Apple finally drops major charging update that iPhone users have been begging for

Good things come to those who wait and that certainly seems to be the case with Apple's latest iPhone 17.

Launching this week, there are several new models to choose from: the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and the new super thin iPhone Air.

The million dollar question? How long the battery will last, and how quickly can you charge it back up again.

Well, it seems that we finally have an answer.

The new iPhone has an increased battery life and faster than ever charging time (Photo by NIC COURY/AFP via Getty Images)

How long will the new iPhone 17 take to charge?

It has now been confirmed by Apple that the new phones will charge faster than ever before: up to 50% in around 20 minutes (for context, that's up to 10 minutes quicker than the iPhone 16).

"Finally!" wrote one shopper, reacting to the news. "This is the most exciting new release."

The only catch? It has to be teamed with a compatible USB-C power adapter.

While has have confirmed that most of the new iPhones will charge to 50% in 20 minutes, the iPhone Air will take slightly longer at 30.

Which chargers are compatible with the new iPhone 17?

The new iPhones require a compatible USB-C charger, and they are also releasing a new model this week.

The 40W dynamic power adaptor with 60w Max is $39, but any high-wattage USB-C charger will do the trick, it doesn't need to be Apple branded.

iPhone 17 battery life

The new models boast some of the longest battery lifespans of any iPhone yet.

Here are Apple’s estimated video playback times compared to the previous editions:

• iPhone 16 Pro: 27 hours
• iPhone 17 Pro: 33 hours
• iPhone 16 Pro Max: 33 hours
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 39 hours (the longest battery time ever for an iPhone!)
• iPhone Air: 27 hours

The iPhone Air is less than 6mm thick (Apple)

How thin is the iPhone Air?

While the iPhone Air might take ten minutes longer to reach 50 percent, and it doesn't have as long a battery life (but it still rivals the 16), Apple's thinnest phone ever is still looking like it will be popular.

This thing is tiny, measuring just 5.6mm thick.

Apple said: "Despite being much thinner and lighter, iPhone Air still gets amazing all-day battery life,”

“Our intention was to make an iPhone that feels like a piece of the future, powerful, yet so thin and light it seems to disappear in your hands."

"The 48MP Fusion Main camera with 2x Telephoto supports the latest advanced features like next-generation portraits and more," they added.

Despite the thinness, Apple insists this will be the 'most durable yet'.

Dua Lipa has got her hands on an iPhone 17 already (instagram/Apple)

What colors does the new iPhone come in?

It's OK to admit that you don't care about the battery life or how fast it charges, and you just want to know if you can get your favorite color.

There are some... interesting color schemes this year, and not everyone is happy.

• iPhone 17: Lavender, Mist Blue, Sage, Black, and White.
• iPhone Air: Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, and Sky Blue.
• iPhone 17 Pro and Max: Cosmic Orange, Silver, and Deep Blue.

It's the Pro and Max versions in particular that are causing upset, with one critic fuming: "You know who really wants the better cameras? Women," they exclaimed.

"Women do not want orange or navy. Where are the cute colors?"

"Who are these for exactly? Dads?" joked another, about the orange and navy shades.

"I don't know why it's so hard to include various colors for the iPhones" asked one on Instagram. "Why couldn't you have a pink option available? You have these colors that I am not interested in."