Smartphones have become a favorite for most people, and when the battery drops below 20%, most people experience some negative emotions, such as restlessness. It's like going out without a wallet; a phone running out of battery easily has become a source of anxiety. Smartphone manufacturers understand this, and they've responded to the needs of their users—after all, users are the foundation; without users, who would buy a phone? Thus, fast charging was born, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it one of the greatest inventions of recent years. Many people who have used fast charging can never go back, and now even budget phones are starting to include this technology. However, this has led to another problem.
The focus these days isn't so much on how fast phones charge, after all, Xiaomi has developed 100W fast charging, 40W fast charging is ubiquitous, wireless charging has reached 20W, and even budget phones are starting to use fast charging technology. Normally, the use of these once-high-end technologies in budget phones simply indicates reduced costs, allowing these technologies to become widespread. However, with a larger user base comes another problem. Previously, most chargers were 5V/1A, with Apple using 1A chargers for generations. But in the fast charging era, chargers with various specifications are available. Consumers inevitably wonder: will higher specifications damage the battery? After all, today's phone batteries are not replaceable, unlike before when they could be easily replaced. This is where we need to introduce the major directions of current fast charging technology.
Currently, there are two main methods to improve charging speed, which are also the two major directions:
1. Increasing the voltage places higher demands on the quality of the charger. The charger will generate a lot of heat during the charging process, so if the charger does not meet the standards, it may be dangerous.
2. Increasing the current means lowering the voltage to increase the current. However, high current also has drawbacks. For example, it can accelerate battery aging, leading to certain safety hazards. High current can also cause irreversible damage to the chemical substances inside the lithium battery. However, it also has advantages, such as lower heat generation. It depends on how manufacturers balance these factors.
However, fast charging technology requires three essential components to be met: the charger, the battery, and the charge IC. Furthermore, fast charging technologies that increase current typically require custom-made charging cables because the high current, without proper standards and specifications, can cause harm to the human body.
Currently, mobile phone fast charging technology can be mainly divided into the following three categories:
1. VOOC technology, the core of which is low voltage and high current.
2. Qualcomm QuickCharge technology is based on high voltage and low current.
3. MediaTek PumpExpressPlus technology allows the charger to dynamically adjust the voltage based on the current.
So, ultimately, will this fast charging technology affect battery life?
Think about it: combining the two approaches mentioned above, increasing the charging voltage or current can improve charging speed. However, when the charging current increases, the material on the surface of the battery's negative electrode—a semi-permeable membrane—can crack. This slight cracking causes internal material reactions, resulting in irreversible damage. But increasing the voltage also increases heat generation, which is a major killer of lithium batteries, reducing their activity and capacity.
However, there's no need to be pessimistic or avoid using fast charging altogether, or even use slow charging on your fast-charging phone. Leaving aside the battery's lifespan, slow charging can actually damage the battery in many cases. Since it doesn't meet the phone's charging standards, the IC chip naturally needs to make different adjustments. Batteries are consumables, and modern smartphones have very long lifespans, generally at least 500 charging cycles. If we develop proper charging habits, they can easily last for about two years. After all, lithium batteries have been around for many years, and the technology is well-established, so they won't break down quickly.
Therefore, regardless of the technology used, all technologies will cause some damage to the battery. It's difficult to say which technology is better; it's a matter of personal opinion. However, all these technologies will have some impact on the phone battery. As for whether to use slow charging or not, it's up to you to decide. Personally, I can't stand slow charging anymore. What about you?
