A recent report says 69% of Americans charge their phones at least twice a day. This is followed by another finding that over 64% are charging phones overnight. This makes me question whether using fast charge lowers battery life in the long run.
And I am sure you might be wondering that too, hence you’re reading this article.
With smartphones becoming increasingly powerful and feature-packed, battery life remains a key area of concern for users. Many premium smartphones now come with some form of fast charging technology that promises to charge the phones from 0 to 50% in 30 minutes or less.
There are tons of options for fast charging – VOOC, Qualcomm Quick Charge, Apple Fast Charging, Warp Charge, etc. But only one question in mind – do all this fast charging affect your battery life?
In this post, we’ll take a detailed look at smartphone fast charging technologies and analyze if they reduce battery lifespan.
What Is Supercharging in Smartphones?
Supercharging or fast charging refers to charging systems that use higher voltage (9V or 12V) and amperage levels to charge phone batteries at faster speeds than conventional 5V/2A chargers.
Some common fast charging standards used in smartphones include:
- Quick Charge (QC) from Qualcomm – Up to 18W
- USB Power Delivery – Up to 100W
- Super VOOC from OPPO – Up to 50W
- SuperDart from Realme – Up to 125W
- Warp Charge from OnePlus – Up to 65W
Supercharging can deliver anywhere from 50% to 100% charge in 30 minutes depending on the phone’s battery capacity and charger standards supported.
Most fast charging systems use intelligent voltage and current negotiation protocols between the phone and charger to provide the optimum power suitable for the phone’s battery.
Does Super Fast Charge Lower Battery Life for Today’s Smartphones?
There have been concerns if using fast charging tech like Super VOOC, Warp Charge etc. for daily use can degrade smartphone battery life quicker over long term use.
However, from most studies and tests done so far, there does not seem to be strong evidence suggesting fast charging significantly lowers battery lifespan of most newer phones when done optimally.
Here are some key points that indicate fast charging is generally okay for daily use:
- Most premium phones like Galaxy, iPhone, OnePlus etc. come with battery protection mechanisms for their fast charging tech to control heat & battery wear.
- Lithium-ion batteries powering phones today do not suffer from issues like memory effects which used to plague older batteries. Occasional fast charging & top-ups do not have adverse effects.
But, factors like these can contribute to lowering battery lifespan even for newer phones.
- excessive heat in surroundings during charging,
- keeping battery constantly charged at 100%
- using wall chargers with fluctuating voltages (most ignored)
The risks seem to increase either when using a 3rd party non-optimized fast charger or a worn-out OEM charger.
If You Charge Your Smartphone to 100% Overnight, Does It Affect Its Battery Life?
Many users have a habit of charging their phone overnight while sleeping to keep it topped up at 100% for the next day’s use. But, keeping your phone plugged in for hours after it has already reached 100% charge can be damaging for its long term battery health.
Even with a fast charger, once the phone’s battery indicates 100% charge, the charger automatically switches to trickle or maintenance charging. This mode supplies just enough power to balance the minor battery drain keeping the phone powered up overnight.
Keeping the battery always at 100% creates stress due to overcharging & increased lithium deposits on electrodes over time. Doing this daily can increase swelling & lower capacity.
It’s generally recommended not to make a habit of keeping phones & lithium batteries fully charged overnight. Charging up to 80% is considered optimal for daily usage.
What Is the Purpose of Supercharging or Fast Charging Your Smartphone?
The main purpose fast charging solutions serve in premium smartphones today is convenience and flexibility.
Super fast charging allows users to:
- Minimize downtime when the phone’s battery has drained out during the day or before important meetings.
- Swiftly top-up while traveling when there is no ready access to wall chargers.
- Get several hours’ worth of usage with just 30 minutes (or sometimes way less) charging by plugging during commute or breaks.
- Considering the average user keeps their phones for 2-3 years, occasional super fast charging is unlikely to have a major impact if using the OEM adapter.
Users who want to maximize battery lifespan can limit daily fast charging to when urgency calls for it.
Are Superchargers Good for Your Phone?
Super fast chargers designed specifically by phone manufacturers for their models using charge protocols optimized for the phone’s battery are generally okay for daily usage. These manufacturers have intensive R&D centered around making the best accessories (chargers or cables) to go with their products.
But unbranded third-party chargers even with similar charging wattage ratings are best avoided for super-fast charging. This can lead to slow charging or no charging at all, after some time.
Cheaper components or lack of precision tuning can lead to issues like overheating batteries, early capacity drops or degraded cycle life. Sticking to OEM branded super wattage chargers certified for your specific phone model is advised.
But, but, but…if your phone is like the discontinued Galaxy Note 7 (RIP), no charger in the world can help with its explosions.
Is It Better to Fast Charge or Slow Charge Your Smartphone?
For occasional urgent top-ups, super fast charging is beneficial, and most premium phones today handle it safely via good heat dissipation and charging firmware. But slow charging overnight or when you have ample time does help prolong battery lifespan.
Slower 5W overnight trickle charging allows the lithium-ion battery voltage & temperature to remain lower, inducing lesser stress. If feasible, restrict super fast charging to work/travel urgency when time is short. For non-urgent overnights, slower 5W charging may add a couple of months of extra capacity before noticing depletion.
So, does fast charge lower battery life?
In conclusion – modern li-ion batteries combined with intelligent charging mechanisms indicate super fast charging should not degrade today’s premium smartphones’ lifespan if used smartly when required.
But, slower overnight charging whenever possible plus moderation in daily full charge cycles helps safeguard maximum battery life over years.
Avoiding inferior quality fast charge adapters without safety mechanisms remains crucial.
