Qualcomm Quick Charge (QC) protocol

One of the best-known fast-charging protocols is Quick Charge. It was developed by Qualcomm, a company also known for its Snapdragon platforms. Quick Charge is a proprietary fast-charging technology.

Quick Charge versions:

Quick Charge 1.0 was introduced in 2013 and supported around 10W of power.
Quick Charge 2.0 was introduced in 2013, with commercial devices arriving in 2014. Quick Charge 2.0 Class A supported up to 24W over Micro-USB and up to 36W over USB-C, while Class B supported 60W or more. It also introduced High Voltage Dedicated Charging Port (HVDCP) and optional Dual Charge, which uses two power-management ICs to split the charging current and reduce heat.
Quick Charge 3.0 was introduced in 2015, with the first devices arriving in 2016. It introduced INOV (Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage), which adjusts voltage from 3.6-20V in 200mV increments. Quick Charge 3.0 can be used with USB-A, USB-C, Micro-USB, and other connectors, and is backward compatible with Quick Charge 1.0 and 2.0.
Quick Charge 4 was introduced in November 2016. This version added support for USB-C and USB PD, INOV 3.0, a new generation of Dual Charge, improved Battery Saver mechanisms, and additional safety features. Qualcomm stated that a typical smartphone could charge from 0 to 50% in about 15 minutes. Backward compatibility with earlier Quick Charge versions depended on the implementation of the specific controller or charger.
Quick Charge 4+ was introduced in 2017. It added Intelligent Thermal Balancing and enhanced safety features to monitor temperature and protect against overheating, short circuits, and damage to the USB-C connector. Certified Quick Charge 4+ accessories support backward compatibility with Quick Charge 2.0 and 3.0.
Quick Charge 5 was announced in July 2020 and supports more than 100W. It is cross-compatible with USB PD PPS. The protocol can double the voltage delivered by the charger when the smartphone uses a dual-cell battery in a series (2S) configuration. Devices with a single battery can reach up to 45W peak charging power. Quick Charge 5 is fully backward compatible with all previous Quick Charge versions.
Quick Charge 5+ was introduced by Qualcomm in September 2025. The technology dynamically adjusts voltage and current and supports values up to 20V7A, corresponding to 140W. For comparison, USB PD at 140W uses 28V5A.

Backward compatibility of Quick Charge versions: