Net of brute power, aesthetics and photographic compartments, fast charging is one of the features that most differentiates the various smartphones from each other. In recent years, the world of Android smartphones has been hit by a real race to see who reaches the fastest charging speed; the first models with charging at 150 W are starting to arrive but there are already technologies capable of going beyond 200 W.
Thanks to a study conducted by the GSMarena portal, we become aware of many details on the influence of the charging speed on the capacity of the batteries and we can sum up the subject.
Fast Charging: Does it have an impact on battery capacity?
GSMarena conducted a relative study on a fair number of Android smartphones, comparing smartphones as similar as possible and presented in the same period but proposed, between rebrands and not, with different battery packs and fast charging technology.
The smartphones under study come from the Xiaomi world (and related brands) and from the OPPO world (and related brands), two manufacturers who have pushed hard on the accelerator pedal with regard to fast charging.
We are more and more used, especially in the medium-low range, to witness the presentation of a huge number of smartphones, almost identical, but with slightly different names (true Xiaomi?): Often, the only difference between two such products is limited. just to the battery capacity and the charging speed.
The question behind the study is: How much does fast charging cost in terms of battery capacity? Small spoiler: higher charging speed means less battery, about 10% on average. This suggests that a 5000mAh smartphone would have a faster-charging counterpart but a 4500mAh battery.
To obtain this answer, the study examined twelve pairs of devices (some of which are not present on the Italian market), comparing, among the various pairs, the battery capacity and the charging speed, in order to calculate the “cost” of increased speed. Below we report the data found.
Redmi Note 11 Pro (China) and Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge 5G
- Battery capacity: 5160 mAh vs 4500 mAh
- Charging speed: 67W vs 120W
- Difference: -15%
Xiaomi 11i and Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge 5G
- Battery capacity: 5160 mAh vs 4500 mAh
- Charging speed: 67W vs 120W
- Difference: -15%
Vivo Y72 5G and iQOO Z3
- Battery capacity: 5000mAh vs 4400mAh
- Charging speed: 18W vs 55W
- Difference: -14%
Realme 7 (Global) and Realme Narzo 20 Pro
- Battery capacity: 5000mAh vs 4500mAh
- Charging speed: 30W vs 65W
- Difference: -11%
iQOO Z5 and iQOO Neo5 SE
- Battery capacity: 5000mAh vs 4500mAh
- Charging speed: 44W vs 55W
- Difference: -11%
Redmi K50 and Redmi K50 Pro
- Battery capacity: 5500mAh vs 5000mAh
- Charging speed: 67W vs 120W
- Difference: -10%
Xiaomi Mi 10 5G and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G
- Battery capacity: 4780 mAh vs 4500 mAh
- Charging speed: 30W vs 50W
- Difference: -6%
Xiaomi Pad 5 and Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro
- Battery capacity: 8720mAh vs 8600mAh
- Charging speed: 33W vs 67W
- Difference: -1%
Redmi Note 9 Pro (India) and POCO M2 Pro
- Battery capacity: 5020mAh vs 5000mAh
- Charging speed: 18W vs 33W
- Difference: 0%
Redmi Note 9 Pro (India) and Redmi Note 9 Pro (Global)
- Battery capacity: 5020mAh vs 5020mAh
- Charging speed: 18W vs 30W
- Difference: 0%
OPPO A93 and OPPO F17 Pro
- Battery capacity: 4000 mAh vs 4015 mAh
- Charging speed: 18W vs 30W
- Difference: 0%
OPPO Reno4 F and OPPO F17 Pro
- Battery capacity: 4000 mAh vs 4015 mAh
- Charging speed: 18W vs 30W
- Difference: 0%
It is clear that the difference varies from comparison to comparison but, in general, a faster charging speed means a battery with a reduced capacity. It should also be emphasized that from the comparison carried out on two Android tablets (Xiaomi Pad 5 and Pad 5 Pro) it emerges that on larger batteries, a higher charging speed has a minor impact (about 1%).
Two completely opposite philosophies
Another interesting aspect can be extrapolated from the comparisons: smartphones that have lower charging powers are forced to give up less capacity. A striking example of this is given by the comparison between the two Redmi Note 9 Pro, in the India version and in the Global version: the two smartphones have the same battery despite having a difference, albeit slightly marked, between the fast charging technologies ( 18 W against 30 W ).
On the contrary, instead, smartphones with exaggerated charging speeds: comparing Xiaomi 11i and Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge, there is a 15% difference between the battery capacities of the two smartphones; in this case, the charging speed goes from 67 W to 120 W and the capacity is reduced from 5160 mAh to 4500 mAh.
Therefore, GSMarena has divided the two smartphones into two categories that reflect these two completely different philosophies: the category within 30 W, the maximum limit before starting to pay the most performing fast charge in terms of battery capacity, and the category beyond. i 100 W, with smartphones suitable for “emergency charging”.
Compromise choice or clear ideas?
We arrive at an almost compromise choice. Having the ability to recharge at a faster rate allows you to be able to recharge a smartphone in less time. Having a larger battery allows you to recharge a smartphone fewer times, thanks to that (albeit little) more autonomy.
With the same amount of time available, it is clear that smartphones with ultra-fast charging offer the advantage of immediacy : during the time of a shower, for example, the smartphone with the most powerful fast charging will charge at a higher percentage.
So this aspect, or this compromise choice, could translate into a simple preference, dictated by the habits of each of us: users who charge their smartphone every night, without haste, could very well consider ultra-fast charging almost useless . Users who quickly drain their battery and don’t have the slightest intention of running with a power bank , on the other hand, will find this technology to be fundamental.
However, it should be emphasized that the charging speed will not be constant throughout the procedure: the tendency is to start with extreme speeds when the remaining range is close to 0% and then slow down as it increases.
Between 30 W phones and over 100 W phones are 60 W ones : nothing exaggerated, nothing extreme, maybe they are the right compromise. Manufacturers, however, are increasingly implementing algorithms to protect the health of batteries through optimized charging operations.
What do you think? Better a smartphone that recharges faster or a smartphone with greater autonomy? Let us know, with a comment, which side you are on!