fastcharge

Fast charging refers to charging technologies designed to replenish a battery more quickly than standard charging. It is commonly used for lithium-ion and lithium polymer batteries in smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Implementations rely on higher power delivery and optimized charging profiles, but still depend on a compatible charger, device charging controller, and a suitable cable.

Most fast-charging schemes involve negotiation between the charger and the device to agree on a safe power level. The charger may raise voltage, current, or both, and adopt staged charging to balance speed and heat. Battery chemistry, temperature, and aging influence how aggressively charging can proceed.

Prominent standards include USB Power Delivery (USB PD), which negotiates voltages from 5V to 20V (and up to 100W in some implementations), and PPS (Programmable Power Supply) for fine-grained voltage control. Other major schemes include Qualcomm Quick Charge and vendor-specific protocols such as Oppo VOOC, OnePlus Warp Charge, Huawei SuperCharge, and Samsung Adaptive Fast Charging.

Not all devices support fast charging, and using incompatible chargers or cables can reduce performance or raise safety risks. Fast charging can generate more heat, which may affect long-term battery health. Device software usually limits temperature and current to protect the cell during charging.

Overall, fast charging is widespread in mobile devices, contributing to shorter downtime between uses. The actual benefit depends on the device’s battery size, the charging standard, starting charge level, and thermal conditions.