Does Airplane Mode Speed Up Phone Charging?

As smartphone battery capacities now often exceed 4000 to 5000 mAh, charging time has become a significant concern for users and a key marketing tool for manufacturers.

Despite advancements in fast-charging technology, many users continue to seek simple methods to reduce charging time, including activating airplane mode during charging.

* The Logic Behind It: Does It Really Work?

Activating airplane mode disables cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth networks, which is believed to reduce energy consumption during charging and potentially speed up the time it takes for the battery to reach 100%, according to a report from SlashGear.

* Practical Experiment Shows Limited Difference

Tests were conducted using a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra;

the battery was fully depleted and then charged to 100%, with precise timing recorded in both normal mode and airplane mode, using a Nothing CMF Power 65-watt charger under similar temperature conditions.

Results:

• Charging from 0 to 100% in airplane mode: one hour and two minutes.

• Charging with all networks active: one hour and 9 minutes.

The difference was less than 6 minutes, consistent with previous findings from CNET, which indicated a difference ranging from 4 to 11 minutes.

* Is It Worth the Effort?

While airplane mode does provide a slight advantage, the average difference is under 5 minutes.

Moreover, since airplane mode prevents receiving calls and messages during charging, it tends to be more of a minor trick without significant practical impact for most users.

* Heat: The Biggest Enemy of Fast Charging

The experiment revealed that ambient temperature plays a more crucial role than airplane mode itself:

_ In tests conducted at high temperatures between 89 and 92 degrees Fahrenheit, the phone sometimes took over one hour and 20 minutes to charge, even with airplane mode activated.

_ Returning to a moderate temperature environment significantly improved charging times, confirming that heat can negate any minimal benefits of airplane mode.

* Final Conclusion

• Activating airplane mode may reduce charging time by only a few minutes.

• The difference is often negligible in everyday use.

• Heat, charger quality, and improper charging habits are more influential factors.

• Using a manufacturer-recommended charger and ensuring proper charging conditions is the best solution.

If you're in a hurry, airplane mode might help slightly, but for regular daily use, it remains a secondary option with minimal impact.