Google's new Nexus phones are great. If it weren't for their price tag when they arrive in Spain, they would be highly recommended as smartphones with a good value for money. However, now we can criticize not only its price, but also something that has to do with the battery, They are not compatible With technology Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0.
Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0
Almost all mid-range or high-end smartphones with a Qualcomm processor of its generation came with the technology Quick Charge 2.0 Thanks to which it is possible to charge the smartphone's battery in a very short time. However, despite the fact that both Nexus have Qualcomm processors, none of the two is compatible with Quick Charge 2.0, nor with Quick Charge 3.0.
Because of this, if you have a charger that's compatible with Quick Charge 2.0 or Quick Charge 3.0 technology, it's most likely not compatible with the Nexus. And when we say it won't be compatible, we mean it will be able to charge the phone's battery, but like any other charger, it'll probably be compatible with the Nexus. standard charger, not at high speed.
At the same time, we must also say that both the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P have fast charge, only it won't be with Qualcomm's Quick Charge technology. Still, it's a high-level fast charging. Of course, for that you will need to have the official Google charger, which also differs from all the others because it is made of 15 W: 5 V and 3 A.
That is to say, it won't be a big problem for users who buy a Nexus 5X or a Nexus 6P. But it will be an inconvenience. They will not be able to use other chargers to quickly charge the battery, even if they have a USB Type-C cable. This means they'll have to buy an additional charger if they want to take it to work, for example. A minor issue, which won't be relevant when deciding whether or not to buy the smartphone, but which Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P users should keep in mind.
USB Type-C: This is how you can achieve fast charging without Quick Charge
The key is in the standard itself USB Type-C: Both Nexus devices take advantage of Type-C's power mode to request up to 3 A at 5 V (15 W) without changing the voltage. Qualcomm Quick Charge does not intervene nor is it necessary to resort to USB Power Delivery for this specific power. The phone negotiates the amperage with the charger via the line CC (Configuration Channel) of the USB‑C cable and, if it detects a suitable charger and cable, activates 5V/3A fast charging.
Important: Although the connector is USB-C, the Nexus 5X and 6P offer USB 2.0 data speedsThis is expected because USB-C is just the connector; USB 3.x support isn't mandatory. This doesn't affect the 5V/3A charging power, but it does affect transfer rates.
Actual charger compatibility and what you can expect
In practice, this is how they behave with common chargers according to public tests and technical documentation:
- Quick Charge Chargers (9 V/12 V): they charge, but the Nexus forces 5 V and does not activate full fast charging. In many cases currents between 1,2 A and 2,0 A.
- Conventional USB-A chargers with A‑C cable: by Battery Charging specification 1.2, they usually stay in 1,5 A maximum (7,5W). It is normal that the phone does not show “fast charging”.
- USB-C 5V/3A Chargers with C‑C compliant cable: these are the ones that offer the Maximum speed in these Nexus, with peaks close to 2,6 A in standard measurements.
- Some third-party chargers may display “charging quickly” without reaching 15 W sustained. Useful, but not always equal to the official.
To obtain the 15 W you need a USB-C charger 5 V/3 A or with a USB-C to USB-C cable quality. With adapters or cables out of specification, in addition to losing speed, the risk of incorrect negotiation.
Cables and safety: why compliance matters
The USB-C ecosystem requires cables that comply with the standard (including resistors and, where applicable, electronic marking). A poorly designed USB-A to USB-C cable may prevent proper negotiation or force unwanted currents. It is recommended to opt for certified cables, especially if you want to keep charging at 5V/3A without any problems.
What's in the box and what accessories are worth adding?
Included in the Nexus 6P box was a 15W USB-C charger (5V/3A) and two cables: one USB-C to USB-C and other USB-C to USB-AThis combination makes it easy to charge at full power with the USB-C charger and also connect the phone to USB-A ports when necessary, assuming that in that case the charge will be slowerFor everyday use, it is ideal to have a second USB‑C charger 5V/3A for work or car, and if you rely on USB-A ports, use a compliant A-C cable to avoid surprises.
The fact that the Nexus 5X and 6P don't use Quick Charge 2.0 doesn't mean giving up a good experience: with USB-C to 5V/3A load quickly and safely. The key is to combine suitable charger and cable; with this you can get closer to the loading times that have made them popular in this section, without relying on proprietary technologies nor increase the voltage.
