Head-to-head · Phone-class bricks
Apple 20W vs Anker Nano 30W: identical phone speed, different physics.
An iPhone peaks in the 20–27W band and then tapers, so both finish a charge at effectively the same moment. The separation is 10W of headroom, a folding plug, and less volume in your bag.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple 20W USB-C | Anker Nano 30W |
|---|---|---|
| Rated output | 20W | 30W |
| PD rails offered | 5V and 9V fixed | 5V, 9V, 15V, 20V class |
| Semiconductor | Silicon | Gallium nitride |
| Size / weight class | Small silicon cube, fixed prongs | Smaller despite 50% more watts, folding prongs |
| Ports | 1× USB-C | 1× USB-C |
| Fast-charges any iPhone | Yes | Yes |
| iPad Air / iPad Pro at full speed | No — capped at 20W | Yes |
| Emergency laptop top-up | No 20V rail | Yes, at 20V |
Both are single-port USB-C Power Delivery adapters with no PPS obligations, so the comparison collapses to three variables: delivered watts, physical volume, and what you pay per watt. On the first, they tie for phones. On the second and third, they do not.
Where the Apple 20W wins
Familiarity and channel. It is the brick your carrier store sells and the one Apple will swap under warranty without asking questions. If your household is iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods only, nothing above 20W ever gets used — the Watch puck draws a handful of watts and AirPods cases less. The catch: the Apple 20W is the most counterfeited charger in existence, so buy it from a channel you trust and read how to spot a fake Apple charger first.
Where the Anker Nano 30W wins
Everything physical, plus headroom. GaN switching lets a 30W supply occupy less volume than Apple's 20W silicon design, and the prongs fold flat so it does not gouge the inside of a bag. The 30W rating adds a 15V and a 20V rail, which is what an iPad Air, an iPad Pro or a Nintendo Switch in handheld mode actually wants, and what lets it keep a MacBook Air alive at a conference table. Price per watt is the other half: you generally pay less for the Anker's 30W than for Apple's 20W, so the cheaper adapter is also the more capable one. See the wider case in 20W vs 30W.
Verdict
Buy the Anker Nano 30W. It matches Apple on the only job most people have — charging a phone — and beats it on size, plug design, device coverage and cost per watt. There is no charging scenario where 20W does something 30W cannot. The exception: if you want a single vendor for any support conversation on a device still under AppleCare, or the adapter is destined for someone who will only ever plug in an iPhone and an Apple Watch, the Apple 20W is defensible. Unsure which side you are on? Official vs third-party lays out the test that actually matters.
- 20W
Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter
The Apple-side pick. Full iPhone fast-charge speed, in-box familiarity, Apple support channel.
- Output
- 20W
- Ports
- 1× USB-C
- Plug
- Fixed prongs
- Best for
- iPhone, Watch, AirPods
- 30W
Anker Nano 30W (GaN)
The Anker-side pick and the overall winner. Same phone speed, smaller body, iPad-class headroom.
- Output
- 30W
- Ports
- 1× USB-C
- Plug
- Folding
- Best for
- iPhone, iPad, Switch
- 35W
Apple 35W Dual USB-C Compact
The compromise: Apple's badge, two ports, enough for a phone and a watch at once.
- Output
- 35W shared
- Ports
- 2× USB-C
- Split
- About 17.5W each
- Best for
- Nightstand duty
Related comparisons
FAQ
Will the Anker Nano 30W damage my iPhone?
No. USB-C Power Delivery is a negotiation: the iPhone asks for a specific voltage and current and the adapter supplies exactly that. A 30W adapter simply has offers the phone declines. Higher wattage is headroom, never risk.
Does the Apple 20W charge faster than the 30W on an iPhone?
No, and neither is faster than the other. Both exceed what any iPhone through the iPhone 16 generation requests, so charge time is set by the phone's own thermal and battery-management limits.
Do either of these come with a cable?
The Apple 20W is sold without one. Anker's Nano line is usually sold bare as well, though bundles exist. Budget for a USB-C to USB-C cable, or a USB-C to Lightning cable if your iPhone is a 14 or earlier.