How to Charge Apple Watch Without its Dedicated Charger | Can I Charge My Apple Watch with iPhone 15?
Ever wondered if you can charge your Apple Watch without the dedicated charger? Here's a little secret, you can learn how to charge Apple Watch without its dedicated charger in this article.
The Apple Watch comes with a charger in the box. This charger is a magnetic charger that attaches to the back of your Apple Watch. Older Apple Watch chargers come with a USB-A connector, while new ones come with USB-C connectors with faster-charging speeds.
If for any reason you are not happy with the dedicated charger or want another way to charge your Apple Watch, then you have come to the right place. There are ways to charge your Apple Watch without the dedicated charger. This article will explain how to charge Apple Watch without its dedicated charger.
Related: Best Stands to Charge iPhone and Apple Watch Together
Can I Charge My Apple Watch with iPhone 15?
Yes, with the new iPhone 15 you will be able to charge your Apple Watch as long as you have the docking station and your new USB-C iPhone charging cable.
Newer Apple Watch models, specifically the Series 7, Series 8, and the upcoming Series 9 and Ultra 2, all come with a Magnetic Fast charger to USB-C cable and this can now be directly connected to your iPhone 15 as it supports USB Power Delivery up to 4.5Watts.
For those with older Apple Watch models that use the Magnetic charging cable (such as the Series 6 and earlier), you will have to use the USB-C to USB adapter connected to your iPhone 15 to charge your Apple Watch if you don't have its dedicated charger on hand.
This is the first time Apple is releasing the iPhone with a USB-C charging port as compared to the Lightning they've used over the years, and with this change not only will you be able to charge your Watch, but technically any Apple device that has been released from this year.
How to Charge Apple Watch Without its Dedicated Charger
Apple Watch Charging Technology
To answer the question of how to charge Apple Watch without its dedicated charger, you should first know how the Apple Watch charges using the dedicated charger. The Apple Watch features a magnetic charging base that allows you to connect the included charger to charge the Watch.
Every Apple Watch comes with a charger inside the box. This charger features the charging base and a USB-C or USB-A connector that you need to plug into a charging adaptor, power bank, or laptop to get it charged.
You may think that it is wireless charging, but it is a wired charging interface. This means that it won't work with regular wireless chargers that you use for your iPhone and AirPods. So you can’t use wireless chargers but what are some other ways you can use to charge your Apple Watch.
The next section will tell you how to charge Apple Watch without its dedicated charger. Read on to know-how, and maybe you can use some of these methods to charge your Apple Watch.
How to Charge Apple Watch Without its Dedicated Charger
Sometimes you might be in a situation where you don't have access to the dedicated charger of your Apple Watch or want something different. So, if you are looking for ways to charge your Apple Watch without its dedicated charger, then you would be delighted to know that there is more than one way.
There are three ways you can charge your Apple Watch without using the dedicated charger found in the box. Read on to know how to charge Apple Watch without its dedicated charger.
How to Charge Apple Watch using 3rd Party Chargers
The Apple Charger that comes included can be bought if needed from the Apple website or Amazon. But if you are looking for 3rd party options to save some cash, then there are plenty of options to choose from on Amazon.
3rd party Apple Watch chargers work just like the original from Apple. Most of these 3rd party chargers for the Apple Watch feature the same magnetic charging base and either feature a USB-A or USB-C connector. They can also charge at the same speeds as the original charger making them a good choice if you are strapped for cash.
One of my favorite 3rd party Apple Watch chargers is the Anker Portable Magnetic Charger for Apple Watch. This Apple Watch charger from one of the most respectable charger brands is excellent. It is a cordless charger with a USB-C connector.
The charger is MFi certified and it is compatible with all Apple Watches. You can connect the charger to a laptop, charging adaptor, power bank, or even a recent iPad and charge your Apple Watch by placing it on the pad. It is one of the most convenient and easiest ways to charge your Apple Watch.
Some other good 3rd party Apple Watch chargers are:
All of these chargers are affordable, work well, and have excellent ratings and reviews. If you are interested in some other 3rd party Apple Watch charger, then make sure to check ratings and reviews of the product. Check for any extra features you can use as well.
How to Charge Apple Watch using Charging Stands/Docks
Another way to charge Apple Watch without its dedicated charger is to get charging stands/dock for it. There are tons of charging stands/docks that you can buy with different functions and designs. There are also charging mats that you can get to charge your Apple Watch.
There are simple charging stands/docks that allow you to attach your dedicated or similarly designed 3rd party Apple Watch charger to it. There are charging stands/docks specifically built for Apple Watch with built-in chargers. Some docks/stands allow you to charge multiple Apple devices at the same time.
All you have to do is place the devices in their respective charging spots and they will start charging. If you get a 3 in 1 charging stand/dock then you have to place each device in the correct spot for them to charge.
One of my favorite charging stands/docks for the Apple Watch is the elago W2 Charger Stand.
This stand doesn’t come with a built-in charger, but you can easily slip in your dedicated charger or a 3rd party charger and you are good to go. You can place your Apple Watch on it during nighttime and use the nightstand mode of your Apple Watch.
Another excellent stand/dock that can charge your Apple Watch is the GEEKERA 3 in 1 Wireless Charger Dock Station. This 3 in 1 charging dock can charge your Apple Watch, iPhone, and AirPods.
All the charging solutions are built-in, you don't have to use the dedicated or a 3rd party charger. All you need to do is place your Apple Watch and other devices in the respective charging positions and it will charge them.
How to Charge Apple Watch using the Hidden Port
Back when the first Apple Watch was released back in 2015, people found a hidden six-pin port on the Apple Watch. This port was present in the original Apple Watch series to aid technicians to repair the Watch. It was a diagnostic port that allowed technicians to configure settings and software and more.
People figured out this port could be used for charging. Reverse Strap was a company that designed a strap that could fit on your Apple Watch and charge it on the go as well. These pins also allowed for 6-7% faster charging speeds.
So if you are someone with an Apple Watch Series 1 and if you are lucky enough to find a Reverse Strap charger then you can use it to charge your Apple Watch without the dedicated charger. Apple quickly nipped this whole project in the bud by discontinuing the project because of risks related to charging and using the Watch.
And Apple also removed the hidden port pins with subsequent Apple Watch releases, meaning you can only use the Reverse Strap charger for the Apple Watch Series 1. It was a cool thing back then, hope we see some more innovation when it comes to Apple Watch charging technology and chargers.
How to charge Apple Watch and iPhone at the same time
Using charging ports, you can charge both your Apple Watch and your iPhone simultaneously. You can charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously with some charging docks. The docks include magnetic and wireless chargers for Apple Watch as well as wireless chargers for iPhone and AirPods.
You can choose from a variety of sizes and forms, some of which resemble mats and others which resemble stands.
One of my favorite charging docks is the GEEKERA 3 in 1 Wireless Charger Dock Station.
It is multifunctional because it can simultaneously charge the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. Its uncomplicated appearance makes it an ideal charger for a nightstand.
Therefore, purchase a charging station if you wish to charge your iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time. Even Apple itself offers the MagSafe Duo as a viable choice for this use.
Airpower and MagSafe Duo
Apple was working on a fairly cool concept for a charging pad called the Airpower. Users might have charged their iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time. Apple even considered enabling simultaneous AirPod charging.
Airpower, sadly, was dropped by Apple because it "will not satisfy our high standards," according to Apple. Later on, though, Apple released the MagSafe Duo charger, which allows you to simultaneously charge your iPhone and Apple Watch.
You can charge the AirPods Pro 2 with the MagSafe Duo charger now that it supports Apple Watch charging technologies. One of the greatest methods to simultaneously charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods is with this method.
Conclusion - How to Charge Apple Watch Without its Dedicated Charger
So, now you know how to charge Apple Watch without its dedicated charger in more than one method. You can use 3rd party Apple Watch chargers, charging docks/stands, or use the hidden port on older Apple Watches.
While the dedicated Apple Watch charger is awesome, there is no harm in having a spare charger. You can get a 3rd party charger or a charging dock/stand for your Apple Watch. There are even some awesome stands/docks that let you charge iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods at the same time.
I have explained how to charge Apple Watch without its dedicated charger above and even provided links to some cool 3rd party chargers and charging docks. Having multiple chargers can help when one of them breaks or is lost. Do check them out and buy if you fancy any of them.
Charging Apple Watch Without its Dedicated Charger: FAQs
Can I charge my Apple Watch with any adaptor?
The USB-C variant features fast charging support for Series 7. To get the fastest charging speeds, you will need the adaptor to support at least 5W of power delivery.
Can I charge my Apple watch with my phone?
Can I charge my Apple Watch with a wireless charger?
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