Battery life has always been a concern for feature-rich smartwatches. And while Apple is usually conservative when it comes to charging speeds, you now get fast charging with the latest Apple Watch Series 7. Here’s what Apple Watch models support fast charging, how to fast charge the Series 7, and if it can be fast charged via MacBook USB-C port amongst other related questions.
Everything About Apple Watch Fast Charging: FAQ
Here’s an FAQ covering questions around the fast charging on Apple Watch, its availability, and other aspects in detail. Read on.
Which Apple Watch Models Support Fast Charging?
Of all models released by Apple to date, Series 7 is the first to support fast charging. Other previous models, including Apple Watch Series 3, 4, 5, 6, and even SE, do not support fast charging.
How to Fast Charge Apple Watch Series 7?
With fast charging, the Apple Watch Series 7 can charge from 0 to 80 percent in 45 minutes. It is about 33% faster than Series 6.
To fast charge Apple Watch 7, you need the following:
- An Apple USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable (provided in box)
- Apple 18W, 20W, 29W, 30W, 61W, 87W, or 96W USB-C Power Adapter
- OR a comparable third-party USB-C Power Delivery Charger
It would be best if you connected the provided magnetic fast charging dock cable to an Apple 18W (or higher) wall adapter. You can also use a third-party USB-C PD charger with comparable output (5W+) to fast charge your Apple Watch.
Countries Where Apple Watch Series 7 Fast Charging is Disabled
Fast charging support for Apple Watch is missing in certain regions. The company’s support page mentions that Fast charging is unavailable in Argentina, India, and Vietnam. There’s very limited information available about this.
Why is Apple Watch Fast Charging Unavailable in India, Vietnam, or Argentina?
Apple has not given any official reason why fast charging is unavailable in India, Vietnam, or Argentina. However, these could be the “possible reasons” behind the same:
- It is possible that Series 7 has hardware limitations and cannot support fast charging.
- Or the company has software-limited the fast charging feature in these regions.
- It could also be that Apple Watch fast charging uses a different frequency than standard Qi charging and is yet to receive approval for use in these regions.
Interestingly, as per a Reddit thread, users have noticed an increased charging speed on Series 7 in India after the watchOS 8.5 update. So, it could be that fast charging is now enabled in India while the support page mentions otherwise.
Does Imported Apple Watch Support Fast Charge in India?
I have an Apple Watch Series 7 bought from Dubai. The fast charging is working fine in India. We didn’t experience any region-based automatic restriction for the fast charging feature.
What Charger Should You Use to Charge Apple Watch Quickly?
As mentioned, you can use Apple 18W, 20W, 29W, 30W, 61W, 87W, or 96W USB-C Power Adapters to fast charge your Apple Watch. These chargers also work for iPhones, iPad, and MacBooks.
Can You Fast Charge Older Apple Watch Models With Series 7 Cable?
Unfortunately, old Apple Watch models do not support fast charging. Even if you use the USB-C Magnetic Charging Cable supplied with the Series 7, it will not facilitate fast charging.
Can You Fast Charge Apple Watch 7 With Magsafe Duo Charger?
MagSafe Duo Charger does not support fast charging with Apple Watch Series 7, as confirmed by Apple on its product page. It can be fast-charged only through the provided Magnetic USB-C cable.
Will My Old Charging Puck Work With Apple Watch Series 7?
Yes, you can use your old charging puck from your old Apple Watch. However, it will charge the watch at the same speed as Series 6, 33% lower than what the Series 7 is capable of.
Can You Use Any Other Qi Charger With Apple Watch?
The Apple Watch won’t charge with any Qi charger available in the market due to tweaks made to make the watch charge slightly differently. If buying third-party chargers, ensure they’re compatible and tested to work with Apple Watch.
Belkin BoostCharge Pro Portable and Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 multi-charger seem to be two of the limited third-party charger that supports fast charging for the latest gen Apple Watch.
What is the Fastest Way to Charge an Apple Watch?
The fastest way to charge an Apple Watch is to use the provided cable with a fast PD wall adapter, whether Apple or third-party. We’d advise using the 20W Apple USB-C Adapter.
Can You Fast Charge Apple Watch With USB-C Port on MacBook?
There’s no concrete information available about whether the USB-C port on your MacBook can fast charge the Apple Watch Series 7. We even tried confirming it from Apple Support yet did not get any clarity.
In our experience with charging Apple Watch Series 7 with the USB-C port on MacBook Pro, the watch did charge at decent speed, juicing up about 13% (69 to 82) in 10 minutes and 18% (69 to 87) in 15 minutes, with always-on display disabled.
If you do not have a PD adapter, you can continue using USB-C on your MacBook to charge your Apple Watch.
What is the Charging Speed of the Apple Watch Series 7?
The new Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm) can fill from zero to 100 in under an hour when using a fast charger. When using a non-fast charger, the watch takes about two hours for a full charge. Watch the video for a detailed comparison of charging speed.
Is Your Apple Watch Stuck at 80% When Plugged in?
Apple Watch comes with Optimized Battery Charging like iPhones. The protection feature learns your usage pattern and holds the charging to avoid overcharging while ensuring it’s full when needed.
It is possibly why your watch has paused the charging. High temperature could also be why Apple automatically stops charging and waits to return to normal temperature. Here are different ways to fix Apple Watch not charging above 80%.
Is it Safe to Charge Apple Watch with a Fast Charger?
It is completely fine to charge your Apple Watch with a fast charger. Apple has implemented certain mechanisms to prevent battery degradation, including Optimized Battery Charging and thermal control.
Can You Replace the Apple Watch Battery?
If your Apple Watch battery has degraded significantly, you can get it replaced from an authorized Apple Watch service center. The fee for out-of-warranty devices is $79. You can read more information about it on the service page.
Wrapping Up
This was all about Apple Watch fast charging, how to use it on Series 7, why it is disabled in India and other regions, and other related questions. Let us know if you have any other doubts or queries on the same. Stay tuned for more such articles.
