This Is What's Slowing Your Phone Charger Down (but You Can Make It Faster)

Have you ever had that frustrating experience where you plug in your phone to juice up while getting stuff done around the house, but when you check back later, the charge barely budged at all? Well, a few things might be slowing your charging speed, and the good thing is you can fix that.

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Factors That Determine Your Smartphone's Charging Speed

You might think that your charger is the only thing that controls how fast your phone charges. But charging speed is impacted by a bunch of factors:

Charger Wattage and Voltage

The formula for calculating charging speed (Watts) is Voltage (Volts) × Current (Amperes). So, a higher wattage charger, like a 30W versus a 15W, will push more power into your phone and charge it up quicker, provided your phone supports the 30W.

Quality of the Charging Cable

Not all charging cables are created equal. High-quality cables with thicker wires and better insulation can carry more current with less resistance, leading to faster charging. Additionally, cables that support fast charging standards, such as USB Power Delivery (PD) or Qualcomm Quick Charge, can further enhance charging speeds.

Battery Health and Capacity

Over time, phone batteries don't hold a charge as well as when they were new. An older battery may struggle to take in a charge as quickly and fully as it once did. Checking your battery's health status occasionally and swapping in a new one if it's degraded can keep your charging speeds in tip-top shape.

Related video: 8 Reasons Your IPhone Charges so Slowly (Money Talks News)

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Temperature and Environmental Conditions

Charging in very high or low temperatures isn't great for lithium batteries and can slow the process. Rooms with moderate, comfortable temperatures are best for getting the fastest possible charge on your phone.

Background Processes and Usage

Watching videos, using power-intensive apps, playing games, or leaving the screen on can all divert power from charging the battery. To max out charging speed, consider closing unnecessary apps and limiting phone use, so the phone can focus its energy on filling up the battery bar.

Power Source

Whether you charge from an outlet in the wall, a USB port on your computer, or a power bank, the source does make a difference in charging speed. Plugging straight into the wall is typically the fastest since it can supply the most stable, powerful source of electricity.

Charging Port and Connectors

Your charging port and cable connectors affect how fast your phone charges. If they're dirty or damaged, they can disrupt how efficiently power gets transferred. Try keeping your charging port clean by blowing or brushing out dust and pocket lint. Check cable connectors for flaws, too, and get a new one if something looks amiss. With everything in good shape, you'll optimize charging current flow and speeds.

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How to Know What Charger You Need for Your Phone

Back in the early days of smartphones, a 5-watt charger was considered pretty advanced technology. For example, the first iPhone released in 2007 was bundled with a 5-watt brick charger. But as phone batteries grew over time, and we all started demanding faster charging, companies stepped up their charger game.

Figuring out which charger works best for your phone nowadays can be a bit confusing, though, with all the different charging standards and wattage levels out there. The first thing you'll want to do is check what type of charging your phone supports. Most modern smartphones work with one of these main standards:

As a quick overview, here are some common charging standards and the wattage ranges they support to give you an idea of how fast they can power up your phone:

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If your phone came with a stock charger, it's usually your best bet for fast and reliable charging. Manufacturers design those chargers specifically to work well with the phone's battery and charging technology.

If you lost your original charger, try to find a replacement with the same rated power output and charging standard. Or look for a charger that can provide at least as much power as your phone is capable of handling. For example, if your phone came with a 20W charger, another 20W or higher USB PD charger should charge it up just as well.

Sometimes phones don't come bundled with a charger, though. Don't panic—the device's technical specifications online have all the charging details you need. For example, if you just got an iPhone 15 Pro and need a new charger, a quick online search for "iPhone 15 Pro specs" will bring up Apple's official site as the top result. There, under "Power and Battery," you'll find charging requirements, so you know exactly what to look for in a replacement charger for your fancy new phone.

You can also check sites like GSMArena or PhoneArena. They often have very detailed specs for different phones, including charging info. If the specs sheet is unclear, it's generally safe to assume most recent phones support USB-PD. So a charger between 15-60W should cover your bases. Pick one in that range, and you should be good to go.

For wireless charging, make sure to get a charger compatible with your device's standard. Qi (pronounced "chee") is common, but some brands like Samsung and Apple have their own fast wireless tech, too, like Fast Wireless Charging or MagSafe.

It's also important to note that the listed wattage isn't always what you'll really get in practice. So, a cheaper (rather low-quality) 30W charger may not outperform a more expensive, high-quality 18W charger. Lastly, good, high-quality chargers will have certification logos to show they passed important safety tests. Inscriptions like EAC, UL, CE, FCC, or MFI mean they've been thoroughly checked and are safe to use for charging your device.