How to find out if your smartphone supports fast charging. How to enable and disable fast charging on Samsung Galaxy? How Quick Charge works

How to disable fast charging on Samsung Galaxy (S7, S8, S9 and any other model)? Why do I need to disable and enable fast charging?

Everyone loves it when their devices charge fast, don't they? That's why so-called fast charging technology is so popular - at the moment, almost every phone manufacturer has their own version of it. However, in some cases, fast charging may not be the best solution.

Luckily, Samsung understands the need to disable this option at work, and there is a way to do this on Galaxy devices running Marshmallow (and other versions of Android), such as the S9, S8, S7/Edge, S6 Edge+, S6, and Note 5.

Now that you know why you should enable or disable fast charging on Samsung, let's take a look at how you can do it. The good news is, it's incredibly simple and you're just a few taps away from success.

I'm using a Galaxy S7 Edge for this tutorial, but the process is pretty much the same for all Galaxy devices - just be aware that if the device doesn't have wireless charging, the menu might look a little different.

1. The first thing to do is go to the Settings menu by pulling down the notification bar and tapping the cog icon in the upper right corner.

2. Scroll down the menu until you see the item “Optimization”. Click on it.

4. Now go to the bottom of this menu. Depending on the device, there are one or two options here: “Quick Charge” and “Fast Wireless Charging”. Toggling the slider to the right of any option enables/disables it.

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It's especially good that Samsung has separated these options so that you can choose whether to continue fast charging via cable but disable this feature for wireless charging, or vice versa. As you wish.

And this is not the first time that something interferes with fast charging. Google Pixel disables fast charging when the internal temperature of the phone passes a certain threshold.

In my time with the Galaxy S8 Plus, I've noticed a significant difference in how fast it charges if I'm using the battery at the same time. But it didn't dawn on me that fast charging doesn't really work when the screen is on or the phone is in use.

In that case, if you need to quickly charge your Galaxy S8 before hitting the road or going out for a walk, it's best to turn it on and not touch it at all for a while.

Now visitors to RuleSmart often ask the question of such a plan, they say, how to enable fast charging on a smartphone. Of course, there are those who want to turn it off. In both cases, all this looks quite interesting, if not comical.
First, let's figure out what's what. Fast charging technology allows you to increase the speed of filling the battery capacity, often by a multiple. This technology is relevant, for the most part, for batteries with a capacity of over 3000 mAh. Everything below does not make sense, you can use 1A there.

How to enable fast charging

If your smartphone does not support this technology, then nothing. Well, you cannot enable software that is not supported by hardware. But do not worry, you can take a more powerful power supply, if 1A is supplied with the kit, then take 2 A and the charging time will be approximately halved. But do not forget that this will not add “life” to the battery, but will shorten its operational life.
Now let's move on to the technology itself. In fact, the "chip" is called Quick Charge - this is the development of Qualcomm, which became the first among the fast charging standards. The technology is based on increasing the current strength. Nothing new, just minor software improvements with a minimum of hardware movement.


  • Quick Charge 2.0: up to 50% battery charge in approximately 30 minutes

  • Quick Charge 3.0: battery charges up to 80% in about 35 minutes

  • Quick Charge 4.0: 20% more efficient than the previous version and almost does not heat up the case.

All the "shamanism" is concentrated in the power supply itself, while the control is at the mercy of the processor (from Qualcomm, of course). Significant hardware work was carried out here.
The main function of Quick Charge is to recognize the current state of the battery and adjust the power supply correctly. In this case, charging from 0 to 60% will be much faster than charging from 60 to 100%. In this scenario, from 0 to 50% of the battery will “fill up” in 30 minutes, and thoughtful power regulation will not allow high voltage and current to harm the battery.

Which smartphones support fast charging?

Such smartphones include, for example, Xiaomi Mi6, Xiaomi Mi Max, HTC 10, Meizu MX6, LG G6, Moto X Force, Galaxy S8 and many others. In any case, the Qualcomm website provides an exhaustive list.

How to turn off fast charging

Not every device can boast the ability to programmatically disable fast charging. However, if there is such an opportunity, then just go to the Settings-Battery (Power or Battery) section, there you can configure the whole thing. In addition, you can simply start using a regular adapter with 1A, which will charge your gadget for a long time, but will not reduce the battery life as much. By the way, fast charging also leads to excessive heating, which is not good.

Hello readers of our blog!

With the release of the new Quick Charge technology, a question has arisen that worries many users of mobile devices - is fast charging harmful to the phone? And in this article we will talk about this and try to figure it all out. Let's go...

The origin of the "myth" about the dangers of Quick Charge

Immediately after the release of this technology, there were many of its opponents, and in most cases - due to the possession of incorrect information.

Many people know that high currents harm the battery, but they do not know how high currents accelerate its deterioration and that this only applies to the final stage of the process.

Does fast charging kill a battery?

At the highest power, the battery is not fully charged, but only 50-70% of the total capacity. Further, the current decreases to a level, as in a "slow" charge. Therefore, a smartphone equipped with the Quick Charge function can be charged halfway in just 30 minutes, and it takes 1.5 to 2 hours or more to fully charge it, depending on the battery capacity.

With a normal charge, you will get 50% in 1 hour, and the phone can fully charge in 2.5-3 hours. Following from the above, the goal of Quick Charge is not to "fill" the battery by 100% in the shortest possible time, but to lower the currents more sharply.

The task of technology is to quickly place the largest possible amount of charge into the battery without harming it. If the maximum is reached, the smartphone is charging normally.

The process seems to be explainable, but then where do so many opponents come from and why do they claim that after using it, the device became worse to hold a charge? The answer is not the technology itself, but its misapplication.

The main cause of battery wear is user inconsistency.

The normal mode taught us to charge the device at night or once every two or three days (for example, as in some popular gadget like Xiaomi Redmi 4x). And with Quick Charge, most often users find that charging three times to 50% is faster than once to 100% (about an hour or two hours instead of three).

After all, you can recharge the phone by half and work with it for another half a day. Therefore, users use the device more and charge more often. Therefore, NOT FAST, BUT FREQUENT charging reduces the performance of the device. Let's consider in more detail.

The average battery life is 400-500 charge cycles, then the capacity begins to decrease by 20-25%. If you charge your phone once a day, 500 cycles will expire in 1.5-2 years. But if you charge and discharge the device more often, this time will be reduced by six months or a year. This means that if the device is not fully charged, but by 70-75 percent, the number of cycles before reducing the capacity will increase.

Experts advise not even to bring the charge to 100%, but to shoot earlier.

How to extend battery life

To make your Android device last as long as possible, follow a few simple rules:

  1. Don't charge your phone too often. In order not to reduce the number of battery charge cycles, try to avoid short-term “recharges”. 30-40 minutes minimum.
  2. Do not use the gadget while charging. Overheating damages the battery. That is why flagships such as the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S7 automatically switch to the usual “slow” mode while using the device while charging.
  3. Do not cover a charging gadget. In the best case, the device will overheat and wear out, in the worst case, a fire may occur.
  4. You should not discharge your smartphone to zero. When the battery voltage drops below 2.7 volts, it will harm the battery. It is better to put the gadget to charge with 10-15% of the remaining charge.

These tips apply not only to phones that support Quick Charge technology, but also to all devices with a lithium battery.

We are deeply versed in the types of fast charging for mobile devices - DASH Charge, Quick Charge, Pump Express and others. Features of fast charging, safety and conditions of use.

The battery capacity in smartphones is gradually increasing, but at the same time, their power consumption is also increasing. In order to reduce charging time, smartphone manufacturers have begun to introduce fast charging technology. At the moment, there are already more than a dozen such solutions.

In this article, the site will help you understand the existing standards for fast charging.

At the heart of any fast charging is an increase in voltage and current. In ordinary charges, the voltage is 5 V, and in fast charges it reaches up to 20 V. The minimum current strength in fast charges is 2 A.


When using fast charging, the smartphone charges at a faster rate if it has the least amount of charge left, namely up to 50%, and after 50 percent it reduces the charging speed. This is due to the fact that the smartphone gradually lowers the voltage.

In addition, unlike classic chargers, most fast chargers are smart and communicate with the device using a special protocol.


For example, when using Quick Charge 4.0, the smartphone continuously sends information about the battery status to the charger, based on which the power supply regulates the output power by changing the current and voltage.

Types of fast charging

Now it's worth going over fast charging technologies. Many self-respecting manufacturers have their own designs, but most use more standardized solutions.

Qualcomm Quick Charge

Qualcomm Quick Charge is the most widely used fast charging technology at the moment. It laid the foundation for all other types of similar technologies. To date, the fourth version of Quick Charge has been released.


The evolution of Quick Charge.

Quick Charge 1.0 was designed to maximize the efficiency of charging devices up to 10W, with a maximum current draw of 2A through a standard adapter and at 5V, which allowed for 40% faster charging.

Quick Charge 2.0 uses chargers with output voltages of 5, 9 and even 12 volts, which increases the power of the charger to a maximum of 36 watts.


Meizu used a prototype smartphone with a 3000 mAh battery. A five-minute connection to the network provided the smartphone with a 30% charge, and 60% after 10 minutes.


According to the data, the Meizu test device outperformed the Galaxy S7 Edge in terms of charging speed, being 3.5 times faster. After 15 minutes, the charge indicator showed a value of 85%, and it took 20 minutes to fully charge the smartphone to 100%.


These results were facilitated by a high-voltage direct charging method with a voltage of 11 V and a current of 5 A.

If we are talking about harm to the battery, then after 800 cycles, the lithium-polymer battery has lost 20% of its original capacity. However, with the advent of a commercial sample with the support of this technology, Meizu decided not to rush.


Initially, it was about the release of such a device at the end of 2017, but soon Meizu delayed the release until the first quarter of 2018.

Huawei Super Charge

The maximum fast charging power of Huawei Super Charge reaches 22.5 W at a voltage of 5 V. So far, only Huawei P10, and have this technology.


The flagship of the Mate line is equipped with a 4000 mAh battery, which can be charged up to 57% in half an hour. And to get 100% battery, you need to wait an hour and 10 minutes.

Fast charging safety. What will happen to the battery?

A battery can feel bad when charging quickly for two reasons: charging speed and temperature.


You have probably noticed that during fast charging, the smartphone heats up more than when using normal charging. Overheating is the main cause of battery explosions and fires. will not lie.

But we have nothing to fear: all fast charging technologies are equipped with a huge number of overheating protection systems. But they cannot protect from one thing - from the users themselves. More precisely from their inattention and improper use of charging.


Here are some simple rules to keep you out of trouble when using fast charging:

  • Charge smartphones only with original chargers with original cables
  • Do not charge a damaged device
  • If the smartphone case is bent or cracked, then it is better not to risk it and not use such a device at all.
  • Do not place the device under a pillow or blanket when charging.

You should not be afraid of battery wear during fast charging. It is negligible and does not reduce battery life. Moreover, why else create such technologies, if not to use them to the fullest?

The future of fast charging

But someone still does not like fast charging. I wonder who might not like that after charging the device for 15 minutes, we can use it all day? This is a Google company.

Yes, don't be surprised. Good Corporation does not like that there are so many competing standards and it promotes its own technology: USB Power Delivery, which is found in the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones. The Internet giant has published the official for the compatibility of devices with this type of fast charging:

USB Power Delivery is available in the following modes: 5V/2A (10W), 12V/1.5A (18W), 12V/3A (36W), 12-20V/3A (up to 60W) and 12-20V/4.75-5A (up to 100W).


I can’t even believe that in the near future monitors will work from USB. After all, the USB connector was created in order to remove all the other connectors, but he did not quite succeed. The endless change of standards, first USB 2.0 and 3.0, then Type-C - all this is starting to annoy. But change is just around the corner, look forward to new technologies!


***

That's all. I tried to talk about all types of fast charging that are already in use and that are just waiting for mass use. If I missed something, feel free to point it out to me in the comments below.

So far, there are no compact batteries with a high capacity. Such devices are under development. Of course, there are some prototypes, but they are not used. Smartphone manufacturers have gone the other way - they have come up with a way to charge the phone faster, and much more. To do this, it must support fast charging technology (it can be called differently) and be equipped with a special charger that can provide high current.

Note that cheap phones in the price range up to 10 thousand rubles do not have such a function. Fast charging is available in flagships and more or less expensive smartphones, which cannot be attributed to either flagships or state employees. However, hardware is improving and getting cheaper, so if during 2018 state employees start producing fast-charging technologies, then this will be logical.

How does fast charging work?

To fill the battery faster, you need a high power charger. In standard models, the voltage does not exceed 5 V, and the current strength is not higher than 2-2.5 A (most often it is 1 Ampere). In special adapters, the current can reach 5 A, and the voltage is 20 V. However, this is not the main difference. Classic “slow” chargers simply provide a stable serial current, while “smart” and fast devices can “communicate” with a smartphone using a special protocol.

For example, the popular Quick Charge 3.0 technology from the well-known processor manufacturer Qualcomm is based on “communication” between a smartphone and a charger. The phone sends information about the state of the battery to the charger, and based on this information, the power supply can adjust the output power by changing the current or voltage. This voltage detection system is called Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage or INOV.

The highest power is given by the adapter when the battery is empty. That is why manufacturers most often indicate the efficiency of their charges by the time the battery fills up to 50%. For example, with a completely empty Quick Charge 3.0 battery (the name of one of the technologies), an initial voltage of 20 V is created, and then as the battery capacity increases, the voltage can drop down to 3.2 V.

The fast charging feature is available only if the processor supports this technology and with a special charger, which is usually supplied by the manufacturer. If it breaks, you can buy a new one, but it must be certified. And although there are few fakes on the market, you should never use an unverified accessory, so charging the battery in the wrong mode can not only destroy the smartphone, but also cause a fire.

Technology

Every self-respecting manufacturer of chipsets (processors) has created its own unique fast charging technology. Let's point out the most common of them.

Quick charge

Qualcomm is a leading manufacturer of smartphone chipsets. Xiaomi, some Samsung, Asus, Google Pixel and other manufacturers buy chips from this brand and successfully use them in their phones. It was Qualcomm who was the first to create fast charging technology. At the moment, the latest processors use the Quick Charge 3.0 version. It is supported by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (latest) 821, 820, 625, 620, 618, 617, 430 chips. Processors starting from 625 can even be used in budget smartphones.

Quick Charge 3.0 technology allows you to fully charge a 3300 mAh battery from scratch in 96 minutes. This is an excellent result. Qualcomm also announced that the fourth version of the standard will be implemented in 2017, but 2017 is already coming to an end, and the latest Snapdragon 835 processor has only received the third version. It is she who is used in phones based on this chipset.

Pump Express

Qualcomm's closest competitor is MediaTek, which also makes processors for phones. However, its products are most often used in budget Chinese phones like Meizu. Its own Pump Express 3.0 fast charging technology (the latest version at the moment) allows you to fully charge your Meizu Pro 6 smartphone with 2560 mAh batteries in just 1 hour.

Technology support is possible only if there is a USB Type-C port and one of the supported SoCs (the company does not disclose the entire list).

Adaptive Fast Charging

Samsung is not far behind. Adaptive Fast Charging technology is implemented in Exynos processors. It is supported by all S series phones starting from Samsung Galaxy S6. The Note line has also received a new development - all smartphones, starting with the Galaxy Note 4, support it. The charging power from Samsung is 15 W at 9 V, which is enough to fill the battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh up to 50% for 30 minutes.

What about Apple?

For the first time in iPhones, fast charging appeared just the other day. Apple implemented the technology in the new flagships iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X. During the presentation, it was stated that the phone could charge up to 50% within 30 minutes. However, disappointment awaits buyers - Apple does not supply special adapters in the kit. As standard, the kit comes with a regular 5 W plug that does not support the technology. Therefore, in order to be able to quickly charge the phone, you will have to buy a charger with a capacity of 29, 61 or 87 watts. And although they say that the iPhone 8 requires 61W charging, all this is complete nonsense. The maximum current that any of the new flagships can take is a 29W charger.

Other technologies

There are other manufacturers who have created their own technologies. Let's briefly list them so as not to bore you too much:

  1. OPPO implements Flash Charging or Dash Charge technology in its phones.
  2. Huawei does not stand aside with its HiSilicon processors with Super Charge technology. Huawei Mate 9, P10 and P10 Plus have this technology so far, but the list will expand.
  3. Meizu is working on the revolutionary Super mCharge technology, which in theory will be able to charge a 3000 mAh battery in just 20 minutes.

So far, these are all currently known fast charging technologies that are used in certain phones. Their principle is approximately the same, but there may be technical differences.

Conclusion

Finally, I would like to give valuable advice. If the website of the processor manufacturer indicates that the chip supports fast charging technology, this does not mean that this technology will be used in a smartphone with this chip. The chipset developer only provides such an opportunity, and the smartphone manufacturer decides whether to include it in the functionality of the model or not.

Also, when buying a power supply, you need to check which fast charging standards it supports and whether it corresponds to a smartphone. Not all fast chargers are universal, and many of them are not capable of charging phones with other SoCs.