I got my first Oneplus phone earlier this year and the fast charging is such a nice convenience. I thought it’d just be a gimmick I wouldn’t care about, but its something I take advantage of basically everyday.
In the past I’ve used Pixels and Galaxys and they tend to claim they have fast charging, but in reality its pretty slow. My old Fold 3 took ~1.5 hours to fully charge.
For comparison, the Oneplus 11 I replaced it with fully charges in under half an hour, usually closer to 25 minutes (though I very rarely actually charge up to 100%).
I bought a second charger to keep in my backpack and it basically completely removes any battery anxiety that I used to have. The other day I was out after work and my phone was down to 5%. I saw that I was near a used bookstore, so I went in and charged my phone for 5 minutes while I looked around and I was back up to 35%, enough for several hours of screen on time.
I don’t think fast charging is underrated generally. There’s been lots said about how great it is. Also it’s important to note that fast charging will reduce your battery life more than slow charging, so you should slow charge it whenever you don’t need it charged quickly.
I don’t think fast charging is underrated generally
Maybe it was just me underrating it.
that fast charging will reduce your battery life more than slow charging,
That’s true, though I think Oneplus does a good job of keeping the battery from heating up. That and the fact that I basically never charge up to 100% any more has resulted in my battery health dropping to 98% after 6 months of use.
True, when my phone is idle on my desk for hours, it’s plugged on a old 5V 1A charger to charge slowly. But if I have to get out for a long time and the phone is at 30%, I plug it on the 33W charger (it charges at 11V 3A) and in 15 minutes it goes to 80% or something, good enough.
I only “fast charge” (it is a 33W charger I think) when I want it… Well fast, I have a similar charger like yours and leave it plugged in all night, because I have been using my phone a lot as of lately (you won’t guess where) and I need it completely full.
I find having a phone with a lot of battery capacity is almost as good. My Moto G Stylus lasts for 2 days with moderate usage. If my battery is below 50% I charge it at night, otherwise I charge it the next night.
Proprietary fast charging < USB PD
Having a flashy name for a charging protocol which requires a specific charger and only works for your phone is overrated. A standard which allows me to safely use the same charger for my phone, laptop, steam deck, and almost every device that anyone brings round is underrated.
I get where you’re coming from. My Oneplus charger is extremely slow when used with my Steam deck.
Does any phone with USB PD charge at 80+ watts though?
I find my old Pixel 4 charges quite fast through USB C to USB C, but it definitely isn’t sub-30 minutes 0%-full. I got home with my phone at 25%, and it’s at 80% now after charging for 25 minutes. I’d love to experience genuine fast charging, but for now, this is quick enough for me.
Were you using the stock charger on the Fold 3? Stock chargers don’t even have the “Ultra Fast Charging” mode for Galaxy devices. I had to buy a uGreen charger to get that on my S20FE. And it went FAST. but… My USB Port on my S20FE is dying, even when it’s clean it’s flaky.
September can’t come faster so I can move to iPhone.
