- 15 percent in half a minute: New cell phone battery sets records
It is one of the great hopes for the upcoming iPhone generation, which Apple is likely to present in September: a significantly higher charging speed. Because iPhones charge relatively slowly, even the Android flagships from Samsung are not exactly speed demons at the power outlet. This is not a big problem if you have time, but when it needs to happen quickly and your phone is running out of juice every second counts.
Smartphone charges with more than 300 watts
The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Realme recently demonstrated what seems to be possible in the future. In a YouTube video, an unknown smartphone is shown charging from zero to 17 percent in just 35 seconds. The tech magazine "91mobiles" reports that this demonstration is based on the company's new 300-watt technology, which is set to be officially unveiled in a few days.
It is said that the maximum charging power could even briefly exceed the targeted 300 watts. However, the video does not show when the full power is applied and when the smartphone reduces its performance. Typically, the charging range from 10 to 80 percent is the fastest, after which devices slow down the process to prevent excessive battery wear.
One concern remains
It is not known how quickly the Realme phone can be charged from zero to 100 percent. It is likely to take less than five minutes, which is impressive compared to other devices. A similar technology was presented by Xiaomi in February 2023. In a video, the manufacturer, which now also builds electric cars, demonstrated a charging time of exactly five minutes. However, there is a catch: during the demonstration, Xiaomi did not reach the claimed 300-watt performance, managing only a maximum of 290 watts for a few seconds.
Despite these records, the question remains what ultra-fast charging does to the batteries. Normally, the capacity of the batteries decreases significantly with constant fast charging, leading to devices not lasting as long after a relatively short time. In general, it is therefore recommended to charge your battery as slowly as possible - not fully. But if it's an emergency, it's good to have the option.
Other smartphone manufacturers might also consider adopting such high charging speeds to compete effectively. The rapid charging technology, while impressive, could potentially impact the lifespan of the batteries, requiring a delicate balance between speed and longevity.
