Is it true that using airplane mode on your phone reduces charging time? I tested it, and here's what I discovered.
These days, a mobile phone that lasts all day is considered a good thing, mainly because the average user usually spends several hours in front of the screen, whether on live streaming, social media, or even games.
In all these cases, the phone's temperature rises, and heat always affects the device's components, including the battery, which may cause it to discharge faster or charge more slowly.
I've always heard that airplane mode helps charge a phone faster, so I wanted to test it using a relatively new 120W charger and a phone that supports 80W fast charging.
These are typical values for high-end devices, so with lower numbers you will see a noticeably different number, especially if you are using chargers that are somewhat damaged or do not have this fast charging rating.
Although any phone will get hotter than usual during this type of charging, it does increase the charging speed.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, activating airplane mode reduces charging time slightly, which is more noticeable with older phones or chargers.
In the test, I used a 120W charger and a phone that supports 80W fast charging.
After activating airplane mode, the total charging time decreased by approximately 4 minutes compared to normal charging, reaching a full charge in 40 minutes.
This is because airplane mode disables communications, turning off all wireless connectivity options—Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.—as well as the cellular signal.
Therefore, activating airplane mode helps charge the battery faster, although it should be noted that mobile phones now offer features that make this a myth from years ago.
Firstly, some phones include a mechanical ventilation system or liquid cooling to prevent the phone from overheating, which could affect the charging process.
In addition, other phones offer features such as separate charging, which provides a slightly slower charging speed in exchange for the ability to use the phone while charging.
In any case, if you use your phone while charging, especially with a charger of 20 watts or less, it will take much longer to fully charge due to the battery being subjected to thermal stress.
As for airplane mode, keeping it active while charging is not worth the effort on the latest devices, as you will lose access to mobile networks without any significant advantage in return.
If you are still using an older device, you will notice that the charging is indeed faster in comparison.