5 Tips for Charging Your Phone Faster

From the USB C chargers to faster USB plug outlets, here are quick and easy ways to get the full battery you crave.

May 06, 2019


Many of us don't have the time, or frankly, the patience, to wait very long for our phone batteries to recharge. We have things to do, and most of them don't involve spending hours tethered to a plug. So, what can a busy person do to speed things up?

Here are a few tips to charge faster and get on with your day:

1. Take it to the wall.

While plugging your phone into the USB port on your laptop or computer can be a convenient way to charge in certain situations, like while waiting in an airport or doing a bit of work at the local cafe, it certainly isn't the most efficient. Using an outlet for your power source instead guarantees a stronger amp output than the ports on your PC, allowing more power to be pulled in by your phone and speeding up the charging process. We promise, when charging at home or the office, the time saved will be well worth the few steps it might take to get to the nearest wall socket.

2. Seek out speedy supplies.

Perhaps this one is obvious, but that doesn't make it less true. Not all equipment is made to the same specifications. If you are living a life where time is of the essence, it is a good idea to consider multiple options and make sure you are using items engineered with maximum efficiency in mind. Simply subbing your manufacturer provided power adapter and cord with compatible products designed to meet faster charging standards can drastically improve your charge time. Additionally, in spaces where multiple people are likely using multiple mobile devices (which is most places these days), it can be helpful to trade in standard outlets for those with built-in USB ports. Without losing traditional plug access, you can then charge directly with a USB cable -- no bulky adapter required. With industry-leading versions offering up to 6.0 amps of power, these alternative receptacles can reduce charge time by nearly half.

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3. Give USB Type-C a try. 

And speaking of the right supplies, more and more devices are using USB Type-C connections. There are of course quick charging options for traditional Type-A USB devices, but this newer connection type benefits from a higher power standard. And that's the theme -- more power means less time. Plus, USB Type-C is particularly convenient in a rush. Its smaller connector is reversible, so never lose a second for trying to plug it in the wrong way again!

4. Get low.

It might seem counter intuitive, but even fast charging devices don't maintain a top charging speed the whole time. In order to ensure your phone's safety, as your battery approaches a full charge, the speed will reduce to eliminate the risk of overcharging. While the battery is sufficiently low, however, it will charge using a constant current, staying at its optimal speed. By waiting until your battery is at less than 50%, you can maximize the benefits of devices designed to charge phones faster.


5. Hit the switch.

Finally, go ahead and turn your phone off. It sounds almost blasphemous, but it does make sense. Any battery power being used to keep the phone on and operational is taking away from that which is pushing it to full charge. Or, if the amount of time it would take to power all the way on in the event of an emergency (real or imagined) terrifies you, at least switch it to airplane mode to limit the power intake. This tip is maybe more about self-control than many of us would like. But when using it as a best practice, and pairing it with phones and wall chargers built to the right standards, you can significantly diminish the amount of time spent waiting on your phone's battery to catch up to the very full life you are living.