Android needs to standardize fast charging definitions for clarity
I've got a love-hate relationship with USB-C. It's amazing that I can use the same charger for my headphones, laptop, and phone. However, figuring out if everything's charging as fast as it should? That's where things get messy.
The problem is, "fast charging" is a term that's all over the place. You see, some phones use their own special tech, others use standard USB Power Delivery, and then there are those newer USB PD PPS modes. With so many phones crossing my desk, it's tough to keep track of what each one needs to charge quickly. And when you add in different types of USB-C cables, it’s easy to see why people are confused when their phone charges slowly.
Android tries to help a bit by showing you if your charger's giving enough power. You know, that "fast charging" or "X minutes to full" message on your screen. It can give you a hint if things are slow, but it doesn't tell you *why*. For example, Android 15 did make things a little better for Pixel phones, upping the "fast" charging trigger from a measly 7.5W to a reasonable 20W. However, what you see on the screen varies wildly depending on the phone brand, so it's often inconsistent.
To show you how crazy it can be, I tested a few phones with different chargers. It turns out that the range of power that some companies call "fast charging" is huge. With Xiaomi, the difference between charging at 27W and 90W could be more than an hour! While some phones have different animations for different charging types, it doesn’t really solve the core problem: users are left in the dark.
Samsung seems to have the right idea. They use a clear system with terms like "Ultra-fast charging 1.0" and "2.0". Most people won't know the difference, but at least they know the phone is charging as fast as possible.
My Wish List for Google
Google, if you're listening, here's what I think would help. First, raise the bar for what's considered "rapid charging." 20W hasn't been fast for ages. I suggest 40W+ for ultra-fast, 18W+ for normal, and anything below that is slow. That makes sense considering that USB Power Delivery's 18W is a standard for most phones.
However, power levels change during charging. 37W can quickly drop to 18W. A better solution is to focus on time. Take the estimated time to full and compare it to the remaining charge. If it'll take over 1:30 to charge from empty, that's slow. Under 45 minutes? That's fast. This way, companies can't fake "super fast" charging.
Android could also give us more info, like battery temperature, charging types, and actual power levels. This would help us figure out the best chargers and cables for our phones. They could even use machine learning to give us tips on keeping our batteries healthy or let us turn fast charging on or off easily.
All I want is a lockscreen message that tells me when my phone's charging at its best. If the phone companies won't do it, Google should just build it into Android.
Source: AndroidAuthority