The popular smartphone chipmaker Qualcomm has now announced a new fast-charging solution for mid-range smartphones. Dubbed as Quick Charge 3+, the new charging tech promises speeds of Quick Charge 4+ while maintaining lower prices.
Qualcomm Quick Charge 3+
For starters, the technology is compatible with standard inexpensive USB Type A-to-Type C cables, which makes it easier for manufacturers to use it in affordable devices. Besides, it is compatible with USB Type-A to USB Type-C adapter and other accessories that support scalable voltage with 20mV steps from Quick Charge 4.
According to the company, Quick Charge 3+ can juice up a phone from scratch to 50% within 15 minutes. This makes it 35% faster than regular QC 3. It employs 3A over 20V to deliver up to 60W of power while staying 9°C cooler than previous generations.
Moreover, it is fully backward compatible with previous-generation Quick Charge devices, meaning it’ll support a wide range of accessories that users may already have. It also features integrated cable power capability, identification, and necessary safety mechanisms.
The new single IC design allows smartphone manufacturers to skip external components such as Over-Voltage Protection chip and sense resistor. All of it makes up for ultra-fast charging with lower expenditures. The technology supports both wired as well as wireless charging.
As of now, Quick Charge 3+ is exclusive to Snapdragon 765 and Snapdragon 765G processors. Although, these SoCs already support Quick Charge 4+. According to reports, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite Zoom, which is the global version of Mi 10 Youth Edition launched in China, will be the world’s first smartphone to support both the charging protocols.
Quick Charge 3+ is Qualcomm’s attempt to bring fast charging to masses, offering a perfect balance between price and performance. The company has also stated that it’ll be arriving in more chipsets across different tiers in the coming time. Though, it’d be interesting to see the segment it settles in.
