Qualcomm has revealed that it is substantially boosting its Quick Charge technology such that it will be able to plug in and get a device with a 4,500mAh battery from 0 to 50% in five minutes and from empty to 100% in 15 minutes.
The company has also that the new technology will debut in devices during the third quarter of 2020 on phones that run on the company’s Snapdragon 865 and 865 Plus processors — will also be able to take advantage of more than 100 watts of power to speedily refill depleted device batteries.
Most flagship phones have battery capacities ranging from 3,000mAh to 5,000mAh depending on the manufacturer, features, and the size of the device. Apple’s 5.8-inch iPhone 11 Pro has a roughly 3,000mAh battery while Samsung’s 6.9-inch Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G has a 5,000mAh battery.
For now, the feature will start with devices that have its flagship 800-series processors, the company expects it to be rolled out to more affordable 700 and 600-series chipsets over time.
Apart from faster charging, Qualcomm claims that the new format will be “up to 70% more efficient” than its Quick Charge 4 and also runs 10 degrees Celsius cooler (or 50 degrees Fahrenheit) when recharging with a cable.
The speed of the fast wireless charging will also be determined by the type of wireless charging coils manufacturers use in their devices.
According to CNET, a new “Smart Identification of Adapter Capabilities” system will be incorporated into Quick Charge 5 devices and accessories to help ensure devices recharge safely while also maximizing the power that is being transferred.
Qualcomm also says that it has eight levels of voltage protection, three levels of current protection, three levels of thermal protection, and three levels of timer protection to make sure devices with Quick Charge 5 replenish safely.
Ev Roach, vice president of product management for Qualcomm Technologies in a statement said, “Quick Charge 5, our fastest and most versatile charging solution, will enable consumers to enjoy their devices for longer periods, without worrying about the time required to recharge.”
Qualcomm touts that Quick Charge 5 is “optimized to take advantage of both USB-PD and Type-C technologies” for maximum compatibility.
The company also says that users with older accessories will not be able to maximize the full benefit of the new tech without upgrading. The support for the old versions should help ensure that your current chargers will still work just fine, but will not charge as fast.
