Can I use a 30 W charger?

OneKTN816

I have been using 18W charger since i bought the phone. Recently I tried a 25w since mine is not working properly, only then I seen a fast charging notification on the locked screen. I have seen a article from 2024 that google suggests a 30W charger, I am looking to buy a new one , should I buy a 30W ,18W or 25W charger?

W1zardK1ng

OneKTN816 Been using anker 65w charger for long time with P6a, P9, and my laptop. Had no issues with heating or anything else, i have my charging limit set to 80%.
But the charging speed is capped at whatever the device set.

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Bio-Braided-Charger-iPhone15-15ProMax/dp/B0C4FDJ8F7?th=1
https://www.amazon.com/Charger-Anker-Adapter-Foldable-Compact/dp/B08T5QN2TR

tinymonster

The Pixel 6a supports a maximum of 18W charging, but you can safely use a (reputable) higher wattage charger like 30W.

If you can afford it, I would recommend just getting a 30W or higher, as it'll be a bit more future-proof.

0xC0DED0D0

You can get a 1500 W charger, if you want. Doesn't matter, phone will charge the battery the only way it knows how. Won't be faster than what the phone can do, nor will it be dangerous.

This goes for any charger, no matter era or device. Voltage matters, maximum current (A) doesn't. The thing you're hooking up will only use what it can, anyway.

Voltage * current used = work spent (Watts).

With regular ol' USB, it's always 5V. With USB-PD, you have a communications protocol negotiating higher voltages before the juice is sent through anyway.

Quality matters, though. Especially with chargers. Recommend trusted name brands (non-counterfeit!), with good reviews only.

No-name run-of-the-mill stuff is what's dangerous, and starts fires, no matter the specs.

Johnnyloans

Recently I tried a 25w

I have seen a article from 2024 that google suggests a 30W

It's primarily preference for how fast you want your phone to charge. 30W won't be more safe or nicer to your phone or anything.

Sticking with the charger you have is good.

OneKTN816

Johnnyloans the I charge i have is not working properly, takes 7 hrs to charge 70%, thats why i am looking for a new one.

vtek

Knowing a little bit about lithium battery technology, it's better to charge slow rather than fast if you're interested in battery longevity. I have a 15w wireless charger for my Pixel 9 and even with that the phone gets warm (maybe some of that is because of wireless charging?), but not hot. Also, keep the battery between 20-80%.

r134a

vtek maybe some of that is because of wireless charging?

Probably, heat is essentially energy loss. I'm not sure of the exact numbers anymore but wireless charging is significantly less efficient, consequently a significantly higher percentage of energy is lost as heat in the process.

vtek

r134a wireless charging is significantly less efficient

For sure, but I chose it because I didn't want to keep plugging/unplugging the USB port.

shapirus

Remember, the slower (lower current) the battery is being charged, all other things being equal, the slower its capacity will degrade over time, the longer it will last. Therefore often, when you don't need it to charge ASAP in 30 or 50 min, a plain old USB-A power supply and a cheap cable that can't carry much current is the best combo.

Consider: you're going to bed for the night and put your phone on the charger. Do you really need it to charge to full in 1 hour, or what you actually need is to have it ready by the morning when you wake up? Stretch the process overnight, and you'll prolong the life of the battery. By how much exactly? Well that's a different topic.

0xC0DED0D0

OneKTN816 😬

That's more likely a sign of a bad battery than a bad charger. As stated previously, the phone is in control of the actual charging.

Slow charging is a very bad sign. Could even indicate damaged battery, to the point where you'll have a thermal runaway one day.

No need for panic, but replace your phone (or at least its battery) ASAP.

Johnnyloans

OneKTN816

Correct, the phone determines the charge speed.

Well, also the USB connection. Try cleaning the inside of that to get a good connection on your charger.

Have you tried a different USB cable? Many USB-A to USB-C cables could max out around 7 Watts. Furthermore, if any cable is damaged and more thin at a spot, even if momentarily, the wire can't transport as much power. The wire will be warm at the spot if this is the case, you can feel for warmth. Might be hard to detect this in the thick connector end. The phone will be able to detect a lower voltage if this was the case and consequently slow down its charging.

You have a 25W charger so no limitation there. A 5W charger would be a different story.

tl;dr: it's complicated

Elgoog

Johnnyloans

Johnnyloans Correct, the phone determines the charge speed.

Wait a minute.... When I plug a Pixel into a charger, one of 3 messages appears in Settings -> Battery, depending on the power of the charger: "Charging", "Charging rapidly", or "Charging slowly". I conclude that the rate of charge does depend on the power of the charger, and it's my understanding that slow charging promotes battery life by reducing heating.

OneKTN816

Johnnyloans i used a nothing mobile charger, it worked good

Johnnyloans

Elgoog I conclude that the rate of charge does depend on the power of the charger

You're right a low wattage charger would limit things. Their pixel 6a can handle up to 18W according to gsmarena.

The OP's charging brick shouldn't be a limitation if working correctly which it probably is.

Johnnyloans You have a 25W charger so no limitation there. A 5W charger would be a different story.

and it's my understanding that slow charging promotes battery life by reducing heating.

I think so too. I try to slow charge and keep the phone cool as well as keeping my phone between the range 25% - 75%

These charge/discharge tests seem to suggest otherwise:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLS5Cg_yNdM

OneKTN816

Johnnyloans so i should go with a 18 w charger, most most chargers recommended for 6a is not available in my country , does google has a 18w charger?

xxx

OneKTN816 so i should go with a 18 w charger, most most chargers recommended for 6a is not available in my country , does google has a 18w charger?

You can go with a Google 45W Charger no problem.
I can recommend Thinkpad chargers 65W last forever and available worldwide.

I have these:
https://www.lenovo.com/de/de/p/accessories-and-software/chargers-and-batteries/chargers/gx20p92529

Johnnyloans

Here's info if you want to test things out and maybe get your old charger working better:

I'd turn off my phone and clean the inside of the charging port on the phone. A sewing needle or a thin toothpick would work. Be careful not to snap the toothpick in there.

Is your charger only USB-A? Is that what you're using or a cable with USB-C on both ends? USB-C on both ends of the cable would be more of a guarantee to handle more power--charge faster.
I'd try another USB cable if you have it.

This is what USB-A and C look like. Click here. just incase, if you didn't know.

With any cable, after 30 minutes, feel up and down the cable to feel if there is an unusually warm spot in 1 location--if so, probably broken.

Make sure the cable is plugged in fully on both ends.

For buying a new charger:

so i should go with a 18 w charger, most most chargers recommended for 6a is not available in my country , does google has a 18w charger?

You can get any charger 18W or higher and whichever you think will be a good deal or better quality. Anything lower than 18W isn't the end of the world, in my opinion. A higher wattage charger can be used on your old phone, although I find 18W is fast for me and makes the phone hot.

You can estimate the quality by comparing the weight of various chargers, although they could put chunk of metal in there to weigh it down to trick you. Heavier is better usually, historically.

However, "GaN" labeled chargers are lighter and high efficiency.

USB-C to USB-C cables are a great choice. Long cords (2 meters) are real nice to have. It could be possible you get a new charger, use your old cord, and achieve the same slow result due to the cable you have. Or maybe not.

Let us know how it goes :)

TrustExecutor

One thing with using a older charger with only USB-A is that it may not trigger pass through current, that is the phone gets powered directly from the charger, which is the case with better PD PPS charger bricks. Always buy USB-C chargers marked PPS if buying new.

mar2112

Any charger will work. If you have a more powerful charger than needed for your phone then the charge current is limited to the level of the cable you're using or the charge circuitry in the phone whichever is less.

I avoid fast charge as the heat is not good for the battery.