Fast Charging Frenzy

100W fast charging? Sounds like a dream, right? But here's the thing—it's not the game-changer you think it is. We've been conditioned to believe that faster charging equals better phones, but is that really the case?

A man in a black shirt and gray pants stands in an office hallway and looks at his phone.
Photography by Mizuno K on Pexels
Published: Thursday, 03 October 2024 07:20 (EDT)
By Hannah White

Remember when we all lost our minds over the introduction of fast charging? It was a revelation—no more waiting hours for your phone to juice up. Then came the race: 18W, 30W, 65W, and now, Honor's Magic 7 series is flexing with a whopping 100W fast charging across five different models. According to Phonearena, these phones are set to launch soon, and yes, two of them even have satellite connectivity. But let's pump the brakes for a second. Is this really what we need?

Sure, 100W fast charging sounds like a dream come true for the impatient among us. But the reality is, we’re reaching a point of diminishing returns. How much faster do we really need our phones to charge? The difference between 65W and 100W might save you a few minutes, but at what cost? And I’m not just talking about the price tag here—there’s the issue of battery longevity. Fast charging generates heat, and heat is the enemy of long-lasting batteries. So, while you might get a quick charge today, you could be sacrificing your battery’s lifespan tomorrow.

But Wait, There's More

Then there’s the whole satellite connectivity thing. Now, that’s a feature worth getting excited about. Two of the Honor Magic 7 models are rumored to support satellite communication, which could be a lifesaver—literally—in remote areas where cellular networks are non-existent. But here’s the kicker: this feature is only useful if you’re, you know, stranded in the wilderness. For most of us, it’s a cool but ultimately niche feature.

Meanwhile, Motorola just dropped its ThinkPhone 25, a business-focused device powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC. It’s got a solid 50-megapixel camera, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. But guess what? No 100W fast charging here. And you know what? That’s fine. Because for most users, the difference between 65W and 100W is negligible in day-to-day life. What matters more is how the phone performs in other areas—battery life, camera quality, and overall user experience.

So, why are we so obsessed with fast charging? It’s a marketing gimmick, plain and simple. Companies like Honor are using it to differentiate their products in an increasingly crowded market. But at the end of the day, it’s not going to revolutionize the way we use our phones. What will? Features like satellite connectivity, better cameras, and improved software experiences.

The Future of Charging

So, what’s next? Will we see 150W, 200W, or even faster charging speeds? Probably. But here’s my prediction: the future of smartphones isn’t in how fast they charge, but in how long they last. Battery technology is the real frontier. Imagine a phone that lasts a week on a single charge—that’s the kind of innovation that would truly change the game.

So, the next time you see a phone boasting 100W fast charging, ask yourself: is this really what I need? Or is it just another shiny feature designed to distract me from what really matters?

Phones