Qualcomm Announces Quick Charge 3.0, Grab 80% Charge in 35 Minutes

So, you know how our favorite thing in the world right now seems to be Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0? You may remember how we told you that you could forget wireless charging because your next phone needed Turbo or Fast Charging instead. Well, we’re sorry to say that we were wrong and you don’t actually need Quick Charge 2.0. No, instead, you need Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0. That’s right, Qualcomm has already outdone it’s own brilliance with QC 2.0 and announced QC 3.0 that will be featured in its next line of Snapdragon processors, including the Snapdragon 820.

So what’s new in Quick Charge 3.0 that makes it better than Quick Charge 2.0? For one, it uses something called Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage (INOV), which is a “new algorithm developed by Qualcomm Technologies, designed to allow portable devices the ability to determine what power level to request at any point in time for optimum power transfer.” Not impressed by that language? 

How does 0-80% charge in 35 minutes sound? Qualcomm also states that QC 3.0 is up to 38% more efficient than QC 2.0, but it also has “additional steps to help protect battery cycle life.” QC 3.0 helps improve fast charging by up to 27% and/or reduces power dissipation by up to 45% when compared to QC 2.0 as well.

Quick Charge 3.0 will be featured “as an option” on Snapdragon 820, 620, 618, 617, and 430 and will arrive in phones next year. So, 2016, your phone will have Quick Charge 3.0.

Other notes:

• Quick Charge 3.0 also maintains forward and backward compatibility with previous versions of Quick Charge as well as with connectors, including USB Type-C, as well as the same ultra-fast charging speed, cable independence offering OEMs several options, and UL certification to help meet quality and safety standards.
• Quick Charge 3.0 is implemented with minimal changes to current designs, offering OEMs a low cost option for fast battery charging. Operators and OEMs benefit from the established Quick Charge ecosystem with over 20 OEMs already supporting Quick Charge 2.0, and over 90 available accessories. The fast charging technology is mandated by several operators with active support from other operators and retailers.
• Additional improvements offered by Quick Charge 3.0 include enhanced flexibility over Quick Charge 2.0, notably in terms of charging options. While Quick Charge 2.0 offers four charging voltages at 5V, 9V, 12V and 20V, Quick Charge 3.0 provides flexibility with 200mV increments from 3.6V to 20V. This allows the phone to request just enough voltage to reach the desired charge current, resulting in minimized losses, increased efficiency, and improved thermal performance.

Pretty damn good stuff, Qualcomm.

Via:  Qualcomm