You bought a 45-watt charger because your Galaxy can do 45 watts. And it still doesn’t charge any faster than before. That’s not a defect – it’s the worst-explained detail in the entire phone industry: with Samsung, it’s not the big number on the charger that decides, but one tiny line in the fine print. I’ve measured this with a power meter on several chargers. Here’s what you need to know before you buy the next one.
The three tiers a 45-watt Samsung knows
A Galaxy S24 Ultra on a 45-watt charger lands on one of three tiers, depending on what the charger can do:
- 15 watts: The charger has no PPS. Plain Power Delivery, like every laptop charger. But Samsung uses PPS for its fast charging, an extension where the voltage is finely regulated. Without PPS the Galaxy falls back to the base tier. Yes, even on a 100-watt laptop charger without PPS.
- 27 watts: The charger has PPS, but only at 3 amps. That’s the norm for compact chargers, including brands like Anker. Up to the S24 generation, Samsung pulls its 45 watts at 10 volts and 4.5 amps. With 3 amps you’re left with about 27.
- 45 watts: PPS at 5 amps. Only a few chargers say so, and you have to be able to read the label: „PPS 3.3–11V⎓5A“ means yes, „3.3–11V⎓3A“ means 27 watts.
Which tier is your Galaxy getting right now?
My Charge Check reads your charger’s label from a photo – wattage, PPS range and amps – and tells you whether your Samsung gets 15, 27 or 45 watts. If the amps aren’t printed, a 15-minute test settles it. Free, no app.
Important: from the S25 on, the 5-amp rule is history
Samsung never made a big deal of this: since the S25 generation, the 45-watt models pull their power at around 13.5 volts and 3 amps instead of 10 volts and 4.5 amps. The Galaxy S25 Ultra, S25+, the S26 series and the Fold 8 charge at full speed with any 3-amp PPS charger – and with any regular USB-C cable. ChargerLAB measured the S25 Ultra at 40 watts on the stock 3-amp cable. The 5-amp requirement only still applies to the S23+, S23 Ultra, S24+ and S24 Ultra. The S26 Ultra with 60 watts needs a charger whose PPS range reaches 20 volts, also at 3 amps. How the Fold 8 does on a 45-watt charger is in my Galaxy Z Fold 8 charging test.
Which 45W charger for Samsung?
Samsung 45W Super Fast Charger 2.0 (EP-T4511) – the original
PPS at 5 amps, and the matching 5-amp cable is in the box. Every Galaxy from the S23 to the S26 runs at full power with it. Not the smallest and not the cheapest charger, but the only one where you can’t get anything wrong. If you have an S24 Ultra, get this one.
See the Samsung 45W Super Fast Charger on Amazon*
Anker 45W Ace Foldable Charger – the affordable 5-amp alternative
One of the few third-party chargers that explicitly does PPS at 5 amps and supports Samsung’s Super Fast Charging 2.0. More compact than the original, cable not included. For the S24 Ultra and older you’ll need a 5-amp cable to go with it – see below.
See the Anker 45W Ace Foldable Charger on Amazon*
Samsung 60W Super Fast Charger 3.0 (EP-T6010) – for the S26 Ultra
The only charger that unlocks the full 60 watts of the S26 Ultra, with PPS up to 20 volts. On every other Galaxy it charges like a 45-watt charger. Only worth it if you own the S26 Ultra or plan to buy it next.
See the Samsung 60W Super Fast Charger on Amazon*
Anker Nano 45W with Smart Display – S25 and newer only
A great charger with a live readout of charging power, but PPS only at 3 amps. Full speed on an S25 Ultra or Fold 8, 27 watts on an S24 Ultra. I tested it thoroughly; the result is in my Anker Smart Nano test. If you have a Galaxy up to the S24, pick one of the three above.
See the Anker Nano 45W with Smart Display on Amazon*
The cable: the part everyone forgets
Up to the S24 generation: 45 watts only flow through a cable with 5 amps and an e-marker chip – the ones sold as „100W“ or „240W“ cables. A regular 3-amp cable caps at 27 watts, even on the best charger. You can’t tell the difference from the outside. The original Samsung EP-DN975 5A cable* is the safe choice; cheaper and just as good are the UGREEN 240W cable* for about ten dollars or the Anker 240W cable 2-pack*. From the S25 on, any decent USB-C cable will do.
If you never want to think about it again
One charger that covers all three tiers and charges the laptop too: the UGREEN Nexode Pro 100W*. PPS up to 21 volts at 5 amps for every Samsung from the S23 to the S26 Ultra, PD 3.2 with AVS for the iPhone 17, five ports, 100 watts. Plus one of the 240W cables above. That settles the charger question for years, whatever phone comes next.
How to check the charger you already have
Find the label, usually on the side or bottom. Look for „PPS“ or a voltage range with a dash, like „3.3–11V⎓3A“. The number after the dash is the amps. 5A or more: full speed on any Galaxy. 3A: full speed from the S25 on, 27 watts up to the S24. No PPS range at all: 15 watts, no matter how big the number on the front. If you can’t make out the fine print or you’re unsure: my Charge Check reads the label from a photo, even with poor contrast, and if the amps are missing, the 15-minute test tells you which tier you really have.
Why all of this works the way it does, with the full technology from Power Delivery to AVS, is in Fast Charging Explained. And if there’s an iPhone in the house next to the Galaxy: my picks among the top-rated iPhone 17 Pro cases and my roundup of the screen protectors I trust on the iPhone 17 Pro show what survives a drop.