What is Fast charging in 2021? | How does fast charging work in 2021 ?

Fast charging is a system that makes it possible for mobile devices to recharge their batteries quickly. This technology has been around for decades and was first introduced by a Japanese company called Nicad in the 1980s.

What is Fast Charging?

Fast charging is not new, but it has evolved over the years. The most significant evolution was in 2010 when Qualcomm released its Quick Charge 1.0 technology, which allows a battery to charge up to 40% faster than conventional charging systems.

The main objective of fast charging is to charge your phone or tablet faster than standard chargers. Fast chargers have a higher amperage than other chargers, which means they can charge a device in a shorter span of time.

Many manufacturers have started to include this in their phones to increase battery life. This is mainly because we use our phones so much and it can get annoying when they die on us in the middle of the day or when we need them most.

How does fast charging work?

The battery in a smartphone is charged by an electricity transfer that is carried out through the metal contacts on the two ends of the charging cable. 

The electricity transfer only happens when a mobile device is connected to a battery charger with an output voltage matching the input voltage of the phone. This is why we can charge our smartphones from different power sources like wall sockets, laptop computers, and power banks.

These are the three phases by which fast charging works:

Phase 1: Power Conversion

This phase provides electrical energy to the smartphone when there’s no need for it. Once the phone needs power, this phase sends an electrical signal to let the state change from idle to active. It then engages with a voltage regulator that ensures that electricity doesn't exceed a certain amount.

Phase 2: Control Phase

In this phase, the control circuit monitors voltage and current signals in order to regulate them. The circuit also monitors temperature and makes sure it's within safe limits.

Phase 3: Current Regulation 

In this last phase, voltage is monitored by making sure it doesn't exceed the rated limit.

These are the Types of Fast charging Technology which is available in the market right now

1. USB Power Delivery

USB power delivery is a new standard that allows for faster charging times and more powerful devices. This technology will likely replace the current standard of USB power, USB type-A,  and micro-B, and could eventually become the universal standard for all mobile devices.

USB PD is a recent power standard that has been developed to provide more power and faster charging. You can find it on devices such as smartphones, laptops, wearables, and other devices. Even Apple also uses USB PD in its iPhones through lightning cable.

Companies like Apple, Google, Samsung, etc use this charging technology.

The maximum charging speed of USB power delivery is 100Watt.

2. Qualcomm Quick Charge

Qualcomm has spent over a decade developing the technology that they call Quick Charge. This is a proprietary charging system that aims to get the most out of your device’s battery and charge it as fast as possible.

Qualcomm Quick Charge is a technology that is built-in into Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors. It was designed to allow for faster charging times and the omission of cables.

The chipset is also the most widely used amongst Android flagship phones, with around three out of four Android flagships using it as their processor. In 2017, Qualcomm introduced Quick Charge 4+, a new generation of fast-charging technologies that deliver up to 100W.

Companies like Xiaomi, Google, Motorola, Nokia, etc use this charging technology.

The maximum charging speed of Qualcomm Quick Charge is 100Watt.

3. Samsung Adaptive Fast Charging

That is why their new Adaptive Fast Charge technology is based on the Qualcomm Quick Charge technology which will allow users to charge their Galaxy smartphones. 

The maximum charging speed of Samsung Adaptive Fast Charging is 45Watt.

4. Oppo Super Vooc Charging

Oppo Super VOOC is the fastest charging technology in the world. It can charge your phone from 0 to 100% in about 25 minutes.

Super VOOC is based on Oppo's proprietary VOOC fast-charging technology, which was developed by Oppo engineers and scientists and has since been lauded as one of the world’s most innovative mobile power management inventions.

Companies like Oppo, OnePlus, Realme, Vivo use this charging technology.

The maximum charging speed of Oppo Super Vooc Charging is 125Watt, but it is not commercially available right now.

5. OnePlus Warp Charge

OnePlus Warp Charging is a technology developed by OnePlus in association with Oppo. It is an alternative to conventional charging technologies and was unveiled on the OnePlus 6. Warp Charging is based on a proprietary charging standard called VOOC Flash Charge.  

The maximum charging speed of the OnePlus Warp Charge is 65Watt.

Benefits of Fast Charging

Fast charging technology is one of the most helpful developments for mobile devices. It can charge your phone in less time than traditional chargers can manage in many cases. Fast charging technology guarantees to make your phone battery go from 0% to 100% in a matter of minutes.

There are lots of advantages of Fast Charging that you can realize in your daily life, and some of them are 

1. You can charge your phone while driving

2. You can save money on electricity

3. You can go from zero to 100% battery in less than an hour

4. You no longer have to wait for hours before using your phone again

5. Your device will last even longer!

The fast charging technology is able to charge the battery of a phone in less time. So you will be able to use your phone more and not have to worry about running out of battery so quickly.

Fast charging is a new and improved technology that is currently being introduced into the market. It is here to make our lives more convenient. It will take less than an hour to charge your smartphone.

Disadvantages of Fast Charging

Fast charging in smartphones is seen as a way to increase battery life and reduce charging time. But the truth is that it also comes with disadvantages that are not always taken into consideration.

1. The lifespan of Lithium-Ion batteries gets decrease over the time

2. The device starts to overheat for a while that may cause damage to your battery

3.You only have to use the charger of the brand from which you have taken the phone.

What is the future of Fast Charging?

The future of Fast charging technology in phones is going to be even better. The phone will do more about its own power management, limiting how much power it draws from the charger and how quickly it charges. This means that chargers can become smaller and lighter while still delivering faster speeds.

With the need for a faster and more efficient way to charge our phones, fast charging technology is being developed by various companies.

You see, fast charging technology is not new. But by 2021, the future of fast charging technology in phones will be much better thanks to Oppo, Xiaomi, Qualcomm, and other companies that are constantly developing their charging technology.