With the increasing need to remain connected, no phone owner would like his or her device to go off. In a bid to make this possible, most people choose to purchase flagship phones that come with the fast charging feature. Unlike the conventional charging method, fast charging feature allows you to charge your device within a few minutes.
Whether you have gone to the coffee shop to catch up with a friend or have a few minutes left before you leave for work, you can use this feature and power up your phone within the shortest time possible. With this in mind, most avid phone users would like to know more about fast charging, we shall take a closer look at that, and how it works, alongside any other related idea.
How Does Fast Charging Work
Typically, charging takes place in two distinct phases. During the first phase, the fast charger is able to supply more power than the battery of the regular chargers. Here, your phone’s battery is able to receive a lot of voltage within a short period of time up to a certain point. Once the battery is almost fully charged, the fast charger reduces the amount of voltage it is passing to the battery. This goes a long way in preventing incidences of overcharging.
From the illustration above, it is evident that fast charging is faster during the initial phase but slows down over time in order to protect your battery from overheating. Consequently, your phone and the charger will remain in a pristine state.
In case your phone takes 3 hours to get fully charged using a regular charger, it might take about 1.5 hours or even less get fully charged with a fast charger. This makes fast chargers a lucrative choice for many phone users.
Simply put, this refers to the proprietary technology that allows you to charge your phone at power levels that exceed 5 volts at 2 amp. It is important to note that this standard varies from one device to another as different phones usually require different fast-charging standards.
Types of Fast Charging
Some of the commonest types of fast charging include:
Qualcomm Quick Charge
Unlike other fast charging standards, this one is the most commonly used chipset for Android devices. The latest Quick Charge 4+ usually have an output of 100W.
USB Power Delivery
Most phones come with a charging cable that has a USB connection on one end. As far as these cables are concerned, it is imperative to note that they have been in use for 20 years or thereabout.
Besides this, most of these cables have an output of 2.5W. Since there is a need for USB ports to transfer more power, the USB-PD came into place. As we speak, the latter has a maximum output of 100W and can work on an array of mobile devices.
Samsung Adaptive fast charging
Simply put, this is the standard that is commonly used by Samsung phone models. Mostly, it used by those models in the Galaxy line. The standard maximum power output of these chargers is 18W and usually changes its charging speeds automatically, whenever the battery is about to get fully charged. As a result, the battery is able to remain in a pristine state for longer.
Oppo Super VOOC Charging
The above-mentioned fast charging standard has a maximum power output of 50W. As the name suggests, it is commonly used by Oppo devices.
OnePlus Warp Charging
This fast-charging standard is able to charge mobile devices up to 30W. One unique feature of this fast charging standard is that it does not increase the voltage like other fast chargers. Besides this, there is full-speed charging which is available in the market.
FAQ
How Do I Know If My Charger is Fast Charging?
Once you purchase your charger, be quick to check the small description on its packaging that reads ‘Fast charging’. With this small description in place, be sure that the charger will power up your device within minutes. In addition, be quick to check other details such as ‘QC3’ or ‘Quick charge 2.0’.
Does Fast Charge Damage Battery?
Not really. This is because fast charging usually slows down once the battery is almost getting fully charged. On the other hand, your battery was made to be charged normally by the manufacturer so that it can last for ages in a pristine state. Regular fast charging might end up compromising the lifespan of your battery in the long run. In this case, you might have to replace it after a few years.
Which is Better, Fast Charging or Wireless Charging?
Both options can help you power up your device’s battery within minutes. The wireless charger, however, tends to use more energy and thus is less efficient than a conventional faster charger. In this regard, consider fast charging as the best option.
