Qualcomm announces Quick Charge 3.0 — from 0 to 80 percent in 35 minutes

By Phil Nickinson
last updated

Qualcomm has announced the third version of its Quick Charge standard — appropriately named Quick Charge 3.0 — which it says will allow compatible phones to go from dead to 80 percent charged in just 35 minutes. It'll debut on the Snapdragon 820 processor in 2016, and also be on a handful of other chipsets.

Quick Charge is Qualcomm's proprietary (but almost certainly also licensed) technology that allows a mobile device to smartly communicate with a charger so that it can safely and efficiently increase the charge rate. Initially available only on wall plugs, Quick Charge is now found on vehicle chargers as well as external battery packs.

Microsoft's upcoming flagship — running the Snapdragon 808 SoC — will leverage Quick Charge 2.0, with future devices able to take advantage of the new charging standard.

In addition to the Snapdragon 820 processor, Quick Charge 3.0 will be available on the Snapdragon 620, 618, 617 and 430 platforms.

Qualcomm Introduces Next-Generation Fast Charging Technology with Quick Charge 3.0

Latest evolution of quick charging technology is anticipated to be available with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and in mobile devices next year

HONG KONG, Sept. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that its subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., has introduced its next-generation of fast charging technology with Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 3.0 technology. Quick Charge 3.0 is the third generation of this technology and is the first of its kind to employ Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage (INOV), a new algorithm developed by Qualcomm Technologies, designed to allow portable devices the ability to determine what power level to request at any point in time for optimum power transfer, while maximizing efficiency. With Quick Charge 3.0 you can charge a typical phone from zero to 80 percent in about 35 minutes compared to conventional mobile devices without Quick Charge that may typically require almost an hour and a half.

With, INOV and other advancements, Quick Charge 3.0 is designed to be up to 38 percent more efficient than Quick Charge 2.0, while also implementing additional steps to help protect battery cycle life. Additionally, when used with Qualcomm Technologies' latest, advanced parallel charging configurations, Quick Charge 3.0 can:

Help improve fast charging up to 27% or reduces power dissipation by up to 45% when compared to Quick Charge 2.0.

Charge up to 2x faster than Quick Charge 1.0

Available now, Quick Charge 3.0 will be featured as an option on select Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processors, including Snapdragon 820, 620, 618, 617 and 430, and is anticipated to appear in mobile devices launched next year. Qualcomm Snapdragon processors are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

"We are significantly enhancing the capabilities and benefits offered by Quick Charge 3.0 to bring robust fast charging technology to all," said Alex Katouzian, senior vice president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "Quick Charge 3.0 addresses a primary consumer challenge with today's mobile devices in helping users restore battery life quickly and efficiently, and does so through leading technology and a robust ecosystem including leading device and accessory OEMs."

Additional improvements offered by Quick Charge 3.0 include enhanced flexibility over Quick Charge 2.0, notably in terms of charging options. While Quick Charge 2.0 offers four charging voltages at 5V, 9V, 12V and 20V, Quick Charge 3.0 provides flexibility with 200mV increments from 3.6V to 20V. This allows the phone to request just enough voltage to reach the desired charge current, resulting in minimized losses, increased efficiency, and improved thermal performance.

"LG Electronics featured Quick Charge 2.0 in our recent smartphone designs and the reaction from the public was very positive," said Dr. Sang G. Kim, AVP, LG Electronics. "At its core, LG strives to design devices that deliver an unbeatable user-experience. Qualcomm Technologies' solution is well aligned with that philosophy and fast charging has quickly become one of the more popular device features. Qualcomm Technologies' solution is also generations ahead of others and we look forward to offering Quick Charge 3.0 to our customers to give them a full charge faster and with increased efficiency."

Quick Charge 3.0 also maintains forward and backward compatibility with previous versions of Quick Charge as well as with connectors, including USB Type-C, as well as the same ultra-fast charging speed, cable independence offering OEMs several options, and UL certification to help meet quality and safety standards.

Quick Charge 3.0 is implemented with minimal changes to current designs, offering OEMs a low cost option for fast battery charging. Operators and OEMs benefit from the established Quick Charge ecosystem with over 20 OEMs already supporting Quick Charge 2.0, and over 90 available accessories. The fast charging technology is mandated by several operators with active support from other operators and retailers.

To date there are more than 40 mobile devices and 100 certified accessories with Quick Charge 2.0. To see the list of companies, please visit: https://www.qualcomm.com/documents/quick-charge-device-list. For more information on Quick Charge, you may also visit: https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon/quick-charge.

Phil Nickinson
Phil Nickinson

Phil is the father of two beautiful girls and is the Dad behind Modern Dad. Before that he spent seven years at the helm of Android Central. Before that he spent a decade in a newsroom of a two-time Pulitzer Prize-finalist newspaper. Before that — well, we don't talk much about those days. Subscribe to the Modern Dad newsletter!

62 Comments
  • Maybe Microsoft will support it this time... Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • They should
  • It will debute on 2016... So not likely
  • They will support in the next decade
  • Did you read the article? They have the current version (2.0) in their upcoming flagships.
  • They didn't. Some people don't read the articles.
  • Pretty sure this article was about 3.0, yeah? Not 2.0 that's been available ~3 years. I was probably referring to 3.0... ;) Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • Upcoming Lumias will be released on november.. This new version of quick charge will be available next year.. And it also need SD820 processor as well.. So we wont see this technology this year.. May be next set of flagships may support V3.0 ...
  • Why are you expecting the impossible? QuickCharge 3.0 is not supported by the Snapdragon 810. When they have a phone with the Snapdragon 820 they'll support it. You're talking nonsense.
  • Where did I say the next flagships?? Read my friend. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • When in India ;P
  • They do have support at least on l929/1520 but you have to buy a new wall plug currently the Samsung adaptive charger is the only one in mn storefront thats capable but not as good as the moto turbo chargers
  • They actually aren't supported devices. Unless MS is using the tech without licensing it... If you're claiming it works, charge it from 0 battery for 30 minutes and tell me what you get. I bet it doesn't charge as fast as QC 2.0 devices. I have a Samsung QC plug, but I traded my 1520 for the device, so I can't test it. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • I don't know. I'm still worried about my battery. If there were more phones like the 830, which have a removable battery and do look good, then it wouldn't be such a problem. But with all these unibody phones that are essentially worthless after 4 years ...
  • By which time most people have got a new phone? Don't get me wrong I love having a removable battery (just come from a Note 3 to a 640XL) but since moving to Windows phone I haven't needed to swap battery once. My 640xl lasts more than a day all the time and that's with a lot of use. Normally have about 30% left by midnight.
  • Of course it wont bug me since I will have a new phone by then. But I do like to give my old phones to familiy members or friends and I find it to be kinda sad when all those resources are going to waste only because you cannot change the battery. I mean the rest of the phone is still perfectly fine, especially with windows phone, which does not need top of the line hardware to run smoothly.
  • I've had an 820 for 3 or so years...
    I just did a 15 mile bike ride with navigation on (screen off) and music playing. After 1 hour, my battery had dropped by 8%.
    I can't ever see a time when I would need to buy a replacement battery. They just seem to go on forever these days without much degradation.
    Unibody is fine.
  • Well, I don't know. Maybe it is because I always have about the maximum of background tasks running but my battery is draining significantly faster.
  • Sometimes it is nice to be able to carry a spare battey to swap out of your phone. Who has the time to sit around and plug a dead phone into a wall outlet or charger?   
  • If you have room for a spare battery, then you have room for a powerbank.
  • well ... I doubt that since spare batteries are siginficantly smaller than a powerbank. Furthermore you don't have to have them plugged in which is annoying, at least in my opinion
  • So..... in 2016 flagship Lumia?
  • New flagship will have it
  • It won't. We already know the devices have an 808 and 810. Can't be Quick charge 3.0. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • Awesome
  • Couldn't they use the new snapdragon 820 processor in the new flagships?
  • The SnapDragon 820 is expected to be available on 1st half of 2016! Do u want them to extend their flagship release by 1 more year?!
  • Not if they want to launch them this year (new phones with the 820 will probably launch until next spring)
  • For what purpose? The 810 will be more than enough for W10M
  • Nice!
  • Won't fit my plug hole :¬(
  • Don't worry, it happens to everyone. It's nothing to be ashamed of. ;) Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • LMAO!
  • I'm sure it will. That plug hole fits anything.
  • Are you looking for the more round variety?
  • How quickly does 2.0 charge a device (on average)? I really like how the MS band can go to 80% capacity in half an hour and then 1.5 hours for the last 20%....it makes it possible to just charge during your shower and breakfast and then put it back on on the way out.
  • The Band has a TINY battery. It is no surprise that it can charge that quickly.
    Charging a ~3,000Mah battery to 80% in 30 minutes....that's serious progress!
  • Oh for sure the Band doing it is nowhere near as impressive, but more an observation of how awesome it is being able to charge anything so quickly, when it's something you need on you 24/7 like I do. Will be really cool to see this version in phones next year - It does help to alleviate the issue with battery life on modern phones
  • My Note 4 has 2.0 with a 3220mah battery. 0-50% in 30 minutes. It's very nice. I've seen some claim 60% in ~30 (LG G4?) minutes but I think they have smaller batteries. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • Translation: The Lumia 550 will have this tech a few days after you get your shiny new 950
  • Well now we know the 550 has a SD210! Ha-ha. So no, but I actually thought you'd be right. =D Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • Microsoft should keep extending their flagship release date and updating their specs with the latest technologies from Qualcomm. That will keep us salivating... ... until we dehydrate and die. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • Perhaps add Flagship worthy design while they are at it. 950 borrows the design from MM feature phones. Cheap to make but not exactly Flagships Nadella promised, more like business phones.
  • How do you now that the renders are real? Maybe Microsoft will surprise you and show something icredible ;)
  • I'm assuming this feature is exclusive to Qualcomm cpu's and couldn't be incorporated into Intel cpu's like what may appear in the rumored Surface phone? It would be a shame to miss out on such a great feature with such a high end phone. Once we've been spoiled with that feature it would be very difficult to give up the convenience even for a Surface phone.
  • Qualcomm does licence most of it's IP, Intel doesn't have any domain expertise in this area, and it would make sense for them to shop around for a better power controller.
  • Good point. Having had QC 2.0, not having it will be a huge turn off. 50% in 30 minutes is already fantastic. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • I know Intel cpus can support some form of quick charging because they already have it in the Asus Zenfone 2 which is an atom based smartphone.
  • You're right. The Zenfone 2 is actually licensing QC 2.0, says so on Qualcomm's website for it. So its def compatible with Intel. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • This is a revolution !!!
  • Simply amazing.  I never thought we would get that good with recharging the battery, there must be some sort of high voltage/amperage capability across multiple power controllers able to charge each individual cell.  I also wonder what type of battery is needed...where is the innovation?  Power controllers or battery cells?  That is the question, and if the former, ridiculously awesome.
  • That sounds all well and good, no it sounds amazing, but how much heat will this produce pumping that much energy into a battery that fast? 
  • Not much more than my 1020 or 1520 actually. At least external temperature. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • This sounds awful. Charging a lithium battery at a rate of 1.53C will generate a lot of heat and destroy the performance and capacity of the battery quickly. This should be a "use only in emergency" feature. The battery will be performing noticeably worse within 6 months I'm guessing. It will be toast before two years, everyone will be carrying a power bank just to get through the day. This will be a feature I definitely won't be using. I thought 2.0 was bad enough.
  • That is why I like removeable batteries.  Just buy a couple.  Toss them into your bag or pants pocket and you are solid, my friend. 
  • You can disable Quickcharge on Android. I'd assume same here, but I don't know. For the people that get new devices every 1-2 years, they won't care at all. Yes, my Note 4 gets warm charging, but its really not much warmer than my 1020 or 1520. They both get warm charging. I actually noticed my Note wasn't getting very warm from a slower charger, so maybe there are improvements in charging efficiency/hear dissipation. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • I sure hope you can disable quick charge.  3.0 looks too aggressive.  Sounds great on paper, but do you notice how there is absolutely NO mention of battery longevity?  No spec whatsoever on capacity degradation after 3, 6, 12 months?  Because this kind of charging is very unfriendly to batteries. 
  • The Icon supposedly has the right processor for QC 2.0 too, but it doesn't actually work (suppsoedly because Microsoft never implemented it for whatever reason). Are we sure the new Microsoft phones will actually work with QC 2.0?
  • If you visit Qualcomm's website, they don't even list any SD800's with QC2.0. It's all SD801 or newer. Oddly, I did see one SD600 device... It's all an assumption at this point. MS would be stupid not to have QuickCharge 2.0 enabled on the newer devices. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • Input power - Loss in transmission = Charge rate + Heat That is the total power equation in lamens terms.  You can create efficiency in loss in trasmission (which also comes out as heat to some degree), in the charge rate which in turn reduces heat. Batteries that get hot have inefficient power controllers.  Batteries with efficient power controllers provide less heat.  This  is true if the power input (voltage and amperage) is the same as the previous generation.  When looking at the specs input is still the same 5v 2.1 amps, so the efficiency is in the power controller.  These batteries will not get as hot as it's predecessors.
  • The article is great but please repost this article with a list of device after 1 st generation of Lumia windows 10 mobile so we can know which Lumia to buy!!!
  • Haha, my ipod touch 4g goes from dead to "100%" in 20 minutes.... And then from 100% to 0 in about 4 minutes....