Fast charging has now become a common feature in smartphones. However, the tech itself has become a convoluted mess as every Android manufacturer has developed its own standard. Samsung's Galaxy phones feature a more common USB Power Delivery implementation for fast charging that's compatible with a wide variety of other gadgets. Since the Korean smartphone maker no longer bundles a power adapter with its devices, topping up your Galaxy phone's battery is not as simple as before. There are quite a few factors you need to take into account to ensure the phone is "Super fast charging" and not just "fast charging."

USB Power Delivery

Samsung uses the more common USB Power Delivery 3.0 standard with PPS (Programmable Power Supply) support for fast charging its Galaxy devices. The USB Power Delivery tech itself was introduced in 2012, with its adoption picking up pace in recent years. Due to this, it is now used in laptops, gaming consoles, and various other devices. This means you can use a USB PD-compatible 45W power adapter to charge your compatible laptop, phone, or gaming console at the same speed.

The same is not true with other fast charging solutions like Oppo's SuperVOOC or Huawei's SuperCharge, since they use a proprietary tech. To charge such phones at their peak speed, you must use the bundled power adapter and cable — a third-party combination works but will lead to longer charging times. Using the same charger with other devices will also lead to longer charging times.

The USB PD protocol is a bit more flexible in this regard. You can use a third-party cable and power adapter that adheres to the standard. The good thing is that as Power Delivery has become more common, major Android OEMs have started supporting it in a limited manner with their power adapters. For example, the 65W charger bundled with Oppo and OnePlus's devices supports the USB-C PD standard with speeds of up to 45W, meaning you can use it to charge your compatible laptop, Nintendo Switch, and even your Galaxy phone.

To ensure that your Galaxy device is "Super Fast Charging," you must use a USB Power Delivery 3.0 PPS-compliant power adapter with the correct output. Thankfully, such chargers have become increasingly common, especially since Apple also uses USB-PD for fast charging its iPhone and iPad lineup. Even Google's Pixel 6 series uses the same standard.

A stack of power adaptors sitting on a blue self-healing mat.

How fast can you charge your Galaxy phone?

Most recent mid-range and premium Galaxy phones support charging speeds of up to 25W, with some models capable of going up to 45W. Unfortunately, tests have shown that there's not much difference when using a 45W power adapter. So, if you have a compatible 25W adapter, it's better to use that instead of buying a new one.

Below is a list of some popular Galaxy phones and the charging speeds they support:

Fast charging vs. Super fast charging your Galaxy phone

When you plug in your Samsung device to charge, it will either show "Fast charging" or "Super fast charging" on the lock screen. What's the difference?

When "Fast charging" is shown on your Galaxy phone's lock screen, it means that power is being delivered at a maximum speed of 15W, which is not really fast by today's standards. This is ideal for topping your device's battery overnight, but it's not the speed you'd want if you are in a hurry.

You will mostly see the "Fast charging" message on the lock screen when using a third-party power adapter that does not adhere to the USB-PD protocol. If the adapter is of the correct spec, it's possible that 15W power is being delivered to your phone due to an out-of-spec cable. Alternatively, Super fast charging might just be disabled in your phone's settings menu. Verify this by going to Settings > Device Care > Battery and ensuring that Fast charging and Super fast charging options are enabled.

"Super fast charging" will show on our Galaxy phone's lock screen when at least 25W power is delivered, while "Super fast charging 2.0" is displayed when it receives 45W power. For this, you must use a compatible power adapter and cable. Note that with certain third-party chargers, your device might show "fast charging" for the initial few seconds before the handshake is complete and power is delivered at full 25W/45W speeds.

How to make sure your Galaxy phone charges as fast as possible

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs S21 comparsion

To ensure that your Samsung device is topping up its battery at the maximum speed, you need to use the correct USB-PD power adapter and cable. If you have other more power-hungry devices like laptops or handheld gaming consoles that use the USB-PD standard for fast charging, you can buy a higher wattage power adapter and still use it to charge your phone safely. For example, if you buy a 65W power adapter, you can use it to charge your Galaxy phone at 25W or 45W speed — it will only pull the amount of power required.

If you don't already have a compatible USB-PD power adapter, you can check out our roundup of the best 45W chargers for the Galaxy S22+ and S22 Ultra. You can also use the same adapter with other Galaxy phones and devices.

As for the USB-C cable, while they all look the same, you need to use a 5A rated cable to enjoy 45W charging speeds. If you use a 3A or a lower-rated cable, the power adapter cannot deliver the full juice to your phone — you'll be limited to a maximum speed of 25W. Check out the best USB-C cables for your phone if you are confused about which one to buy.

With the right power adapter and cable, Super fast charging your Galaxy phone is as simple as putting it on charge.

How to wirelessly fast charge your Galaxy phone

Thankfully, wirelessly fast charging your Galaxy phone is a lot more simple, albeit slower. Unlike Xiaomi and Huawei, Samsung has not really been at the forefront of pushing wireless charging speeds with its devices. All premium and flagship Galaxy devices launched in the last few years support wireless charging speeds of up to 15W, though the actual power delivered to them is around 10W+.

To wirelessly fast charge your Galaxy phone, you need to use a Qi-compatible charger that's rated to deliver 15W of power. Also, use a power adapter that can deliver at least 18W of power to the wireless charger itself. Check out the best Galaxy S22 wireless chargers to buy if you are confused about which one to buy.

Your Galaxy phone will charge the fastest over a wired connection, while wireless charging is all about convenience.