Is there a genuine necessity for charging speeds of such tremendous magnitude?
Important keys
- Xiaomi’s HyperCharge technology enables 210W charging, achieving a complete recharge of a 4,000 mAh battery within eight minutes or up to 66% in just five minutes.
- This exceptional charging capability is facilitated by a dual-GaN power adapter and three unique 100W GaNFast chips, coupled with enhancements in electrolyte formulation and battery materials.
- Xiaomi addresses battery life concerns by ensuring that their HyperCharge technology maintains up to 80% battery capacity even after 1,000 charging cycles, which falls within the typical range of performance.
Any smartphone that adheres to the USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) protocol and comes with a minimum of a 15W USB-C power adapter technically supports fast charging. Standard fast charging can take a battery from empty to 50% in under 30 minutes.
In the quest for even faster fast-charging methods, manufacturers like Xiaomi have turned to proprietary technology. Xiaomi’s HyperCharge feature, for instance, elevates voltage and current values, resulting in an impressive 210W charging that gets the job done in just minutes.
Now, let’s delve into how 210W fast charging operates and what real-world charging speeds you can expect, while also considering its potential impact on battery health.
How Does 210W Fast Charging Work?
Xiaomi was the pioneer in making 210W charging a reality. In November 2022, they showcased 210W charging, allowing a 4,000 mAh battery to charge from 0% to 100% in a mere eight minutes.
This technology allows Xiaomi’s subsidiary, Redmi’s Note 12 Explorer, to recharge its 4,300mAh battery entirely in nine minutes, or attain up to 66% charge in just five minutes. For comparison, Xiaomi’s previous 120W HyperCharge technology and Oppo’s 150W SuperVOOC take about 15 minutes to recharge a 4,500mAh battery.
As if that wasn’t remarkable enough, Xiaomi outdid itself by giving a glimpse of 300W charging that fully replenishes a 4,100mAh battery in under five minutes, setting a new benchmark.
Charging power, measured in watts, is the result of voltage and current. Higher voltage or current leads to greater charging power. To make 210W charging both feasible and secure, Xiaomi utilizes a dual-GaN power adapter and three specialized 100W GaNFast chips from Navitas, which come equipped with more than 50 safety features.
Dedicated silicon safeguards against issues like overheating, USB input overcurrent, and overvoltage for both the charger and the phone. It constantly monitors data from various sensors in the phone to maintain the battery’s thermal performance within safe limits.
210W charging also benefits from an improved electrolyte formula and advanced battery materials such as graphene, which offer better conductivity than conventional lithium-ion batteries. This enhances electrode performance while reducing their size, allowing the cells sandwiched between thermal materials to quickly store and discharge power without wasting much energy as heat.
Standard fast charging typically slows down once it surpasses the 80% charge mark, a strategy employed to enhance battery longevity. Xiaomi’s Mi-FC technology, however, allows for higher wattage charging beyond the 80% point, thereby reducing the waiting time until the battery reaches full capacity.
At this juncture, you might be pondering the safety implications of all this.
How Does 210W Charging Impact Battery Life?
Does 210W charging accelerate battery capacity degradation and significantly reduce its lifespan? The succinct response is probably not. Xiaomi’s HyperCharge technology maintains up to 80% of the battery’s capacity even after 1,000 charge cycles, which falls well within the typical range for most batteries.
According to research conducted by ResearchGate, smartphone users can anticipate battery health dropping below 80% after anywhere from 500 to 1,000 full charge cycles. For instance, iPhone batteries were designed to retain up to 80% capacity after 500 full charge and discharge cycles. Xiaomi asserts that any battery will experience a 20% capacity drop over two years, regardless of charging wattage. However, the veracity of this claim is yet to be established as these devices are still relatively new. Unless you’re in a great hurry, opting for a slower charging mode is advisable to maximize your battery’s lifespan.
Realistic Expectations for Charging Speed
Several factors influence charging speed in real-world scenarios. Excessive heat or a noisy power adapter can impede the charging rate. What phone manufacturers often omit is the potential impact of rapid charging on battery life.
Furthermore, many users are unable to achieve the rated charging speeds in their day-to-day usage. Generally, you’ll experience slower charging compared to the results obtained in Xiaomi’s tests conducted under ideal conditions. For instance, the Redmi Note 12 Explorer Edition typically takes around 15 minutes to go from 0% to 100%. Variables affecting charging speeds encompass the age of the battery, ambient room temperature, and even software updates.
In the interim, Xiaomi has been striving to certify 300W charging. This development raises questions about the potential drawbacks of ultra-fast charging for smartphones.
Pushing the boundaries further may compromise safety, as there are physical and chemical limits to increasing power wattage before it begins to harm battery health. We’re already approaching the point where further boosting charge speeds beyond 210W may yield diminishing returns.
How Fast Is Fast Enough?
It’s remarkable to think that not too long ago, it took a couple of hours to fully recharge a phone. Fast charging emerged as a savior, promising to provide 50% charge in less than 30 minutes. With 210W charging, a brief five-minute charge can power up the battery to 66%.
We’ve now reached a level of convenience where a few minutes of charging equate to several hours of usage. Soon, the incremental reduction in waiting time may matter little, as you could complete a task such as making a sandwich and find your device fully charged before you finish eating it.