Why I decide versatile charging over uncooked pace each single time

[ad_1] <img class="e_Eg" decoding="async" loading="eager" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="oneplus slim magnetic power bank oneplus 13" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/oneplus-slim-magnetic-power-bank-oneplus-13-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/oneplus-slim-magnetic-power-bank-oneplus-13-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/oneplus-slim-magnetic-power-bank-oneplus-13-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/oneplus-slim-magnetic-power-bank-oneplus-13-1920w-1080h.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/oneplus-slim-magnetic-power-bank-oneplus-13-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/oneplus-slim-magnetic-power-bank-oneplus-13-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/oneplus-slim-magnetic-power-bank-oneplus-13-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/oneplus-slim-magnetic-power-bank-oneplus-13-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/oneplus-slim-magnetic-power-bank-oneplus-13-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="OnePlus Slim Magnetic Power Bank with the OnePlus 13." src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/oneplus-slim-magnetic-power-bank-oneplus-13-scaled.jpg"/> Joe Maring / Android Authority

Common Android Authority readers will know I’m a stickler for good battery life backed up by correct quick charging. And by that, I don’t essentially imply the sooner the higher, a battery wants to stay cool too. As an alternative, one in all my high necessities for any cellphone that claims to cost rapidly is that it has to have the ability to accomplish that no matter what plug you have got at hand. It’s completely no good to anybody to boast 100W charging from a particular plug, solely to your energy banks to trickle within the juice whenever you want it most.

Luckily, manufacturers are enhancing assist for the most typical charging requirements. Nonetheless, there are holdouts, notably among the many bigger names. Apple is stubbornly fastened to sub-25W charging, as are Samsung’s non-Extremely flagships, whereas Google’s Pixel 9 Professional XL requires a uncommon protocol to attain its hardly groundbreaking 37W energy degree.

Do you employ proprietary or common charging? 553 votes

A proprietary customary

39%

Common Energy Supply

46%

I do not know what my cellphone helps

14%

Poor is likely to be harsh, however these manufacturers are hardly the very best, particularly in comparison with the Xiaomi 15 Extremely, which does all the pieces proper in my testing. That’s proper, beforehand the house of proprietary cables and plugs, Xiaomi’s newest handset expenses rapidly with nearly something now. However you shouldn’t need to spend a small fortune for a cellphone to cost optimally, in case you may even get your fingers on it in any respect. That’s why I’ve been pleasantly stunned by how nicely the extra inexpensive OnePlus 13 handles my charging gauntlet.

<img class="e_Eg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="USB C and USB A chargers" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/USB-C-and-USB-A-chargers.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/USB-C-and-USB-A-chargers-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/USB-C-and-USB-A-chargers-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/USB-C-and-USB-A-chargers-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/USB-C-and-USB-A-chargers-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/USB-C-and-USB-A-chargers-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/USB-C-and-USB-A-chargers-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/USB-C-and-USB-A-chargers-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="USB C and USB A chargers" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/USB-C-and-USB-A-chargers.jpg"/> Robert Triggs / Android Authority

As a hoarder of cables and USB plugs, I've a variety of various fashions dotted round my residence. Some boast the most recent USB PD PPS requirements, some are the extra traditional USB PD 3.0, and I even nonetheless have a number of USB-A ports floating round that sport varied older fast charging requirements. I’m at all times to see how telephones carry out with all these choices and never simply their optimum, usually brand-specific plug. The OnePlus 13? It passes with flying colours.

OnePlus 13 Charging TestPower (W)Time to full (minutes) OnePlus 13 Charging Check SuperVOOC

Energy (W) 65

Time to full (minutes) 35

OnePlus 13 Charging Check 100W PPS

Energy (W) 44

Time to full (minutes) 47

OnePlus 13 Charging Check 30W PPS

Energy (W) 24

Time to full (minutes) 58

OnePlus 13 Charging Check 45W PD 3.0

Energy (W) 18

Time to full (minutes) 150

OnePlus 13 Charging Check QC 2.0

Energy (W) 18

Time to full (minutes) 150

As you'll be able to see within the desk above, you’ll nonetheless get hold of the quickest outcomes with a particular SuperVOOC plug — although 65W is way from the very best energy degree available on the market at present. Nonetheless, an more and more customary USB PD PPS plug will web you fairly comparable time to full, due to about 45W of energy. A twelve-minute distinction isn’t a lot in any respect.

Even with a decrease energy 30W PPS plug, the time to full stays underneath an hour, sooner than some rival flagships cost of their quickest configurations. That is precisely how I’ve been charging the cellphone; my clunky SuperVOOC plug stays firmly in its field. I’m charging the OnePlus 13 fairly rapidly with the identical energy PPS brick that expenses my laptop computer, headphones, Pixel, and extra. I can nicely think about that I’m not alone on this follow.

Quick proprietary, strong common backup, and a few legacy assist is the charging holy grail.

Older requirements are much less fast, however that’s to be anticipated. 150 minutes from the ever-present USB PD 3.0 is sluggish however hardly uncommon. Many telephones cost at 18W from these ports, some draw much less, and a uncommon few will run as much as 27W. A USB-A-based Fast Cost 2.0 port is equally sluggish, however 18W stays higher than nothing. Nonetheless, the excellent news is that you just’ll obtain just about no matter pace a contemporary USB PD PPS charger can present, as much as a fairly quick 45W, and at the very least some energy from older plugs, giving customers loads of choices for each wall plugs and, more and more, energy banks too.

Samsung is fairly good too

<img class="e_Eg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="USB C charging tester 45W" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USB-C-charging-tester-45W.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USB-C-charging-tester-45W-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USB-C-charging-tester-45W-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USB-C-charging-tester-45W-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USB-C-charging-tester-45W-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USB-C-charging-tester-45W-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USB-C-charging-tester-45W-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USB-C-charging-tester-45W-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="USB C charging tester 45W" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USB-C-charging-tester-45W.jpg"/> Robert Triggs / Android Authority

If OnePlus isn’t your factor, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely can also be a superb cellphone for charging assist — even when it’s not as quick and prices significantly extra. It’ll handle 45W through PPS, 24W over PD 3.0, and 15W on an outdated Fast Cost port. That’s a strong vary, guaranteeing it’ll cost at the very least considerably rapidly from any plug you occur to have at hand. It’s only a disgrace the remainder of the collection doesn’t cost fairly so rapidly.

This brings me to my closing level: we’ve seen that broad fast-charging assist will be achieved in very costly flagships. The OnePlus 13 completed the identical feat in a extra inexpensive bundle, and now it’s time for extra inexpensive telephones to cost rapidly and universally, too.

Hopefully, Samsung’s rumored 45W Galaxy S25 FE will come to go and push Apple, Google, and others to up their sport of their extra inexpensive segments as nicely. Out of the large three, Samsung can also be pushing the boundaries with the Galaxy A56 5G, outshining many different funds fashions that depend on proprietary quick charging or just follow one thing sluggish. We’re getting there, slowing however absolutely.

What about battery well being and the larger image?

<img class="e_Eg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="Battery Health Assistance on a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL running Android 16 QPR 1 Beta 2.1" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Battery-Health-Assistance-on-a-Google-Pixel-9-Pro-XL-running-Android-16-QPR-1-Beta-2.1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Battery-Health-Assistance-on-a-Google-Pixel-9-Pro-XL-running-Android-16-QPR-1-Beta-2.1-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Battery-Health-Assistance-on-a-Google-Pixel-9-Pro-XL-running-Android-16-QPR-1-Beta-2.1-1000w-562h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Battery-Health-Assistance-on-a-Google-Pixel-9-Pro-XL-running-Android-16-QPR-1-Beta-2.1-1920w-1080h.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Battery-Health-Assistance-on-a-Google-Pixel-9-Pro-XL-running-Android-16-QPR-1-Beta-2.1-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Battery-Health-Assistance-on-a-Google-Pixel-9-Pro-XL-running-Android-16-QPR-1-Beta-2.1-675w-379h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Battery-Health-Assistance-on-a-Google-Pixel-9-Pro-XL-running-Android-16-QPR-1-Beta-2.1-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Battery-Health-Assistance-on-a-Google-Pixel-9-Pro-XL-running-Android-16-QPR-1-Beta-2.1-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Battery-Health-Assistance-on-a-Google-Pixel-9-Pro-XL-running-Android-16-QPR-1-Beta-2.1-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="Battery Health Assistance on a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL running Android 16 QPR 1 Beta 2.1" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Battery-Health-Assistance-on-a-Google-Pixel-9-Pro-XL-running-Android-16-QPR-1-Beta-2.1-scaled.jpg"/> Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority

In fact, it’s straightforward to get swept up within the numbers sport of watts and minutes, and also you’d be proper to focus on that charging isn’t nearly pace. Warmth is the silent killer of lithium-ion batteries, and even the very best sensible charging algorithms can’t at all times counteract the long-term influence of repeated high-wattage top-ups. Many telephones now implement staged charging — blasting energy early, then slowing down previous 80% — however, similar to their opaque energy claims, not all manufacturers are clear about how this impacts long-term battery well being.

That is particularly essential as upgrades more and more push previous the outdated two-to-three-year cycle, stretching to 4, 5, and even longer. A battery degraded by aggressive charging could find yourself at 80% well being in lower than two years, shortening the helpful lifespan of your cellphone and probably growing e-waste. That’s why broad assist for moderate-speed common requirements like USB PD 3.0 and PD PPS isn’t nearly comfort — it’s additionally about giving customers extra charging selections. You possibly can plug in at average however not painstakingly sluggish charges to protect battery well being, if that’s a priority. Ideally, you’d be capable of decide up a 20, 30, or 40W charger or energy financial institution and understand it’ll simply work — some telephones are there ,however many nonetheless aren’t.

It is about time each cellphone embraced the one-plug-for-everything mentality.

There are actually three concerns right here, then: purchaser comfort when it comes to utilizing present plugs, decreasing plug and cable e-waste, and giving shoppers extra selection concerning the energy degree they really feel comfy with. Finally, charging flexibility isn’t only a nerdy spec sheet bonus; it’s a real-world quality-of-life enchancment. Whether or not you need to juice up rapidly earlier than heading out, cost extra gently in a single day, or hold utilizing the trusty plugs already scattered round your own home, broad multi-standard assist makes all of it attainable — and which means fewer pointless equipment clogging drawers or landfills.

So whereas it’s tempting to crown the quickest cellphone the winner, maybe we must be applauding people who allow us to cost how we would like, once we need, and with what we have already got. That’s the type of user-first method that protects your pockets, extends your cellphone’s life, and cuts down on drawer muddle — and even future landfill.

OnePlus 13 OnePlus 13

Attractive design • Intelligent AI options • Versatile cameras

The OG flagship killer's killer flagship.

The OnePlus 13 is the corporate's most killer flagship thus far, providing an enormous battery, speedy charging, and highly effective cameras that give Google and Samsung one thing to fret about.