Everything you need to know about the latest fast charging standard
Over the past few years, Qualcomm has continued to update their fast charging standard, pushing for better speeds, higher efficiency and improved safety.
Here’s what you need to know about Quick Charge 4: how fast it is, what features are included, when it will be released and what you’ll need.
How fast is Quick Charge 4?
Qualcomm is making two big promises for Quick Charge 4:
- 0 to 50% capacity in 15 minutes
- 5 hours of battery life in 5 minutes
That’s based on a 2750mAh battery, which is pretty close to standard for most 5-inch or smaller Android phones these days. Larger phones tend to have batteries of 3,000mAh or more, so expect slightly longer charging times.
These speeds are about 20% faster than the past two versions of Quick Charge (2.0 and 3.0).
What features does Quick Charge 4 have?
Apart from faster charging, energy efficiency has also improved 30% compared to the previous version; that means less energy is lost as heat. Qualcomm suggest that charging can be up to 5 degrees Celsius cooler.
There are also features to extend the working life of your battery, carefully adjust the voltage for maximum efficiency and more. If you’re interested, read Qualcomm’s blog for the full details.
The standard is also compatible with USB-C and the USB Power Delivery specifications, so Google won’t get mad at Qualcomm.
What do I need to use Quick Charge 4?
- A phone with a Snapdragon 835 chipset (2017)
- A Quick Charge 4.0 mains adapter
Quick Charge 4 will be included on all phones that run Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 chipset, which should include many flagship models in 2017. We’ll also likely see the same technology appear on other Qualcomm chipsets as the year goes on.
You’ll also need a Quick Charge 4.0 mains adapter, which may come with your device or may need to be purchased separately. We’ll stock QC4 chargers as soon as they’re available.
Can I use Quick Charge 2.0 or 3.0 chargers with Quick Charge 4 phones?
Yes, the standard is backwards compatible. However, you’ll be limited to Quick Charge 2.0 or 3.0 charging speeds, efficiency, etc. For the fastest speeds and the other advantages of Quick Charge 4, you need a proper Quick Charge 4 charger.
When will Quick Charge 4.0 be released?
Quick Charge 4 should be available in devices from spring next year. The first smartphones and tablets to support the standard should be announced at CES in January, Mobile World Congress in February, or dedicated events around this time. Samsung are expected to include Quick Charge 4 in their Galaxy S8, which is currently pegged to be launched in April.
Any more questions?
I hope this helped. If you have any more questions or we didn’t explain something very well, please let us know. Thanks for reading the article and have a fast-chargin’ day!