Fast-charging has become a common thing on many Android devices, with charging speeds becoming faster and faster every year. The recent OnePlus 8 has a 65-watt charger that can charge nearly 60% in just 15 minutes and a full charge in 40 minutes.
Now even a midrange Android device usually comes with a 20-watt fast charger, and the speeds will continue to increase in the future.
Xiaomi 100-watt fast-chargers have supposedly hit production in 2020.
https://www.gizchina.com/2020/07/14/xiaomi-100-watt-charging-has-entered-production-lines/
Is fast-charging bad for my phone’s battery?
However, fast charging comes at a cost. Because the faster the phone charges, it will generate more heat. And heat is the number one enemy of a lithium-ion battery.
So regular fast-charging will generate more heat, and that will damage your lithium-ion batteries reducing their battery life.
It’s advisable not to use fast-charging regularly, and instead, use only when you want to have a quick charge. You would be able to get a good battery life and use your phone for a long time if you stick to this practice.
Why iPhones don’t come with fast charging?
It’s this reason why Apple is very reluctant to adopt fast charging on their iPhones. The iPhone 11s didn’t ship with a fast charger and only had the regular 5-watt charger. Even though the iPhone 11 has fast-charging capabilities, you have to buy a fast charger separately through Apple’s website, which ranges from 18-watts to 30-watts.
Because iPhones are made to last at least four to five years, and if Apple included a 40-60-watt fast charger then the batteries won’t last up to 4-5 years.
Disable fast charging whenever possible
Some Android devices running Android 9 or later have the support to disable fast-charging, so if you don’t need a quick charge then turn off fast charging, and turn fast-charge your phone only when required. You should be able to find this option on the settings page.
What is adaptive charging?
Some Android devices have an option called adaptive charging. Which will fast-charge your device up to 60-70%, and then it will slowly charge your device up to 100%. It will reduce heat production and also prolong your battery life.
So in conclusion, regular fast charging is not good for your phone’s battery life. Slow charge whenever possible and fast-charge your device only when you in need of a quick-charge.
