Fast Charging Explained: Which Charger for Your Phone? (UK Guide)
Buying a new charger should be easy, but the box is full of numbers and letters: 15W, 33W, PD, PPS, Quick Charge, SuperCharge. Here's what they mean in plain English, and which charger to pick for your phone, with real prices from our own stock.
The short answer
Match the charger to the phone. The speed you get is the fastest speed that both your phone and your charger support, and the two have to speak the same "language" to reach it. For a recent Samsung, go for a USB-C Power Delivery charger. For Xiaomi and Huawei, the maker's own charger and cable are what unlock the top speed.
What the numbers mean
- Watts (W) measure power. More watts means more energy per minute, up to the limit of your phone.
- Volts and amps multiply to give watts. 5V at 2A is 10W; 9V at 2A is 18W.
- Your phone sets the limit. A 40W charger won't push 40W into a phone that is built to take 15W. It charges at the phone's own top speed.
The main types of fast charging
- USB Power Delivery (USB PD) is the cross-brand standard over USB-C. iPhones, Galaxy phones, tablets and many laptops use it.
- PPS is part of USB PD. It fine-tunes the voltage while the phone charges, and recent Galaxy phones use it for Samsung's Super Fast Charging.
- Samsung Adaptive Fast Charging is Samsung's older system, at up to 15W, found on phones like the Galaxy S8.
- Qualcomm Quick Charge is common on Android phones with Snapdragon chips, including many Sony Xperia models.
- Huawei SuperCharge and Xiaomi's fast charging are the makers' own systems. To get the top speed you need a matching charger and cable.
If your phone and charger don't share a system, they drop back to a slower speed. Your phone still charges; it just takes longer.
Don't forget the cable
A fast charger is only part of the job. Some fast charging systems rely on the cable supplied with the charger, which is why the Huawei and Xiaomi sets below include one. Check the listing too: some chargers are plug only, so you'll need a cable of your own.
Which charger for your phone?
| Your phone | Our pick | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy with USB-C | Samsung 15W USB-C Fast Charger | £14.99 | USB Power Delivery. Adapter only, so use your own USB-C cable. Phones that can take more will charge at up to 15W on this plug. |
| Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO | Xiaomi 33W Charging Combo | £16.99 | Up to 33W on compatible phones, with the matching cable in the box. |
| Huawei SuperCharge phones, such as the P30 Pro and P40 series | Huawei CP84 40W SuperCharge | £10.99 | USB-C cable included. Other USB-C devices get standard charging. |
| Sony Xperia and other Quick Charge phones | Sony UCH12 Quick Charge 3.0 | £22.99 | USB-C cable included. |
| Older Nokia phones with micro USB | Nokia AC-60X Fast Charger | £13.99 | Also charges other micro USB phones. Supplied bulk packed. |
Prices are correct at the time of writing; the product page always shows the current price.
What about iPhones?
iPhone 8 and later can fast charge over USB Power Delivery, and Apple recommends a 20W or higher adapter for the fastest speed. A lower-wattage USB-C plug, such as the Samsung 15W above, will still charge an iPhone, just not as quickly. You'll need a USB-C to Lightning cable, or a USB-C cable for iPhone 15 and later.
In the car or by the bed
For the car, the Xiaomi Mi 37W Dual-Port Car Charger (£15.99) charges two devices at once, up to 37W combined, using your existing cables. For the bedside, the Xiaomi 20W Vertical Wireless Charger (£18.99) works with any Qi wireless-charging phone and reaches up to 20W on compatible Xiaomi phones. Wireless is handy, but a cable is usually quicker.
Quick checklist before you buy
- Which connector does your phone use: USB-C, Lightning or micro USB?
- Which fast charging system does it support, and what is its top speed?
- Does the charger come with a cable, or is it plug only?
- Does it have a UK 3-pin plug?
See every charger and cable in our accessories range. All are brand new with the standard manufacturer warranty, and come with 30-day returns. Not sure which one fits your phone? Message us on WhatsApp on 07599 803768 and we'll point you to the right one.