Every smartphone manufacturer today boasts its own fast charging technology, each claiming supremacy in speed. However, only one can truly claim the title of the fastest. To resolve this debate definitively, we conducted rigorous tests on charging technologies from Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Motorola, Huawei, Google, and Apple, aiming to unveil the ultimate speed champion.
Exploring Fast Charging Technologies
Using the Galaxy S8 with Samsung’s Adaptive Fast Charging, the Mi 6 with Qualcomm’s QuickCharge, the OnePlus 5T with Dash Charge, the Moto G5S Plus with Motorola’s Turbo Charge, the Huawei Honor View 10 with Supercharge, Pixel 2 XL with USB Power Delivery, and the iPhone X with, well, they just call it fast charging, right? Why? Because they all come with similarly sized batteries.
To make everything even, I formatted all the devices and set three conditions to charge them: 0 to 100 with the phones powered off, 15 to 100 with the screen on, and 15 to 100 with the screens off. We used the chargers that came in the box, and for the iPhone, we used the standard charger Apple packs with the phone because I don’t agree with Apple’s strategy of selling fast chargers separately. Screw that.
Fast Charging Test 1: Charging from 0% to 100%
Phones fully discharged, I connected them to chargers. Surprisingly, View 10 with Huawei’s Super Charge tech reached 100% in 1 hour and 21 minutes. Impressive for its 3,750 mAh battery. Wondering about OnePlus 5T? Dash Charge followed closely, taking just 2 extra minutes, fully charging in 1 hour and 23 minutes.
The competition among View 10, 5T, and Mi 6 was intense and intriguing. Mi 6 secured the third spot, taking 1 hour and 27 minutes to fully charge. Following closely were the Galaxy S8, Pixel 2XL, and Moto G5S Plus, charging simultaneously, which was both surprising and cool.
The iPhone X was a significant disappointment, taking more than twice the time I expected. It required 3 hours and 10 minutes for a full charge. Impressive.
Winners:
- Honor View 10 (SuperCharge): 1 hour 21 minutes
- OnePlus 5T (Dash Charge): 1 hour 23 minutes
- Xiaomi Mi 6 (Quick Charge 3.0): 1 hour 27 minutes
Fast Charging Test 2: Charging from 15% to 100% with Screen On
Undeterred by iPhone X’s disappointment, I tested phones from 15 to 100 with the screen on. OnePlus’s ad showcased Dash Charge’s superiority in screen-on tests, which I verified.
OnePlus 5T reached 50% charge in just 18 minutes. Pause to grasp the absurdity of this speed. In 30 minutes, it hit 72%! The closest competitor, the Mi 6, lagged at 55%. OnePlus 5T completed charging in 1 hour and 14 minutes.
Dash charge won, but not spectacularly; The View 10 took a few more minutes, clocking in at 1 hour and 18 minutes to fully charge… once again a great charging speed.
Both winners were followed by the Mi 6, S8, and G5S Plus. Surprisingly, the Pixel 2 XL took 3 hours and 18 minutes to reach a full charge, and the iPhone X took 3 hours and 56 minutes. Let me pause here while you appreciate that it took 4 hours to go from 15 to 100. By now I wasn’t even sure why we were comparing this phone to the rest. 4 hours for a full charge. Damn it, Apple.
Winners:
- OnePlus 5T (Dash Charge): 1 hour 14 minutes
- Honor View 10 (SuperCharge): 1 hour 18 minutes
- Xiaomi Mi 6: 1 hour 35 minutes
Fast Charging Test 3: Charging from 15% to 100% with Screen Off
I contemplated halting iPhone X testing, yet curiosity lingered. Perhaps, just perhaps, it could excel in the 15 to 100 test with screens off. Oh, how mistaken I was.
Dash Charge impressed from the outset, reaching 50% in a mere 17 minutes, and 73% in 30 minutes! The competition paled in comparison. At the 30-minute mark, the Mi6 stood at 64%, while others lagged even further behind. Within a brisk 1 hour and 14 minutes, the 5T completed its charge. Whether screen on or off, Dash Charge reigns supreme.
The 5T preceded the Galaxy S8, displacing the View 10. The Mi 6 reached 100% in 1 hour and 20 minutes, followed by the View 10 and the G5S Plus, both taking 1 hour and 44 minutes. The Pixel 2 XL followed, trailed by the clear loser, the iPhone X, though it reached completion in less than 3 hours this time, marking a modest victory.
Winners:
- OnePlus 5T (Dash Charge): 1 hour 14 minutes
- Galaxy S8 (Adaptive Fast Charge): 1 hour 16 minutes
- Xiaomi Mi 6 (Quick Charge 3.0): 1 hour 20 minutes
What’s the Best Fast Charging Technology?
From this test, it’s evident that OnePlus’s Dash Charge and Huawei’s Supercharge are among the fastest technologies we tested. In fact, any of these options is satisfactory, except for the iPhone X, which notably takes longer to charge.
Additionally, OnePlus’s claim of “a day’s power in half an hour” holds true with a 73% charge achieved within 30 minutes. This capability often suffices for a day’s usage. Even if more power is needed, a 15-minute charge typically restores the battery to 50%.
While conducting these tests, I observed a few trends. Initially, Dash Charge exhibits rapid speed akin to a sprinter in a 100-meter race. However, it soon adjusts to the realization that it’s more of a marathon, consequently slowing down. This is the point at which Huawei and Xiaomi typically catch up. Their technology, on the other hand, understands the endurance required for a marathon, beginning at a pace that is just fast enough and maintaining consistency throughout.
Basically, Dash Charge reigns supreme among these technologies. Huawei’s SuperCharge comes close, which is noteworthy. I didn’t anticipate Supercharging surpassing Dash Charge. Qualcomm’s Quick Charge also ranks high. However, Google employs USB Power Delivery, which is inconsistent with speed. That’s where the iPhone X shines. It took so long that the Pixel 2 XL doesn’t seem as unfavorable.
The Ultimate Fast Charging Battle!
So, those were the results of our ultimate fast charging battle. It was quite intriguing, especially since we didn’t expect Dash Charge to face any competition. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. What phones do you use, and which technology do you prefer? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
