Do you need to buy Apple's official charger? The short answer is no. High-quality third-party chargers from reputable brands like Anker, Belkin, Nomad, and Satechi are excellent—and often more affordable or innovative—alternatives. However, you must look for the right certifications to ensure safety and performance:

• For Wired Charging: Look for adapters that are explicitly "USB-C PD" (Power Delivery) certified. For maximum speed on Pro models, ensure it's at least 40W.
• For Wireless Charging: Look for the official "Qi2.2 Certified" logo on the packaging. This guarantees magnetic alignment and the fastest possible wireless charging speeds for your iPhone 17. Avoid older "Qi" chargers if you want top speed.

Pro Tip: Gallium Nitride (GaN) chargers are a great choice. They are significantly smaller, more power-efficient, and generate less heat than traditional silicon-based chargers, making them perfect for travel.

Apple's decision to stop including power adapters and EarPods continues with the iPhone 17 line. While controversial, the stated goal is environmental. The logic is that most customers already have a drawer full of USB power adapters, and removing them has a significant impact:

• Smaller Packaging: More boxes can fit on a shipping pallet, which reduces the number of shipments and lowers carbon emissions from transportation.
• Reduced E-Waste: Prevents millions of new, redundant chargers from being produced and eventually discarded each year.
• Material Conservation: Saves vast amounts of plastic, copper, tin, and zinc that would be used to produce the accessories.

Apple reports that this initiative saves over 2 million metric tons of carbon annually—the equivalent of removing 500,000 cars from the road.