Fast charger buying guide: types of fast charging, how to know if my phone is compatible, and featured models
The
more mAh batteries, it long last so our mobile does not turn off in the middle
of the day.
However,
if that happens, we can always use fast charging if our phone has this function
to charge its battery faster than normal. Among the immensity of brands and
models of terminals, it is easy to get lost when it comes to knowing if our phone has a fast charge
and what type.
The
new USB chargers are prepared to charge multiple devices simultaneously as
they have several USB outlets and have enough power (W) so that the
charging speed is the maximum allowed in each of the devices, which implies
a minimum charging
time.
In
this fast charger
buying guide, we start from scratch to help you know if
your phone has a quick charge, what type it is, and which charger is the most
suitable.
What is Fast Charging?
As
we will see later, the name- generic – leaves little to the imagination: they
are the technologies
that allow the battery to be charged at a higher speed than usual.
It
cannot lead us to think that if we want to charge our phone faster, it will be
enough to use a more powerful charger. And although it is roughly accurate, the
reality is that the technical specifications of the battery set certain limits
and that its life will suffer if we do not use the original charger or one that
is compatible and recommended by the manufacturer. It is not a trivial matter:
in addition to damaging the battery, we could damage the phone itself and even
hurt ourselves.
How do I know if my phone has fast charging?
After
this review of the leading fast charging technologies on the market, it's time
to solve the million-dollar question: does my phone have fast charging? And
if so, what type is it?
To
find out if your phone has a fast charge, the simplest thing is to read the device's technical
specifications. In case of not having them at hand, in GCO Store analyzes,
we usually offer that information in the technical sheet.
Another
easy option is to
take a look at the phone's charger, where you'll usually find
the technology logo and charging specifications.
It
is worth making sure and not assuming that because our phone is an OPPO, it has
VOOC or that if it integrates a Snapdragon chip,
we can use Quick Charge. In this sense, we will always have the official lists
of compatible devices, although there is a possibility that they are not
updated.
Finally, if you have an Android – more difficult to determine due to the heterogeneous offer of devices – you can always go to Settings > About > Battery and see the relative power data of the device.
Other aspects to consider when buying a USB Type C Charger
Regardless
of the port – USB or USB-C – that we use to connect the charging cable that
connects the mobile to the charger, it is essential to pay attention to whether
it offers more outputs
and what type they are since it can help us to charge more
devices. In this case, pay attention to the output specifications of each one.
The
charger should be compact,
designed so that the cables suffer as little as possible –
and that is because those impossible curves affect their life – and that it
dissipates heat adequately. This aspect is essential if you have multiple
shots.
If
we buy it on the internet, it never hurts to check that the plug to plug it in corresponds to our
area. In Spain, type C and F plugs are used.
Chargers
are exposed to overheating, voltage losses and spikes, blackouts, so it's best
to look at what
protections they offer. In this sense, verifying that they
comply with CE, FCC, and RoHS certifications, related to the manufacturing
materials, use, and regulation of the products, is a good idea.
If
you purchase a charger for Apple, third-party products with MFi guarantee that
that product has been verified and certified by Cupertino for use with their
devices.
Why is a high-power USB charger better?
If
you are only going to use it on a mobile, it is not necessary to choose the one
with the highest power, but if you plan to use it to recharge all your devices:
mobile, tablet/iPad, the external battery, it is advisable to choose one
with multiple USB
ports and with enough
power to devices to recharge faster.
A higher power charger (W) allows you to recharge several
devices simultaneously in a shorter charging time.
Let's
see the following example where we want to charge three devices at the same
time with a USB charger:
Devices
Capacity (mAh)
Voltage (V)
Current (A)
Power (W)
Typ. load (hours)
Smartphone
3000mAh
5V
1A
5W
3h
Tablets
8000mAh
5V
2.1A
10.5W
3.80
a.m.
Power bank
20000mAh
5V
2.4A
12W
8:30
a.m.
TOTAL
5V
5.5A
27.5W
3:10
p.m
Smart charging in mobile chargers
The
charger can detect the devices connected to each port through the intelligent
charging system and distributes the total current among the machines for
a faster and more
efficient charge.
It
makes sense to talk about intelligent charging when several devices charge simultaneously.
The user does not have to worry about which charger port to plug
into to charge faster.
Most
specialized brands incorporate smart charging in their chargers. Some names of
this technology that you can find in Amazon chargers: AIPower (Aukey), iSmart (RAVPower),
or PowerIQ (Anker).
Charger without smart ports
17W
5V/3.4A charger
Two
output ports: 5V/1A and 5V/2.4A
The
UGREEN charger has two different amperage outputs: 1A and 2.4A, depending on
the device's recharged.
Charger with smart ports
24W 5V/4.8A charger
Two
output ports: 5V/2.4A
The
Aukey charger has its ports with the same amperage of 2.4A, and thanks to
the AIPower system,
we don't have to worry about which port to connect each device to charge it
faster.
We
would like to know what you think about this guide to continue improving it.
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