Qualcomm unveils Quick Charge 3.0 technology to boost battery charging

Quick Charge 3.0 will enable faster charging in compatible devices

Qualcomm has unveiled a technology that it claims will enable smartphones to be charged up to four times faster than normal, allowing a typical handset to go from zero to 80 percent charge in about 35 minutes.

Quick Charge 3.0 is the third generation of the technology from the smartphone chipmaker, and is being implemented in some of the firm's latest Snapdragon mobile processors, including the Snapdragon 820, 620, 618, 617 and 430, meaning that it will be available in smartphones and tablets sometime next year.

The technology has been around for several years, but the new Quick Charge 3.0 is claimed to be twice as fast as the original Quick Charge 1.0 and 38 percent more efficient than Quick Charge 2.0, introduced a couple of years ago.

"We are significantly enhancing the capabilities and benefits offered by Quick Charge 3.0 to bring robust fast charging technology to all," said Qualcomm senior vice president of product management Alex Katouzian.

Quick Charge 3.0 employs an algorithm that Qualcomm dubs Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage, which allows the device to determine the power level to request at any point in time, enabling optimum power transfer while maximising efficiency.

The technology resides in the device and in the charger, so that the device can signal the level of power it requires and the charger can adjust its output to match.

Quick Charge 3.0 also supports a wider range of voltage options, allowing a mobile device to select the optimum voltage level in 200mV increments from 3.6V up to 20V, while remaining backwards-compatible with Quick Charge 1.0 and Quick Charge 2.0 accessories from third parties.

"Quick Charge 3.0 addresses a primary consumer challenge with today's mobile devices in helping users restore battery life quickly and efficiently, and does so through leading technology and a robust ecosystem including leading device and accessory OEMs," Katouzian said.

Qualcomm said that the technology will be built into upcoming Snapdragon mobile processors, including the newly announced Snapdragon 430 and Snapdragon 617 aimed at mid-range devices, and the high-end Snapdragon 820, which is set to be integrated with the firm's X12 LTE modem to provide built-in 4G LTE and Wi-Fi capabilities.