Many modern phones offer fast charging capabilities, although they may not include a fast charger in the box.
To determine if your smartphone is charging at its maximum speed, there are several tests to you can perform to find out.
How to tell if your phone is fast charging
Some phones make it easier than others, as they’ll display ‘Charging rapidly’ or ‘Fast charging’ on the lock screen.
However, even if your phone does not display such a message, there are other ways to check if your phone is actually charging to its full potential.
Check for visual or audible cues
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
For example, the Nothing Phone (2) displays “Charging rapidly” text when fast charging, but many Android phones will display something similar.
Different manufacturers use different solutions, so the best way is to look at the manufacturer’s website or your phone’s manual to find out how it indicates that fast charging is active.
However, Apple has no such feature on the iPhone, so there’s no way to know for sure unless you use another method.
Use third-party apps
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
But if your phone offers no visual or audible indication, then there’s still a way to find out how fast it is charging. Head to your phone’s app store and install Ampere on iOS or Android.
This useful app measures the incoming charging current and voltage, which you can use to calculate the wattage. As an example, we’re using the Moto G7 Power. This ships with a charger that can deliver 5V at 3A, 9V at 2A or 12V at 1.5A.
Using Ampere, we can see rough figures which show that it charges at (near enough) 5V and 3000mAh. So it’s using the 5V/3A output, which is 15W, and that’s the fastest this phone is capable of charging, and it’s why Motorola lists the charger as 15W on its website.
What is fast charging?
“Fast charging” is a term that lacks a precise definition, referring generally to charging rates faster than the standard. There’s also no universal standard or charger for fast charging; it depends on the phone, charger, and cable used.
For Android phones, many support Qualcomm’s QuickCharge, but there are various standards within it. Some manufacturers have their own standards like Samsung’s Super Fast Charging. However, iPhones also offer fast charging.
Does my phone come with a fast charger?
To ensure your phone is charging as fast as possible, you need to know the wattage of your charger and the maximum wattage your phone can charge at.
You can find the charger’s wattage by checking the label on the charger itself. For instance, if it states the output as 5V at 3A, the charger is 15W (Watts = Volts * Amps). If the output is listed in mA, divide by 1000 to get Amps.
To determine your phone’s maximum charging wattage, you may need to search for your specific model’s detailed specifications online. If your charger’s wattage matches your phone’s maximum charging wattage, you have the fastest charger for it.
Mattias Inghe
Otherwise, you may need to consider purchasing a charger with higher wattage – here are some recommendations of the best USB chargers to buy. Standard chargers typically offer around 5W, while USB ports on computers usually deliver 2.5W.
Keep in mind that even the best power banks out there also vary in their ability to fast charge phones, depending on the wattage available on each port. If your charger doesn’t provide enough power, consider investing in a more suitable USB charger or power bank.
What about fast wireless charging?
For wireless chargers adhering to the Qi or Qi2 standards, the minimum wattage is typically 5W, but many can deliver 7.5W, 10W, and even 15W, even if few phones can utilise the higher rates.
Regardless of the phone model, if it supports fast wireless charging, it’s usually slower than using a USB cable and a fast charger. However, if your phone does not support it, there are some ways to add wireless charging to any phone.
For recommendations, here are some of the best wireless chargers you can buy right now.