Qualcomm Quick Charge (QC) protocol
What is Qualcomm Quick Charge
Quick Charge (QC) - a proprietary fast charging technology developed by Qualcomm, also known for its Snapdragon platforms. It is one of the best-known fast charging protocols. The latest version is Quick Charge 5+ (September 2025, up to 140W).
Quick Charge versions
Quick Charge 1.0
Quick Charge 1.0 was introduced in 2013 and supported power of about 10W.
Quick Charge 2.0
Quick Charge 2.0 was introduced in 2013, with commercial devices appearing in 2014. Quick Charge 2.0 Class A supported power up to 24W through Micro-USB and up to 36W through USB-C, while Class B supported 60W and above. High Voltage Dedicated Charging Port (HVDCP) technology was also implemented: at the smartphone's request, the charger raises the voltage above the standard 5V. Optional Dual Charge uses two power management chips to split the charging current and reduce heat.
Quick Charge 3.0
Quick Charge 3.0 was introduced in 2015, with the first devices appearing in 2016. This version implemented INOV (Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage) technology, which allows voltage adjustment within the 3.6-20V range in 200mV steps. 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
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+
Quick Charge 4+ was introduced in 2017. It added Intelligent Thermal Balancing and advanced safety features for temperature monitoring and protection against overheating, short circuits and USB-C connector damage. Certified Quick Charge 4+ accessories are backward compatible with Quick Charge 2.0 and 3.0.
Quick Charge 5
Quick Charge 5 was released in July 2020. Quick Charge 5 supports power above 100W. This standard is 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+
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.
Quick Charge and USB PD
Starting with Quick Charge 4, the protocol supports USB PD, and Quick Charge 5 is compatible with USB PD PPS. Earlier versions (1.0-3.0) are unrelated to USB PD.
Quick Charge version backward compatibility
