How to verify USB-C fast charger is charging fast?

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wahoowad

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I've been using a standard 5v 2.4a multi-port charger to charge our numerous iOS mobile devices. We use them heavily so I recently purchased a USB-C 20W PD 3.0 Fast Charging charger that is supposed to charge them much faster.

I tried charging my iPad Pro 12.9" and iPhone 8 using the supplied USB-C to Lightening cable and am not noticing any significant increase in charge time. I haven't done a fomal test where I time the recharge from a depleted battery, but just hooked it up and checked it periodically and haven't had that 'wow' moment like I was expecting.

I did try some obscure battery check app and it reported the same charge rate regardless of the charger used. I'm not sure I can trust that app. Is there a better way to verify the charge rate?

Here's the charger I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HRLNMM5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
I've been using a standard 5v 2.4a multi-port charger to charge our numerous iOS mobile devices. We use them heavily so I recently purchased a USB-C 20W PD 3.0 Fast Charging charger that is supposed to charge them much faster.

I tried charging my iPad Pro 12.9" and iPhone 8 using the supplied USB-C to Lightening cable and am not noticing any significant increase in charge time. I haven't done a fomal test where I time the recharge from a depleted battery, but just hooked it up and checked it periodically and haven't had that 'wow' moment like I was expecting.

I did try some obscure battery check app and it reported the same charge rate regardless of the charger used. I'm not sure I can trust that app. Is there a better way to verify the charge rate?

Here's the charger I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HRLNMM5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Let your phone completely die and then time it on the normal charger. Then do the same thing on the usb c charger. See which one finishes first.
 
The best way is to get a USB ammeter. This is a device that sits between the device and the USB outlet and can measure the current and voltage.

Also keep in mind that charging is fast only in the first 50%. After that the charge rate starts to slow down. I think at around 85%+ it doesn't really matter anymore.
 
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wahoowad

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Also keep in mind that charging is fast only in the first 50%. After that the charge rate starts to slow down. I think at around 85%+ it doesn't really matter anymore.

Thanks, that was helpful! I haven't had a device run down very low in the last few days so have been assessing performance at greater than 50% existing charge. I'll try to run my iPad down with a video or something and see how it does.

Any suggestion for a USB ammeter? Several times in the last couple years I've wished I had one. Now it's time to get one.
 
Thanks, that was helpful! I haven't had a device run down very low in the last few days so have been assessing performance at greater than 50% existing charge. I'll try to run my iPad down with a video or something and see how it does.

Any suggestion for a USB ammeter? Several times in the last couple years I've wished I had one. Now it's time to get one.
I tried one of the MakerHawk models, but it wasn't allowing the fast charging protocol to kick in when it should, so I returned it. But MakerHawk seems to be the go-to brand so maybe I was doing something wrong and didn't feel like figuring it out.

I'm sure someone like Ben Heck or EEVBlog looked at them.
 
I've been using a standard 5v 2.4a multi-port charger to charge our numerous iOS mobile devices. We use them heavily so I recently purchased a USB-C 20W PD 3.0 Fast Charging charger that is supposed to charge them much faster.

I tried charging my iPad Pro 12.9" and iPhone 8 using the supplied USB-C to Lightening cable and am not noticing any significant increase in charge time. I haven't done a fomal test where I time the recharge from a depleted battery, but just hooked it up and checked it periodically and haven't had that 'wow' moment like I was expecting.

I did try some obscure battery check app and it reported the same charge rate regardless of the charger used. I'm not sure I can trust that app. Is there a better way to verify the charge rate?

Here's the charger I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HRLNMM5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Your devices also need to support faster charging. For example my phone has a "turbo mode" that charges it super fast when I use my laptop USB C charger.

Of course the simple test in the other post is, well, simple, and effective. Time the charging using both chargers from 0.
 
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