Can picking the wrong charger damage your expensive new smartphone purchase? Here's the facts you need to know.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/20241961

Can picking the wrong charger damage your expensive new smartphone purchase? Here’s the facts you need to know.

  • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.caEnglish
    6·
    2 months ago

    Unfortunately the battery temp limits are often too high and let the heat at go really high which shortens the lifespan of the battery. If I let my Pixel fast charge as it pleases, I’d have drastically reduced battery capacity today. Instead I use USB-A to USB-C cables and older chargers to limit the charging current and therefore heat.

    • Monstera@lemmy.mlEnglish
      71·
      2 months ago

      The pixel learns your charging habits and will auto slow charge

      • Markaos@lemmy.oneEnglish
        101·
        2 months ago

        No, it will fast charge to 80%, then restart charming just in time to hit 100% when your alarm goes off (or when it thinks you’re going to wake up). There’s no automatic slow charging other than thermal throttling.

    • Randomgal@lemmy.caEnglish
      3·
      2 months ago

      Could you say more? What model pixel and what temp? I’ve never noticed mine getting hotter than a mild warmth.

      • yesmeisyes@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        31·
        2 months ago

        I have a Pixel 8 and often use a generic 65W charger with it. The phone gets noticeably hot when charging more than 20%, I try to keep it between 40-80%.

        • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.caEnglish
          3·
          2 months ago

          Pixel 8 Pro here. It just did a bulk charge session at peak 5A, average 4.5A. That’s nearly 1C. I didn’t record the temp but just like yours it was noticeably hot. I only fast charge when I’m in a bind.

          • BearOfaTime@lemm.eeEnglish
            4·
            2 months ago

            That’s the key.

            That said, I’ve always bought ~2 year old phones. They usually have batteries at 85% life (or more).

            I haven’t had fast charging hurt one significantly yet, and I’ve used it a lot on some phones.

            Of course, I avoid using it as much as possible. I use a slow charger (1A,max) overnight and it’s on a timer. On rooted phones I use a charge limiting app.

    • Player2@lemm.eeEnglish
      1·
      2 months ago

      I know that with Samsung you can set up a ‘routine’ to disable fast charging according to a schedule you manually set. I don’t think it goes all the way down to 5W but much slower than without the limiter