Xiaomi has introduced a new “HyperCharge” protocol, which allows for the full charge of a 4,000mAh battery in just 8 minutes with a 200W wired system. The protocol also allows for the full wireless charge of a device at 120W in just 15 minutes.
The Chinese manufacturer recently showcased the technology in a video on social media, demonstrating how it worked on a modified Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro. It demonstrated first how the device goes from empty to 50 percent in about 3 minutes and then to full charge in about 8 minutes.
Xiaomi Fast Charging History
Xiaomi has been heavily focused on quickly upgrading its charging technology in recent years. The manufacturer released its 100W “Super Charge Turbo” technology in August 2020 after teasing it in March 2019. This protocol allows for the fast wired charging of a 4,000mAh battery in 17 minutes. Its 120W protocol also launched in August last year, with the ability to charge the 4,500mAh battery on the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra in 23 minutes.
Additionally, Xiaomi announced in October 2020, its 80W Mi Wireless Charging protocol, which allows for a full charge of a 4,000mAh battery in just 19 minutes. It can also add a 10 percent charge to a device in 1 minute and a 50 percent charge in 8 minutes.
Xiaomi Fast Charging on the Market
While the 80W protocol is described as compatible with most Xiaomi smartphones that support wireless charging, it is largely connected to the Xiaomi Mi 11 device family. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra recently launched in Germany with a 80W wireless charger as a free accessory. Overall, fast wireless charging still remains a fairly new technology on the market.
There is no word on when the 200W/120W “HyperCharge” system will be available, and for which devices. While the technology is fascinating, many pundits have noted its limitations, including an overall impact on battery health, overheating issues, and the fact that these systems require proprietary chargers and cables to work optimally.
Xiaomi Potential Accessory Strategy
The last year has shown consumers that several manufacturers, including Xiaomi, are opting to release devices without typically common accessories, such as brick chargers, inside retail packaging. Many executives reason that users have a lot of idle chargers around at home. However, outfitting devices with new charging technology and not including the components in-box to make them work seems counterproductive, as many users taking advantage of these already at home chargers may not see the need to update to the chargers with the current technology.
Companies may be banking on consumers’ old at-home chargers being too out of date for them to use properly. Perhaps they are USB-A, when most of the industry has successfully transitioned to USB-C. Perhaps charging proves to be too slow even if it isn’t some sort of marketed fast charging protocol. Brand’s will surely hope that consumers will purchase proprietary chargers instead of an inexpensive generic option. Still, advances in fast charging technology is sure to open up a whole new world of product dupes.
Overall, it is likely accessories may become free perks instead of standard add-ons included with devices as the advanced technologies become more ubiquitous. In addition to the abovementioned Mi 11 Ultra deal, Xiaomi also offered a 55W charger included at no additional cost for a limited time when the standard Mi 11 model launched in December 2020. However, that device has no notable fast charging or wireless charging capabilities.
