Best Qualcomm Quick Charge Power Banks

Qualcomm Quick Charge is a fast-speed charging technology that manages power delivered over USB, mainly by communicating to the power supply and negotiating a voltage. Its main feature is that it supplies more power than the conventional 5 Volts / 2 Amps USB rate, and thus it charges batteries much faster.

Qualcomm Quick Charge Power Banks

Power banks with Quick Charge technology are great because they offer multiple output values to charge devices with built-in Quick Charge compatibility according to their power requirements. A 2750mAh battery can be charged up to 50% in 15 minutes through a Quick Charge port that supports the latest version. Compatible tablets, and even laptops, are also able to take advantage of fast charging as some power banks are capable of delivering up to 100W; enough to recharge them multiple times.

As we know, the larger the capacity of a device is, the longer the time it takes to recharge. Even though we benefit from recharging our smartphones and other devices through power banks, we dislike it when they deplete, especially waiting until they’re fully charged. However, the latest power banks also come with Quick Charge Input, so the power bank recharges at a fast speed as well.

Conventional chargers (1.1 A) typically charge a big-capacity power bank, say of 20100mAh, in 20 hours, while 2.4 A chargers do so in around 8 or 10 hours; overall, a long time. But Quick Charge input allows the power bank to recharge faster, requiring as little as 4.5 hours if you use a wall charger adapter that supports Quick Charge 3.0. This represents a remarkable improvement because it means that you can count on your power bank sooner, and perhaps for more hours as well.

Why should you buy a Quick Charge Power Bank?

Qualcomm Quick Charge technology has been widely adopted by almost every main smartphone brand on the market, and as a consequence, most of their latest models charge at fast speeds. This way, Quick Charge power banks have become lifesavers because they offer what everybody is looking for Extending the battery life of their portable devices while saving time.

So, the big question is: why should you buy a Quick Charge Power Bank if your cellphone already has that function? Well, the answer is that for maximizing the charging speed of your device, both the device and the charger/power bank need to be Quick Charge-enabled; otherwise, your device will charge at a slower speed. Besides, unlike power banks with conventional input, these power banks recharge significantly faster, and shortening the wait means that you can rely on them for a longer time.

At Power Bank Expert, we’ve chosen some of the most popular and reliable power banks with Qualcomm Quick Charge, considering customers’ reviews on Amazon, as well as the following criteria:

• Power banks with multiple output ports: These can be used to power up multiple devices simultaneously.
• Power banks with more than one type of output port and different charging protocols: These can be used with a broader range of devices.
• Power banks with Quick Charge input ports: These are usually of bigger capacity and generally recharge faster.

Our Top Picks

1. INIU 10500 – Quick Charge 4.0 and PD

Check price on Amazon.com

Or buy on iniushop.com or on ebay.com

Next up, we have the INIU 10500mAh power bank. It only has a capacity of 10500mAh, which isn’t very high but is still sufficient. That’s because it offers both the QC 4.0 and PD 3.0 charging technologies for your compatible devices. It can charge the Samsung S10 2.3 times, iPhone 8 4.0 times, AirPods Pro 13.9 times, and iPad 1.2 times.

Both USB-A ports offer Quick Charge 4.0, which has a rating of 5V/3A. One port will deliver 18W, but it provides 22W when both are in use. Overall, this will charge your Android or Apple products from 0 to 60% in just 35 minutes, which is three times faster than traditional 1A chargers. Meanwhile, you can charge your devices and the power bank itself with the USB-C input/output port, which will provide a quick charge thanks to its PD 3.0 charging technology. It will take under 30 minutes to charge the power bank if you used a 20W wall adapter.

Overall, this product measures 5.3 x 2.8 x 0.6 inches, and weighing 7.4 ounces. Due to its compact size and weight, the power bank can be carried around quite easily. You can also slip it into your bag, purse, or luggage, making it easy to take with you while you’re on the move. The rubberized exterior shell is quite smooth and easy to grip, making it difficult to fall out of your hand at any given moment. The case is also built with high-quality materials, which suggests that it’s very durable.

All three USB ports can be found on the bottom of the power bank, just underneath the LCD screen. The power button is also located on the right-hand side of the device. Additionally, this power bank features a built-in phone holder, allowing you to stand your phone up while it’s charging.

The built-in flashlight is also a handy feature if you’re in an emergency, in a poorly lit area, or going on a camping trip. To turn this feature on, double-press the power button. Overall, if you want a power bank that features the latest fast charging technologies, the INIU 10500mAh is a great option to consider.

Unboxing video

 

Read our full review of the INIU BI-B6

2. Crave Plus 10000mAh

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Or buy on Amazon.com or Sears.com

We chose the Crave Plus to be part of the list because of its QC3.0 compatibility. It has one USB type A port that features this charging technology. The other two ports it comes with are one type C port (input/output) and one Micro USB input port. 

The Crave Plus is more of a premium power bank. Besides the fact that it’s designed in the USA (and not in China as most power banks), it also comes with an all-metal casing. Made out of aluminum and with a matte finish, it’s both very strong but also resistant to scratches and smudges. You can feel the extra strong casing once you handle the product. 

Moreover, since metal is much more heat conductive than plastic, the Crave Plus can keep cooler than similar power banks that have plastic casings. This means it will be able to charge at maximum speeds for longer periods of time. 

It’s also quite thin. Thinner that the vast majority of power banks out there. In fact, it has an overall similar size to an average smartphone, only slightly larger. This means you could easily fit it in a trouser pocket if need be. 

However, its premium build quality is also reflected in the price. At around, $50, it costs around double of what you can find in other power banks with the same battery capacity. But if you prefer higher quality products, then the extra investment is worth it. 

Unboxing video

Read our full review of the Crave Plus

Why is Qualcomm Quick Charge technology so popular?

As to why Qualcomm Quick Charge has come into such wide use, there are three main reasons behind it. To begin with, Qualcomm Quick Charge is designed to be a connector and is currently independent. It is compatible with a diverse array of ports, from USB type A, USB type C, and micro USB, which means that it covers pretty much all models of smartphones with the Android Operating System. 

Secondly, given that Quick Charge operates with high voltage, it reduces charging problems related to the length or thickness of cables. This results in an optimal charge regardless of the cable type or cable current capability.

Lastly, nearly all modern smartphones can be charged with 18 Watts of power, which Qualcomm Quick Charge can easily provide. In fact, Quick Charge has grown so much that nowadays it’s capable of transferring up to 100 Watts of power.

Qualcomm Quick Charge is found not only in smartphones, wall chargers, and car outlets; it has also been implemented in power banks, which often support both input and output fast charging. Regardless of how you charge your smartphone, it’s imperative that the source of power and the device be compatible with the technology; otherwise, you won’t enjoy its benefits, resulting in a more conventional and slower charging speed.

Versions of Qualcomm Quick Charge

With more and more smartphone manufacturers competing to offer bigger battery capacities, the need for improving Quick Charge technology continues to arise, and it seems it won’t stop anytime soon.

At present, five versions of Quick Charge are available Quick Charge 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and the latest one, the 4+. As customary in technological advances, each new version has led to a decrease in the use of previous ones, with Quick Charge 2.0 and 3.0 being the most predominant in most of the current smartphones.

However, each version of Qualcomm Quick Charge is backward compatible, which means a charger with Quick Charge 3.0 will work perfectly with a smartphone with Quick Charge 2.0, such as the Samsung Galaxy S9.

To help you understand better what each generation of Qualcomm Quick Charge has to offer, the following is a summary of the most significant features and biggest improvements from one version to another.

Qualcomm Quick Charge 1.0

The first version of Qualcomm Quick Charge was introduced in 2013, and soon made a big splash thanks to the fact that it supplies 5 Volts and draws a current of 2 A, maximizing charging efficiency to 10 watts of power. While nowadays, it’s considered “normal charging”, it was groundbreaking back in the day.

 

Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0

A year after the introduction of Quick Charge 1.0, Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 came. One of the most notable features is that it allows a higher voltage supply and a maximum current of 3A. While the maximum voltage of Class A is 12 Volts, Class B chargers supply up to 20 Volts, which is great to charge not only smartphones but also tablets and laptops. Besides, another improvement is its compatibility with a wide array of processors, unlike the previous version.

 

Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0

Quick Charge 3.0 was announced in late 2015 and released in early 2016. Implementing the Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage (INOV), QC3.0 is able to transfer optimum power by determining the voltage level necessary throughout time. This is why QC3.0 works with voltage levels ranging from 3.6 V to 20 V, with increments of 200 mV. The result is a faster and more efficient charge than Quick Charge 2.0, being capable of powering a 2750mAh battery up to 80% in 35 minutes.

 

Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.0

Quick Charge 4.0 was announced in December 2016 and released to the market in the first half of the following year. It is 20% faster and 30% more efficient than Quick Charge 3.0, keeping its temperature about 5°C cooler. However, its premiere feature is that it is USB-C USB-PD (Power Delivery) compliant, and it also includes safety measures to protect devices and the unit itself against charging problems, such as overheating, over-voltage, and over-current.

 

Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+

Quick Charge 4+ was announced on June 1, 2017. This improved version of Quick Charge 4.0 features Intelligent Thermal Balancing and Advanced Safety Features to eliminate hot spots and protect against overheating and short-circuit or damage of the USB-C connector. Besides, Dual Charge++ is required, whereas in prior versions Dual Charge was optional. Lastly, Qualcomm claims that compared to its predecessor, this version is 15% faster, charges up to 30% more efficiently while operating 3°C cooler.

Qualcomm VS Power Delivery (PD)

Along with Qualcomm Quick Charge, Power Delivery is a  widely adopted standard protocol from the USB-IF standards organization capable of delivering up to 100W, at 20V and 5A, to charge devices with greater power demands, such as tablets and laptops.

PD can be found in any USB connection but is mostly found in USB Type-C ports. Google Pixel phones come with USB Type-C ports, while the latest iPhones (8 onwards) don’t. Yet, they are compatible with both their own patented fast-charging technology and USB PD, which offers the fastest speed of the two.

However, PD technology requires then a USB Type-C connector and a USB-C power controller on the charger and device, which can be a problem considering that Apple does not pack their newer iPhones with a PD-compliant charger or port. This means you will have to purchase a spare USB Power Delivery charger and a USB Type-C to Apple Lightning cable if you wish to charge your smartphone the fastest way possible.

Which one is faster?

In reality, there’s not a significant difference between the speed that both technologies offer. It all comes down to other factors, such as versatility, cost, and, most importantly, use.

While Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.0 and 4+ are limited to 27W of power, they were designed to be compatible with Power Delivery. As we’ve learned, smartphones usually require no more than 18W for charging, which is why Qualcomm Quick Charge has been embraced by most smartphone manufacturers.

The bottom line is that although Power Delivery (PD) provides enough power to charge smartphones and laptops, Quick Charge 4.0 and 4+ integrate PD and are compatible with more USB connectors, and thus more smartphones. If you’re looking for versatility over power, and save some money, a Quick Charge wall-charger is the choice to go. If you want to charge all your PD/USB-C compatible devices (laptops, smartphones, Nintendo Switch), then with a single PD charger, you can do it all.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Qualcomm Quick Charge power banks are a must in today’s fast-paced world. They not only provide an optimum fast charge, but they also present you with great choices in the form of compatible USB ports, and USB-powered devices, helping you stay away from power outlets for some time. Before making a purchase, make sure that it’s Qualcomm Quick Charge certified, and that it’s compatible with the specifications, and Quick Charge version of your device.