Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 technology explained

Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 technology explained

With battery life still struggling to accommodate the needs of heaviest smartphone users, reducing charging times is the next best thing. Qualcomm’s Quick Charge technology aims to do just that. The latest 2.0 version boasts up to 75 percent faster charging times than standard devices and HTC states that using the Rapid Charge 2.0 adapter states, you can charge your smartphone to 60 percent in just 30 minutes.

Quick Charge 2.0 is built in to all of Qualcomm’s latest SoCs, meaning that most of us should be able to benefit from faster recharge speeds. However, can you expect such impressive sounding battery charge times in all situations?

How it works

Before we begin, a quick note on batteries in general. Essentially, batteries are charged by the current delivered to them by the power source. Applying additional current at a set battery voltage results in more power, which can result in faster charging but also requires sturdier charging components that can withstand high power levels. Different amp specifications on different charging adapters alter the time it takes to charge your phone, but there’s a maximum limit to how much current can be pushed through.

Receiving devices, such as smartphones and tablets, include regulator circuits that will limit the charging current to prevent too much power dissipation and therefore potential damage. Charging sources, such as mains adapters, take mains power and convert it into a form that usually doesn’t exceed the maximum specifications of the device being charged. With smartphones, your adapter takes a high-voltage AC supply and converts it to 5 volts DC with a maximum amount of current draw. WATCH :Click Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 1.0 technology was designed to maximise charging efficiency for up to 10 watts of power, by allowing for a maximum current draw of 2 Amps through a standard USB adapter and port voltage of 5 volts. Quick Charge 2.0 allows for an even higher level of power transfer between your power source and smart device, up to a maximum of 36 watts in certain scenarios. Qualcomm splits its 2.0 technology into two classes, A and B. We’re most interested in Class A, which applies to smartphones, tablets, and other portable electronics.

The specifications for Class A allow for a maximum charging current of 3 Amps, depending on the source. Your typical smartphone charger will run at 5 volts, drawing 3A of current boosts Quick Charge 2.0 up to 15 watts of power. This means that you can draw more current from a traditional 5 volt USB supply, thereby speeding up the charging time.