Qualcomm Technologies, the leading manufacturer of mobile technology, has been met with mild controversy surrounding its Type-C USB port and its Quick Charge 3.1 technology. There have been reports questioning whether Quick Charge 3.1 is running outside the voltage specifications required for the Type-C port. According to phonearena.com, by increasing the voltage to nine volts or twelve volts, Quick Charge 3.1 allows the internal battery on handset devices like the HTC 10 and LG G5 to charge faster than usual.
Here's the issue: There are specific specifications for the USB Type-C 3.1 port, and according to those specifications, the Vbus line should be held in a range between 4.45 volts and 5.25 volts. As such, Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.1 could possibly be running too much voltage through the line. Running too much voltage through a wire designed for a lower capacity can lead to catastrophic results - not the kind of thing Qualcomm wants to have associated with its name.
The company has since released a statement addressing the issue which was released on Monday, April 23. In the statement, Qualcomm states that every time a manufacturer chooses to use Quick Charge, they can set the voltage of the feature in order to be compatible with the USB port installed on the device. For example, LG and HTC users can decide the voltage to use with Quick Charge 3.1 in order to safely distribute the appropriate amount of voltage through the USB Type-C port.
Qualcomm's statement:
"Qualcomm Quick Charge is designed to be connector-independent. It can be implemented in a device that supports a variety of connectors, including USB Type-A, USB micro, USB Type-C, and others. When an OEM chooses to implement Quick Charge into their device, they can configure the voltage to fit within the specifications of the USB Type-C standard. We have received no reports of user experience or device malfunction issues with or without USB Type-C connectors. At Qualcomm Technologies, we are continuously working to provide the best solutions for our customers and consumers. Qualcomm Quick Charge is a leading edge fast charging solution with more than 70 devices and 200 accessories supporting one of the two most recent versions of Quick Charge, with even more currently in development."
The statement certainly provides assurance that the devices in question are engineered to be safe and charge rapidly via Quick Charge over the USB Type-C connector. Regardless of the rumors, it should be noted that both the phones and chargers themselves have been UL listed and CE Mark certified as safe when used as directed, according to Android Central. But at the end of the day, it's best to use the charging components provided by the manufacturer or certified replacement equipment to avoid any mishaps.
