Quick Charge 3.0 is Qualcomm's new fast charging technology, or rather, the new version of this fast charging technology. The new smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processors have also arrived next generation. But even so, some of the most important of these are not compatible with this technology. something that is a notable problem.
Quick Charge 3.0
According to Qualcomm, the new Quick Charge 3.0 technology is capable of charging up to around 80% in about 35 minutes, an improvement over the previous technology. Furthermore, it introduces INOV (Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage)It's an algorithm that adjusts the optimal voltage in real time for faster and more efficient charging. Compared to Quick Charge 2.0, QC 3.0 can be up to 27% faster, with up to 38% more efficient and reducing energy dissipation in about 45%It also maintains backward compatibility with QC 2.0 and 1.0 and is suitable for USB Type-C.
Qualcomm's next-generation processors would already be compatible with this technology. including Snapdragon 430, 617, 618, 620 and 820But the truth is that some new-generation phones have already been released, and we find that they are not compatible with Quick Charge 3.0. This is the case with the Samsung Galaxy S7, which might seem more logical, and also with the Sony Xperia X Performance, which is much more illogical. In the case of the former, Samsung has integrated the Exynos 8890 processorIt's not a Qualcomm processor. They could have made it compatible with Qualcomm technology, but it isn't. That means... We will only get fast charging on the Samsung with its own chargers, with yields close to QC 2.0.
The problem with the Sony Xperia X Performance is more noticeable, since the phone has nothing less than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, Qualcomm's top-of-the-line processor, compatible with the new Quick Charge 3.0 technology. Therefore, it is curious, and even negative, that the phone is not compatible with this technology, but only with the Quick Charge 2.0 version. It will feature fast chargingYes, but not with the latest version, which might seem logical given its processor. In any case, that's the situation. Possible that with a future firmware update the Sony Xperia X Performance will become compatible with this technology.
Beyond the numbers, QC 3.0 expands the range of available voltages so that the device can request exactly what it needs: from 3,6 V to 20 V in 200 mV incrementsThis granularity reduces losses and minimizes heatingAnd if you connect an incompatible phone to a QC charger, the system negotiates a safe power level. avoiding damaging the battery.
Quick Charge 3.0 compatibility on smartphones with Snapdragon 820
Although the Snapdragon 820 integrates the hardware for QC 3.0, Final compatibility depends on the manufacturer. (and, sometimes, over-the-air updates). Among the models that have boasted this feature in different regions and at different times are: Xiaomi Mi 5, LG G5, HTC One A9 (enabled later via update), HTC 10, HP Elite x3, LeTV Le Max Pro, General Mobile GM5+ o Nuans Neo. In parallel, some variants of the Galaxy S7 With Snapdragon 820 they did not activate QC 3.0 to match the experience with their Exynos peers.
- Xiaomi Mi 5: support for QC 3.0 taking advantage of the 820.
- LG G5: compatible with QC 3.0; on certain boxes QC 3.0 charger not included, forcing you to buy a certified one to get the most out of the technology.
- HTC One A9: managed to activate QC 3.0 through OTA update in selected markets.
- HTC 10, HP Elite x3, LeTV Le Max Pro, General Mobile GM5+, Nuans Neo: additional examples with hardware prepared for QC 3.0.
It should be borne in mind that A compatible chipset is a necessary but not sufficient conditionThe brand must enable QC 3.0 and, in addition, include a mobile device with the device. charger with Quick Charge 3.0 certification. Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P They are an example of how final support can remain in previous versions. In some cases, the included adapter offers performance comparable to QC 2.0, so if you want maximum speed, buy a certified charger and use a quality cable (especially if it's USB Type-C).
To avoid confusion, always check the manufacturer's specification sheet: it should say “Quick Charge 3.0"explicitly. If it doesn't appear, even if the SoC is a Snapdragon 820, the device will most likely remain in Quick Charge 2.0 or in a solution provided by the manufacturer. Factors such as room temperatureThe initial battery percentage and usage during charging also influence the actual speed, so the lab figures (80% in ~35 min) are theoretical objectives which may vary.
In any case, it's not primarily a problem for smartphones, but for the technology itself, which hasn't quite caught on with manufacturers, as many choose to integrate their own. own fast charging platforms instead of a "generic" fast charging technology like Quick Charge 3.0. This fragmentation is explained by branding strategies, control of the user experience across variants with different processors, and licensing. For the user, the essential thing is to confirm mobile phone compatibility. charger and cable to obtain the best result.
QC 3.0 represented a significant leap forward from QC 2.0 thanks to INOV, its wide voltage range, and USB-C compatibility, but its actual benefit depends on each brand activating it and using certified accessories; when these conditions are met, the promise of charging a large portion of the battery in minutes ceases to be mere marketing and becomes a reality. tangible advantage in everyday life.
