Why should fast charging be prioritized over battery capacity?

Most Android smartphones today support some form of fast charging, but many devices still come with large batteries that don't support true fast charging. That's why you should prioritize fast charging over battery capacity when choosing a new smartphone.

 

4. Fast charging is more convenient

 

Phones with 5,000 or even 6,000 mAh batteries are great, as most of them can last a full day, even for heavy users. The problem with some phones, however, is that they don't support true fast charging. Having proper fast charging means you don't have to worry about when or where to charge your phone. Even if you forget to plug it in overnight, it can still charge quickly during a short break before heading out.

For example, the best mid-range phone, the Google Pixel 9a , comes with a massive 5,100mAh battery, the largest ever on a Pixel phone. However, the phone only supports 23W wired charging. This means it takes nearly 2 hours to fully charge, which is inconvenient when you're in a hurry.

By contrast, a phone like the OnePlus 13 supports 80W charging and reaches full capacity in about half an hour. That's the kind of convenience many people want. The OnePlus 13 costs nearly twice as much as the Pixel 9a, but fast charging is a must-have feature for most people.

 

3. Keep your battery healthy

 

One of the downsides of using a phone with a large, slow-charging battery is that you often have to charge it to 100% just to make sure it lasts all day. But with fast charging, you don't have to worry about that anymore. On the OnePlus 13, set a limit to only charge to 80%, so even when the battery is low, you can quickly charge it back up in just a few minutes.

This approach also improves battery health. Charging your phone from 0% to 100% repeatedly can cause more wear and tear on your battery over time. By capping your phone's charge at 80%, you can avoid overcharging your battery and keep it in better shape. Sure, the charge cycles may happen more often, but most modern batteries are designed to handle that. Charging your battery to 80% makes more sense than constantly draining it to 0 and charging it back to full.

2. No more worrying about battery percentage

 

We've all been there—that nagging anxiety when your battery is down to 10% and you're nowhere near a charger. With slow-charging phones, that anxiety adds up quickly, especially if you rely on your phone for everything from work to directions to payments. Fast charging essentially eliminates that anxiety.

Even if you forget to charge your phone or run out of battery while you're out and about, you can just plug it in for a few minutes of fast charging. You no longer have to obsess over keeping the battery above 50% or panic when you see a red icon. Just 5 to 10 minutes of charging will give you hours of use. It may seem like a small change, but in reality, it makes a huge difference.

1. Better fits into daily routine

 

Many people don't like to leave their phones plugged in overnight. While most phones now have features like adaptive charging that can charge them up right before you wake up, many people still like to charge their phones for about half an hour while they're in the shower or doing other household chores.

As mentioned earlier, this is where fast charging comes in perfectly. You don't have to plug it in overnight, as it fast charges whenever you need it.

In short, fast charging is one of the few technologies that has truly changed the way people use their smartphones. Back when you used your old phone as your daily driver, you had to charge it overnight and check the battery every hour just to make sure it would last the whole day.

Now those worries are gone. You can rely on your phone without worrying about when to charge it. A big part of that comes from the solid battery life, but fast charging plays a big part in keeping things running smoothly.