a third party is feasible.

Jens Kleinholz( Founder & Sir Apfelot )

Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He appears as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with problems of a technical nature. In his free time he drives electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with his iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions for current bugs.