Fast charging technology has become a key feature in any smartphone nowadays, alongside a large battery that allows for more freedom in using the phone. Many Android phones can now be fully charged in an hour or less. Quick Charge is one of the most popular fast charging standards used in many smartphones. In this article, we will learn more about the Quick Charge standard offered by Qualcomm and how it has evolved over the years.
First of all, what is Quick Charge technology?
The Quick Charge standard offered by Qualcomm in many of its chips exclusively is the most popular fast charging technology used in smartphones. It has helped improve the charging speed in phones significantly, making it very different from previous USB connections. This standard was supported in Snapdragon chips offered by Qualcomm, where the company claims that this standard is still better in terms of heat management, efficiency, and battery life.
However, Quick Charge technology has become quite old now as fast charging technologies and standards have evolved significantly. For example, USB Power Delivery (PD) has become the most popular currently due to its super-fast charging speeds and other important features. The fame of Quick Charge started in 2010 and continued to spread to become a fundamental part of many smartphones. You can easily determine if the charger supports Quick Charge or not by noticing the logo of this technology on the charger.
Also read: Why does your phone’s battery drain fast? How to solve this problem?
What are the versions of Quick Charge?
Over the years, there have been 5 different versions of Quick Charge that have evolved in terms of charging speed, efficiency, energy conservation, and more. The first standard, Quick Charge 1.0, supported up to 10 watts of fast charging, but phones that came with it like the Nexus 4 and Galaxy S3 operated at much lower power. However, this standard paved the way for faster technologies in the future, as Quick Charge 2.0 was the second version that offered fast charging up to 18 watts.
Subsequently, Quick Charge 3.0 was introduced a year later, providing variable voltage levels, meaning that charging devices and chargers themselves would range from 3.6 volts to 20 volts with differences of 200 millivolts. This allowed devices to achieve a better balance between voltage and current, improving charging efficiency, reducing energy waste, and lowering the temperature generated during charging.
In 2017, Quick Charge 4.0 was released, representing a significant change from the previous version. This version is compatible with USB-PD and offered better power specifications, supporting fast charging up to 27 watts through USB-C ports. Finally, the company introduced Quick Charge 5, supporting 100-watt charging, and stood out for being more famous and widely supported in electronic devices.
Is Quick Charge technology important in smartphones?
Although Quick Charge used to be the main standard for fast charging in smartphones, it is no longer the case currently. The competition in the smartphone market has become much bigger, with companies racing to offer phones with the largest battery possible and super-fast charging speeds. Most modern phones from leading companies like Samsung, Apple, and Google now use the latest USB Power Delivery standard, while other companies like OnePlus and Oppo rely on the Warp Charge standard.
In conclusion, Quick Charge technology introduced by Qualcomm is no longer the best in our current time. While it made a significant leap in fast charging technologies, the industry has evolved greatly, focusing not only on fast charging but also on reducing energy waste, controlling temperature during charging, and compatibility with various devices and phones.
Also read: Your phone charges slowly and the battery drains quickly, here are the reasons and solutions
