There’s nothing worse than watching your phone crawl from 12% to 15% while you’re racing out the door. Whether you're heading to the airport, navigating a new city, or tethering devices on the go, slow charging can be a real bottleneck. The good news? You don’t always need a new phone to fix it. With the right accessories and a few smart settings, you can drastically speed up charging, sometimes by 2x or more. This guide walks you through the most effective ways to make any iPhone or Android charge faster, safely and efficiently.
If your phone supports fast charging, use a charger and cable that match its rated wattage. For example:
Avoid cheap third-party accessories that don't support power delivery standards. Even worse, using incompatible chargers and cables could adversely affect your battery health. Look for certified cables (like MFi for iPhones or USB-IF for Android).
Charging from a laptop’s USB port can be painfully slow as your laptop was never designed to be a dedicated power source. It can only give a lower output than a traditional electric socket.
Always plug your charging cable into a proper wall adapter for full wattage. Even better: plug directly into a wall outlet rather than an extension strip or hub.
Switching to Airplane Mode cuts off cellular, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi radios, significantly reducing battery drain during charging. This can cut charging times by 10–25%.
To enable:
Using the screen or running apps like YouTube, WhatsApp, or games while charging keeps the processor active and creates heat, both of which slow charging speed. Let the phone rest and it will be recharged faster this way.
Before plugging in, close all active apps, disable Bluetooth, and turn off Wi-Fi if not needed. These can continue to drain power in the background:
Activating Low Power Mode (iPhone) or Battery Saver (Android) slows background activity, updates, and syncing. This helps focus more power on charging instead of running background tasks.
Heat is the enemy of both charging speed and battery health. Keep your phone on a cool, hard surface while charging. Avoid:
If your phone gets too hot, charging may slow down or stop completely. While annoying, understand that this is set in place to prevent extreme overheating, which could cause the device to catch on fire.
Phones charge fastest between 0–50%, but letting the battery drop to 0% repeatedly can damage lithium-ion cells over time. Aim to plug in at 20–30% for healthier and more efficient charging.
Both iPhone and Android have features like "Optimized Charging" or "Adaptive Charging" to slow down the charge rate and preserve battery lifespan. These are great overnight but can intentionally slow charging during the day.
Disable them if you're in a rush:
Wireless charging is convenient, but it’s slower and less efficient than using a cable. If you want the fastest possible charge, plug in with a wired charger, preferably one that supports Power Delivery (PD) or Quick Charge (QC).
If you’ve tried every tip: fast charger, airplane mode, low power settings, and your phone still charges sluggishly, the issue might be battery degradation.
Smartphones use lithium-ion batteries, which wear down with time and charging cycles. As they age, they not only hold less charge but also take longer to fill up.
How to check battery health:
If your battery health is poor, even a 65W charger won’t help much. A battery replacement may be the only fix for consistent slow charging.
Fast charging only matters when your phone is pulling its weight like navigating cities, booking rides, translating menus, tethering laptops. If you’re traveling or just out all day, your device can’t afford to be slow or disconnected.
That’s where Eskimo eSIM makes a difference. With fast, reliable mobile data in over 130 countries and personal hotspot support, you stay connected without draining your phone, or your wallet.
Why travelers choose Eskimo:
And if you're new to Eskimo, you can get started with 500MB of free global data. No physical SIM, no store visits, just instant data when you need it most. Claim your free eSIM to use in 80+ countries by signing up.
Use a 20W USB-C charger with a USB-C to Lightning cable. Enable Low Power Mode, switch to Airplane Mode, and avoid using the phone while it charges.
This could be due to a low-quality cable, background apps, heat, or a battery health issue. Also check if Optimized Charging is slowing it down intentionally.
Yes, but it will charge slower and generate more heat. For the fastest results, leave it idle or in Airplane Mode.
Modern phones are smart enough to stop charging at 100%, but excessive heat and deep discharge cycles can shorten battery lifespan. Use Optimized Charging to reduce overnight wear.
Yes. Power banks vary in output wattage. For faster charging, use a PD-compatible power bank and a high-quality cable.