Does Airplane Mode Really Speed Up Phone Charging?
As modern smartphone batteries increasingly exceed capacities of 4,000 to 5,000 mAh, charging time has become a key consideration for users and a significant marketing tool for manufacturers.
Despite advancements in fast-charging technologies, many users continue to search for simple methods to reduce charging time, including enabling airplane mode during charging.
* The Concept Makes Sense… But Does It Work?
Activating airplane mode disables cellular networks, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, which is believed to reduce energy consumption during charging and potentially speed up the time to reach 100%, according to a report by Slashgear.
* Practical Tests Show Limited Differences
Tests were conducted using a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra;
the battery was fully discharged and then charged to 100%, with timing recorded in both normal and airplane modes, using the Nothing CMF Power charger rated at 65 watts under similar temperature conditions.
Results:
• Fastest charging from 0 to 100% in airplane mode: 1 hour and 2 minutes.
• Fastest charging with networks enabled: 1 hour and 9 minutes.
The difference was no more than 6 minutes, aligning with earlier findings from CNET, which reported a variation of 4 to 11 minutes.
* Is It Worth the Effort?
While airplane mode offers a slight advantage, the average difference is under 5 minutes.
Since airplane mode blocks calls and messages during charging, for most users, it tends to be a trick with minimal practical impact.
* Heat: The Biggest Enemy of Fast Charging
The tests revealed that ambient temperature plays a more significant role than airplane mode itself:
_ In tests conducted at high temperatures between 89 and 92 degrees Fahrenheit, it sometimes took over 1 hour and 20 minutes to charge the phone, even with airplane mode activated.
_ When returning to a moderate environment, charging times improved significantly, confirming that heat can negate any slight advantage provided by airplane mode.
* Conclusion
• Enabling airplane mode may reduce charging time by only a few minutes.
• The difference is often negligible in everyday use.
• Heat, charger quality, and poor charging habits are more influential factors.
• Using a manufacturer-recommended charger and appropriate charging conditions is the best approach.
If you're in a hurry, airplane mode might help slightly, but in regular daily use, it remains a secondary option with little real impact.
