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How bad is it for a mobile device to be "slow charging"? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by vortexal@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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I bought a new tablet but I'm unable to use the charging cable it came with until I can get an adapter because I don't have anything that can except USB type C. I have multiple cables with a USB A connector but the tablet says that it's "slow charging" when I use them. I tried to look this up before posting but for some reason, a lot of websites refer to "normal changing" as slow charging now and I'm unable to find anything relevant to my issue. Would I be fine to use the other cables I have until I can get an adapter?

Edit: I no longer need help with this. I originally made this post because, for several years, I was told and had read that both slow and fast charging damaged batteries significantly more than normal charging. But, as multiple users have stated, it seems like I was being told and reading false information and slow charging is actually better for a battery than normal charging.

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[–] vortexal@lemmy.ml -4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Are you talking about slow charging or normal charging? I'm only asking because I heard that about normal charging but I've never heard that about slow charging.

[–] ThisIsAManWhoKnowsHowToGling@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's the same for both. There is a marginal benefit to slow charging but IMHO it doesn't outweigh the inconvenience of having it on the charger so long.

[–] vortexal@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Ok, I have no problem with slow charging, it's just that I've heard that both slow and fast charging can damage the battery and I wanted to make sure it would be ok.

[–] ThisIsAManWhoKnowsHowToGling@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I think what you are remembering is that slow charging is usually due to some sort of problem with the power supply, and if your phone is always slow charging that might indicate that your battery is damaged. Slow charging, by itself, is very safe.

[–] vortexal@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

No, I specifically remember both being told and researching it my self, every source stated that both slow and fast charging can damage batteries.

[–] ThisIsAManWhoKnowsHowToGling@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I looked it up right before writing that comment.

[–] vortexal@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 month ago

Ok, then either things have changed or I was lied to for the past several years because this is the first time anyone has told me that slow charging was fine.

[–] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

"slow" and "normal" are all relative terms, and aren't definable.

It's also relative to the size of the battery. A cell phone at 20 watts charging sure aint slow, but a laptop at 20 sure is. But is 20 fast when phones will do 50 or 100 watts?

[–] vortexal@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

What I'm referring to is what my device states. Right now, my tablet states that it's slow charging but my other android devices just say charging and my mom's phone states that it's fast charging when she uses the cable that came with her phone.

[–] deranger@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 month ago

Sounds like it's the standard 500mA USB charging. This is the slowest and oldest charging that exists. It's telling you this in case you have a charger that supports faster charging but using an older cable, in which case it falls back to 5v / 500mA. You have to have a proper charger and cable to get the higher modes (e.g. USB-C PD).

There's nothing harmful about this and is actually better for battery longevity as many others have stated. The notification is just informative in case you're expecting faster charging. 5v / 500mA takes forever compared to modern charging standards.