The fast-charging wars are over. Now it’s time to fix USB-C

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority

You don’t have to be an old timer to remember when charging power was once a major differential for the best smartphones. The long march to 40W charging quickly spiraled into a spec war that spawned countless rival standards: HyperCharge, SuperVOOC, SuperCharge, Samsung AFC, Apple 2.4A. and Qualcomm’s Quick Charge as options for brands unable to build their own. It was a mess, and we’ve been dealing with the fallout ever since when trying to buy fast-charging accessories for all our gadgets.

Eventually, the universal USB Power Delivery specification caught up in raw power in the USB-C era, but this was further complicated by branching enhancements such as EDR for laptops and PPS for low-power devices. It’s taken years for the standard to reach capabilities that match what rival proprietary standards have long offered. Thankfully, we’re now at the point where the power wars are over; it’s time to consolidate around the sensible universal option.