Do smartphone batteries run out of juice too quickly? Or are we simply trying to do too much with our phones? Either way, you may be plugging in your phone for charging multiple times a day.

Initially, smartphone makers would pack in bigger-sized batteries in phones, but for reasons both hardware and software, it didn’t make much difference. Eventually, there has been a shift towards technology that charges these batteries faster. While Qualcomm has the Quick Charge technology, rival chip maker MediaTek has Pump Express. Many smartphone makers, such as Samsung (Adaptive Fast Charge), OnePlus (Dash Charge) and Motorola (Turbo Charge), now have similar customization for their phones.

How does quick charging work?

The magic lies in the power management circuitry in the smartphone’s chip set and the wall charger used to charge. With newer batteries and charging mechanisms, chargers are able to send a much higher voltage to the battery. Phones without these fast-charging features are usually limited to a maximum transfer of 10 watts (5volts/2amp). This limit goes up in newer phones. For example, the Nexus 6P has a charger capable of sending through 15 watts (5V/3A).

There is no standard fast-charging rule, so each manufacturer works it out keeping in mind factors such as the chip set in the phone, heat dissipation, etc.

While some phone makers do make claims about how much the phone battery will charge in 30 minutes, others just mention fast-charging capabilities without promising numbers. We compare some of the most popular phones in the market.

OnePlus 3

30-minute mark: 62% (1,860 mAh)

Temperature: 36.7 degrees Celsius

Battery size: 3,000 mAh

The OnePlus 3 is the undisputed leader right now when it comes to fast-charging technology. OnePlus calls it the Dash Charge technology. The OnePlus 3 managed to charge 62% of the 3,000 mAh battery (the company claims 63% charge in 30 minutes), and remained cool while doing so. The reason: The power management circuitry has been moved from the phone to the charger. The USB Type-C charger in use is rated at 5V/4A.

Oppo R7 Plus

30-minute mark: 45% (1,845 mAh approx)

Temperature: 35.4 degrees Celsius

Battery size: 4,100 mAh

The Oppo R7 Plus, with its mammoth battery, comes a close second in terms of the amount of battery charge in 30 minutes. Oppo uses a technology known as Voltage Open Loop Multi-step Constant-Current Charging, which moves some of the charging circuitry from the phone to the adaptor to reduce heating. The powerful charger is rated at 20 watts (5V/4A). Among all Android phones, this remains the coolest while plugged in.

Apple iPhone 6s Plus

30-minute mark: 32% (880 mAh approx.)

Temperature: 33.4 degrees Celsius

Battery size: 2,750 mAh

The iPhone 6s Plus does not ship with a fast charger. May be that will change with the next iPhone launch later this year—it would help Apple tick off the comparison checklist with Android phones.

Xiaomi Mi 5

30-minute mark: 34% (1,020 mAh approx)

Temperature: 36.7 degrees Celsius

Battery size: 3,000 mAh

Xiaomi uses Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 technology (it runs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor). The USB Type-C version 1.0 (5V/2A, 9V/1.2A, 12V/1A) charger can top up the 3,000 mAh battery by as much as 34% in 30 minutes. Xiaomi’s own claim is a rather vague “juice up for just 10 minutes and enjoy up to 4 hours of talk time".

LeEco Le 2

30-minute mark: 42% (1,260 mAh)

Temperature: 39.6 degrees Celsius

Battery size: 3,000 mAh

LeEco has used what it calls the Le SuperCharge technology, which is based on Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 method. In our tests, we logged 42% charge in 30 minutes. You will get a USB Type-C charger with the phone which can pump out as much as 24 watts (5V/2.7A, 9V/2.7AA, 12V/2A), and the voltage adjusts dynamically depending on the charge level.

Motorola Moto G4

30-minute mark: 47% (1,410 mAh approx.)

Temperature: 39.7 degrees Celsius

Battery size: 3,000 mAh

The latest-generation Moto G4 uses Motorola’s own TurboPower technology. It can send variable voltages to the battery depending on charge level, heat, etc. If we compare the Moto G4 with other phones with a 3,000 mAh battery capacity, its performance is as fast as Samsung’s Adaptive Fast Charge. Moto’s own ambiguous claim is “up to 6 hours of power in just 15 minutes of charging". The TurboPower micro USB charger is rated at 5V/1.6A, 9V/1.6A, 12V/1.2A.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

30-minute mark: 47% (1,410 mAh approx)

Temperature: 39.2 degrees Celsius

Battery size: 3,000 mAh

The Galaxy Note 5 uses the Adaptive Fast Charge technology. The micro-USB adaptor can send variable voltages (9V/1.87A, 5V/2A) and was one of the fastest phones to top up the battery charge in 30 minutes, at least till the OnePlus 3 and other newer phones came.

HTC 10

30-minute mark: 39% (1,170 mAh)

Temperature: 40.5 degrees Celsius

Battery size: 3,000 mAh

HTC 10 relies on Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 for Rapid Charging. HTC claims that the battery of a fully discharged 10 can be charged up to 50% in 30 minutes. In our tests, however, it charged exactly 39% in 30 minutes from the full-discharged state. The USB Type-C charger is rated at 5V/2.5A, 9V/1.7A, 12V/1.25A.

LG G5

30-minute mark: 45% (1,260 mAh approx)

Temperature: 39.3 degrees Celsius

Battery size: 2,800 mAh

The flagship LG G5 uses Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 to quickly juice up the battery. In our tests, it got from 0% to 45% in 30 minutes of charge. It uses a USB Type-C (9V/1.8A, 5V/1.8A) charger.

Smartron tphone

30-minute mark: 47% (1,410 mAh approx)

Temperature: 41 degrees Celsius

Battery size: 3,000 mAh

The phone uses the Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 method and a USB Type-C charger (5V/2A, 9V/2A). Among all the phones we tested, this was the hottest after 30 minutes of fast charging (just warmer than the HTC 10). The battery charging statistics, however, are on a par with Motorola’s TurboPower and Samsung’s Adaptive Fast Charge.

Huawei Nexus 6P

30-minute mark: 36% (1,242 mAh approx)

Temperature: 37.2 degrees Celsius

Battery size: 3,450 mAh

This was one of the first phones to fully utilize the power benefits of the USB Type-C standard charger (5V/3A adapter) for rapid charge. It’s interesting to note that despite running the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chip, the Nexus 6P does not utilize Qualcomm’s Quick Charge standard.

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