Google Reluctant On Fast-Charge
Google’s latest Android Compatibility Definition document (released alongside new Android OS Nougat) suggests the company is less keen on allowing the fast-charging feature found in the latest phones by Samsung, Oppo and LG.
The document, aimed at manufacturers, says it’s “strongly recommended” that device makers don’t support proprietary charging technology that modifies voltages beyond standard levels or creates “interoperability issues” with standard USB charging.
Additionally, the company warned manufacturers that later versions of Android might even require full interoperability with standard chargers.
This hardline approach suggests Google is prioritizing the potential of USB-C cables and chargers to always work together over the potential to dramatically decrease charge times for users. While these efforts in of themselves aren’t especially surprising, they do stand out as notably different from approach to that taken by Apple.