Quick Charge - What It Is and How Fast Charging Works

Feb 17, 2025

By DEKO Electronics

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Quick answer: our top pick is UGREEN Nexode 65W (2x USB-C + USB-A · 65 W · PD, PPS, QC 4.0).

What Is Quick Charge?

Quick Charge (QC) is a fast charging protocol developed by Qualcomm. It increases voltage and current, which shortens battery charging time without reducing its lifespan.

Fun fact: Quick Charge 1.0 from 2013 delivered 10 W, which is as much as today's slowest chargers.

History of Quick Charge - From 1.0 to 5

The first generation of the standard, QC 1.0 from 2013, offered power up to 10 W at 5 V. Subsequent versions introduced higher power levels and better thermal management.

Quick Charge 2.0 - A Major Leap in Performance

QC 2.0 introduced support for higher voltage levels.

Specifications:

Operating voltages: 5 V, 9 V, and 12 V
Maximum power: up to 18 W

Devices Supporting QC 2.0:

Samsung: Galaxy Note 4, Note 5, Galaxy S6, S7
LG: LG G4, LG V10
Motorola: Moto X (2nd Gen), Moto G4 Plus
Sony: Xperia Z4, Xperia Z5

Quick Charge 3.0 - Intelligent Voltage Management

QC 3.0 introduced INOV (Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage) technology, which allows for dynamic voltage adjustment in the range of 3.6-20 V, delivering power up to 18 W.

Devices Supporting QC 3.0:

HTC: HTC 10, HTC U11
LG: LG G5, LG V20
Xiaomi: Mi 5, Mi 6, Mi Note
Sony: Xperia XZ, XZ Premium

Quick Charge 4 and 4+

Introduced in 2017, the Quick Charge 4 standard and its updated QC 4+ version ensure compatibility with USB Power Delivery and allow charging at up to 27 W in USB PD mode via the USB-C port. In turn, the latest QC 5 standard from 2020 enables charging at over 100 W.

Fun fact: QC 4 was the first version compatible with universal USB Power Delivery.

It is worth noting that brands like Apple, Google, and Samsung use the USB Power Delivery standard (with Samsung and Pixel additionally using the PPS extension) rather than Quick Charge, while OnePlus and OPPO use proprietary solutions. A charger that supports only the Quick Charge protocol will not fast-charge an iPhone or a newer Samsung device. The most versatile choice is a USB-C charger with USB PD and PPS support, where Quick Charge serves as a fallback for older Android devices.

Devices Supporting QC 4+:

Xiaomi: Pocophone F1, Mi 8, Mi 9
Razer: Razer Phone 1 and 2
LG: LG G7 ThinQ, LG V40 ThinQ

Chargers with Quick Charge and USB PD

1. UGREEN Nexode 65W

2x USB-C + USB-A · 65 W · PD, PPS, QC 4.0

Three ports and 65 W from a single USB-C port, enough for most 13 to 14-inch laptops. It supports USB PD with PPS for Samsung and Pixel phones and Quick Charge for older Android phones.

See UGREEN Nexode 65W on Amazon →

Chargers with Quick Charge and USB PD - Anker Nano 100W (Smart Display)

2. Anker Nano 100W (Smart Display)

2x USB-C + USB-A · 100 W · PD, PPS

100 W for a laptop and a display that shows how much power goes to each port. The USB-A port supports Quick Charge 3.0 for older phones.

See Anker Nano 100W (Smart Display) on Amazon →

Chargers with Quick Charge and USB PD - Anker 735 (Nano II 65W)

3. Anker 735 (Nano II 65W)

2x USB-C + USB-A · 65 W · PD, PPS

A small GaN charger with 65 W from one USB-C port. It is enough for a laptop that charges over USB-C; with two devices plugged in, the power is split between the ports.

See Anker 735 (Nano II 65W) on Amazon →