Every year we hear news about more and more powerful smartphone chargers. Marketers claim it is safe enough for humans and batteries. Let’s find out if this is really the case and what nuances can happen to the owner of a 120 watt phone charger.
Physics of the charging process
Lithium batteries have become the main power source for billions of portable devices. Economical and reliable technology allows the battery to be recharged several hundred or thousands of times. A high quality lithium cell can work for decades and withstand 3000-5000 cycles. But this is only in ideal conditions. Users are used to measuring the charging rate in watts, but in expert environments they use a different concept. C is the battery capacity. This value is also used in a certain area as the current strength. For example, a charging current of 0.5 ° C equals half the battery capacity of 1 ° C.
Under the microscope, you can see the difference between a new and a worn battery. (a and b) fresh elements, (c and d) used. Source
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Let’s consider an example: a 5V battery has a capacity of 4Ah (4000mAh). The charger will provide a current of 0.5C (2A), which is half the capacity of the C battery. Batteries of all types such as slow charging. Charge current of 0.1-0.25 ° C allows batteries to withstand thousands of charge / discharge cycles. Older phones (early 2000s) used values of 0.2-0.5 ° C. This allowed them to live for a long time. Lead acid batteries are vulnerable to high C values, while lithium cells can withstand heavy loads. But you will have to pay for it with the duration.
Effect of charge rate on the thickness of the lithium coating at room temperature. A higher C value means faster degradation. Source
Marketing tricks
Your 120-watt charger isn’t actually 120 watts at all, but arrogant marketers will never tell. Unless they write in lower case: “up to 120 watts under ideal laboratory conditions, the first percentage of charge”. The math tells us that such a power supply could charge a 4000mAh battery in 6-7 minutes, although it will actually take three times as long. The higher the% charge, the lower the current supplied to the battery. At the beginning of the 120W charging process, the unit will likely squeeze 100-105W and after 90-95% the power will drop to 10W. This is quite normal, this is how physics works, which no one is managed to fool so far. But is such “smart” charging harmful?
Impact on the battery
High power generates heat. A computer power supply, an electric car engine, a processor, or any electronic component will generate heat. Also, the battery tends to heat up during the charging process.
Less current equals battery life. If you’re using a 30W or less charger, don’t worry. Get a weak charge, the degradation will slow down, but the reasonable limit is exactly those 15-25W used by most of the world’s luxury phone manufacturers.
So-called “gaming” smartphones with powerful Snapdragon 865, 888, 8 gen 1 chips often exceed 50 degrees Celsius when playing offline video games. Players with the cable connected even more destroy the battery. Some manufacturers have created intelligent technology that interrupts the process of supplying power to the battery during the game and the smartphone only works thanks to the power supply.
The expensive Android models are equipped with active cooling. The loud and intrusive fan infuriates young gamers while playing, but will help keep the charging temperature low. Half of the problems when the user uses the original fast charging unit. There are many cheap fakes that can be dangerous for a smartphone and a person. Too low prices for power supplies should be alarming.
Many users are asking: “Why do iPhones hold up so well after a thousand cycles compared to Android flagships”? The answer is very simple: “weak” and relatively high quality chargers for 1-2 A (5-10 W). And the iPhone has nothing to do with that.
Wireless chargers
Huge energy loss is the main drawback of wireless chargers. There are no ideal conductors in nature. Under heavy load, the cable also increases its temperature and the “air” energy transfer method results in significantly greater heat release and energy losses. Yes, wireless chargers are very affordable. They look aesthetically pleasing and do not require unnecessary movement, searching for a cable, etc. If this is a 5-10W model, you shouldn’t worry. But there are also 30-watt wireless chargers.
It’s very simple with this: wireless device = more heat, more power = more heat, higher temperature = faster degradation. But there is a caveat: when we put the phone on wireless charging, it usually lies on a flat surface and is blown away. Connecting a USB Type-C cable and a 90W “lock” to a smartphone standing on a soft sofa is much worse.
Battery storage software
Some smartphones have built-in battery health sensors. It is common to see 2-3 year old iPhone models with a 90-95% battery health score. How do you manage to maintain capacity well after several years of use? In addition to the influence factor of fast wired wireless chargers, software should be mentioned. Manufacturers use well thought out algorithms that allow the battery to live much longer. Modern smartphones are able to slow down the charging current at the risk of overheating. And some manufacturers have gone much further. By charging your device overnight with a 20% battery charge, the iPhone will stop the charging process when it reaches 50-60% and extend it one hour before the alarm goes off.
Therefore, the user will receive a 100% charged phone as soon as he wakes up and the battery will not last for an extra time with the maximum charge level. Such simple tricks allow you to save battery. Some Android smartphones also have similar features. Manufacturers often copy each other and when it comes to protecting the environment and the lifespan of devices, this is the best.
conclusions
Most budget smartphone users change them faster, as the battery has time to degrade. Taking care of your battery makes more sense when it comes to luxury smartphones. The power of modern flagships is enough for 5-7 years of active use. Therefore, battery storage is a priority. Buying an expensive smartphone for such a long time seems like a cost saving against the background of frequent exchange of cheap junk.
Fast charging in any case does not go in favor of the device. Despite all the convenience, they have a negative impact to a greater or lesser extent – it already depends on the manufacturer. Many brands are saving on spare parts for the sake of better competition in the market. Battery bulge isn’t just about Samsung, as there are many similar cases among owners of Xiaomi, ZTE, Huawei, OPPO, Vivo, and dozens of other brands.
Powerful chargers (90-120W) will only accelerate the death of already low-quality batteries. The use of 15-30 W power supplies is already a rational choice – much less heating and at the same time a fairly fast charging process. Also, wireless charging should not be chosen with excessive power (within 5-20W). The sophisticated software in a smartphone runs on battery power, but the duration of a smartphone’s operation depends primarily on the users themselves and the conditions under which the device will be charged.
A quick charge will never benefit the battery, it will only accelerate the loss of capacity. And so it will be as long as the familiar laws of physics work on the planet. Most bloggers and humanitarian publications, contrary to the laws of nature, will say that an ambulance charge won’t hurt in any way, saying that even 40 degrees on the back of the phone cover is the norm. Such a study would take several months, and therefore few will want to test this myth.
You can continue to use powerful chargers and not notice their impact all year round, because battery degradation is only noticeable in the long term. And finally, we leave a short list of tips for maintaining the health of your smartphone’s battery. These tips will only be relevant for those who are not used to changing their phone like socks, but plan to use their device in the next few years:
- Avoid chargers above 30-40W;
- Do not allow the smartphone to overheat during the “recharging” process;
- During the charging process, do not use the phone for games;
- Use wireless chargers that are not too powerful, but of high quality;
- Do not allow your smartphone to turn off frequently due to lack of charge (0%);
- For long-term inactive storage of the battery, charge it up to 40-50%;
- Avoid sudden changes in temperature (fast charging in a warm room after a walk in the winter with a temperature of -30 degrees);
- Remove the case during quick charging if you feel significant heat;
Sources of information (English) on battery degradation and charger problems:
Source 4 (amateur material)
Source 5 (amateur material)
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