The latest generation of iPhone and Android hardware supports the fastest charge technologies possible. Don’t just use the cable and charger that comes in the box.
With the introduction of the iPhone 8 and now the iPhone XS/Max and soon to be delivered XR, with their much faster processors and vivid high-resolution displays and always-on connectivity, demands on battery performance are now higher than ever before.
As a recent owner of one of these devices, you may have noticed that while you are on the road, you’re running out of juice quickly. So you’re probably going to need to invest in a portable battery and a faster wall charger.
But not all portable batteries are the same, despite the fact that they might use similar Lithium Polymer (LiPo) and Lithium Ion (Lion) cells for capacity and look very much alike.
Modern smartphone hardware from Apple and various Android manufacturers support much faster charging rates than what was previously supported.
But if you use the charger that comes in the box with the current generation iPhone hardware, or if you just simply buy just any portable battery pack on the market, you’re going to be disappointed.
Ideally, you want to match your charger, battery and even the charging cable to the optimal charging speeds that your device supports.
There are three different high-speed USB charging standards currently on the market, and while all of them will work with your device using a common legacy charge mode, you will ideally want to match up the correct technology in order to optimize the speed in which you can top off your phone, tablet, or even your laptop.
Let’s start by explaining the differences between them.
LEGACY USB-A 2.0 AND 3.0 CHARGING
If your Android device has the USB Micro B connector (the dreaded fragile trapezoid that’s impossible to connect in the dark) you can fast charge it using an inexpensive USB-A to USB Micro B cable.
If the device and the charge port both support the USB 2.0 standard (pretty much the least common denominator these days for entry-level Android smartphones) you can charge it at 1.5A/5V.
Some consumer electronics, such as higher-end vape batteries that use the Evolv DNA chipset can charge at 2A.
A USB 3.0/3.1 charge port on one of these batteries can supply 3.0A/5V if the device supports it.
If you are charging an accessory, such as an inexpensive pair of wireless earbuds or another Bluetooth device, and it doesn’t support either of the USB-A fast charging specs, it will slow charge at either 500mA or 900mA which is about the same you can expect from directly connecting it to most PCs.
| Mode | Voltage | Max Current | Connector |
| USB PD | Variable up to 20V | 5A | USB-C |
| USB Type-C 3A | 5V | 3.0A | USB-C |
| USB Type-C 1.5A | 5V | 1.5A | USB-C |
| QC 4.0 (USB-PD Compatible) | Variable up to 20V | 4.6A | USB-C |
| QC 3.0 | Variable up to 20V | 4.6A | USB-A/USB-C |
| QC 2.0 | 5V, 9V, 12V, 20V | 2A | USB-A |
| USB BC 1.2 | 5V | 1.5A | USB-A |
| USB 3.1 | 5V | 900mA | USB-A |
| USB 2.0 | 5V | 500mA | USB-A |
Many of the portable batteries on the market have both USB-C and multiple USB-A ports. Some of them have USB-A ports which can deliver the same voltage, while others feature one fast (2.4A) and one slow (1A).
So you will want to make sure you plug the device into the battery port which can charge it at the fastest rate if you want to top off the device as quickly as possible.
USB POWER DELIVERY
USB Power Delivery (USB PD) is a relatively new fast charge standard which was introduced by the USB Implementers Forum, the creators of the USB standard.
It is an industry-standard open specification that provides high-speed charging with variable voltage up to 20V using intelligent device negotiation up to 5A at 100W.
It scales all the way up from smartphones to notebook computers provided they use a USB-C connector and a USB-C power controller on the client and host.