What Is Fast Charging?

Being able to quickly charge your phone or tablet can mean the difference between hours of care-free use and scrambling to find the nearest coffee shop for a power outlet. Fast charging is gradually becoming a near-ubiquitous feature that allows you to power up your device in just a fraction of the time it took in the past. But with so many technologies to know and components at play, how should you get started?

The first step is to examine what you already have. Check what charging speed and standard your phone supports on its box or manufacturer's website, examine your wall adapter to see if it uses the same tech (these usually have helpful labels), and look up what charging features your cable can accommodate (you're best off with the one that comes with your device). If any are incompatible or not up to date, you might need to replace them to realize the fastest charging speeds.

Here, we offer details about power output, charging standards, wireless charging, and more to help you understand how fast charging can benefit you and what you need to keep in mind before you upgrade your setup.