ID your sucky chargers

New iPhone setting shames subpar charging bricks.

Author

Leander Kahney
December 17, 2024

In partnership with

It came as a huge surprise to me to learn that Apple’s ubiquitous little white charger — the USB-A brick that came with every iPhone for years — is actually a supremely well-made gem of electrical engineering.

I’d always dismissed the diminutive little charger, especially because its USB-A connection is so slow for charging today’s power-hungry devices.

If you have one lying around — and let’s be honest, you probably have dozens of them — plug it into your iPhone and see for yourself how slow it actually is.

To do so, you must be running iOS 18.2, which comes with a new feature that makes it very easy to identify slow chargers.

And it’s not just Apple’s little white charger that’s slow. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to quickly find out which of your chargers suck, and which are champs.

Also in today’s newsletter:

  • Early rumors about a new camera arrangement on next year’s iPhone Pro made some people fear it would resemble an ugly Android. But new renders based on the latest rumors make it look pretty hot.

  • Whenever I get a new Mac, one of the first apps I immediately install is AirBuddy, a super-handy AirPods/Bluetooth controller. We named it one of our Awesome Apps, and you can get it — for a massive $1 off! Don’t delay, this killer deal won’t last forever! It might even make a great Xmas gift! Hurry, hurry, hurry!

  • Seriously, if you’re looking for Xmas gifts, the one item that’s probably great for everybody without exception is a set of AirTags. For more ideas, check out our last-minute gift guide. Perhaps your giftee would like this intriguing smartpen, which digitizes everything you write.

  • Knowing how to screenshot an entire page with your iPhone is one of those extremely handy tricks I can never remember. I turn to Google every time I need a refresher. Maybe I should bookmark our own handy guide instead.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

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How to figure out if your iPhone charger sucks

iOS 18.2 tells you if you’re using an old, slow iPhone charger. Here’s how to find the new warning, and what to do about it if your charger’s rubbish.

iPhone 17 Pro Max renders give early glimpse of next Apple flagship

Get a sneak peek at the possible design of the iPhone 17 Pro Max in early renders that reveal some substantial changes.

Basic Apple Guy ranks 2024 Apple gear, from 'flawless' to 'failing'

New Apple product rankings from Basic Apple Guy list all of the 2024 products from best to worst. See where your Apple gear ranks.

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

This smartpen automatically digitizes anything you write

Enjoy the timeless feel of writing by hand with the perks of modern technology with the SyncPen 4 smartpen set.

Why AirTags make the ultimate stocking stuffers for Apple fans

Looking for a last-minute gift for an Apple fan? Head to Amazon or other retailers to snag the ultimate stocking stuffer: an AirTag.

A message from Hohem

Hohem iSteady M7: AI-powered smartphone gimbal tracks anything and everything

AI tracking and other advanced features make the Hohem iSteady M7 smartphone gimbal a great tool for capturing smooth, creative iPhone video.

AirPods work even better with Mac, thanks to AirBuddy

With the AirBuddy app for Mac, you can make enhanced connections to AirPods and other earbuds. It's the best way to connect AirPods to Mac.

Screenshot a whole page (or an entire email) on iPhone

You can screenshot a whole page on an iPhone at once using a somewhat hidden feature without the need to stitch them together after the fact.

Cool technology gifts [Last-minute gift guide]

Looking for cool technology gifts for Xmas? We have a few suggestions, from Apple and other great brands, for last-minute shoppers.

Today in Apple history: iPhone OS finally overtakes Windows Mobile

On December 17, 2009, Apple finally triumphed over long-time rival Microsoft ... on mobile operating systems market share.

Tweets of the day

Apple intelligence remains as ominous as ever

— Frosst 🏜️ (@frosst.bsky.social)2024-12-15T22:32:13.079Z

Aundrea Namiko Gregory (@andycandy45) on Threads

Guys I could actually cry right now. I bought myself some AirPods just as a treat to myself cuz I’ve been using cheap headphones. I’m setting them up yesterday and it says there’s a hearing aid setting. So I set it up thinking it can’t be that helpful. Well I put it in my ear and was so overwhelmed by the sounds that I almost cried, it’s been a solid year since I lost hearing on one side by 50% and suddenly I can hear a conversation 100 feet away and the zipper on my jacket 1/2

Apple Intelligence: pretty good, love that it drains 50% of my phone battery before lunchtime to suggest helpful responses like, "Wow, sounds great!" to a text message from my wife

— ceej (@ceej.online)2024-12-16T20:51:33.295Z

Bad timing iPhone 😭

— Out of context humour (@harleyj86.bsky.social)2024-12-17T06:17:25.379Z

Wallpaper of the day

One more thing ...

❝

Dr. Land at Polaroid said, “I want Polaroid to stand at the intersection of art and science,” and I've never forgotten that.

— Steve Jobs, 1999.

Today’s poll

Have AirTags saved your bacon?

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Results from yesterday’s poll: Would you rather own a folding iPad or a folding iPhone?

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