How to charge Galaxy S10 battery?

You need to charge Galaxy S10 battery properly to maximize the battery life without sacrificing your usage.

There are many so-called expert recommendations and rules on how to charge Galaxy S10 battery.  Some of them are outdated (e.g., you need to drain Galaxy S10 battery completely every a few weeks). Some are ridiculously wrong (e.g., you should not charge Galaxy S10 battery to full).

This Galaxy S10 how-to guide explains the proper way to charge Galaxy S10 battery with a wall charger (USB charging) or a wireless charger (wireless charging). Quick charge 2.0 and fast wireless charging 2.0 are also discussed.

How long should I charge Galaxy S10 battery the first time?

The old textbook may tell you that you should charge the new battery for at least 6-8 hours for the first time.

This is outdated. It does not apply to the Galaxy S10 battery.

When you charge Galaxy S10 battery the first time, you just need to charge it to “charged.” Then you can disconnect it from the charger (wall charger or wireless charger) and start to use it.

In fact, when Galaxy S10 leaves the factory, the battery was charged to about 60%. You can immediately use the phone when you get it. It is unnecessary to charge a new Galaxy S10 for 6 hours.

In some regions, Samsung does not offer a 1-to-1 exchange for hardware defects.  You have to check the phone in the store.

Anyway, there are no special requirements when you charge Galaxy S10 battery the first time.

Please note, there is no notification LED in Galaxy S10 (including S10, S10+, S10e, and S10 5G) as discussed in this page, you have to wake up the screen to check whether the battery is fully charged or not.

What are the two ways to charge Galaxy S10 battery?

Galaxy S10 supports charging through the USB-C Port and the wireless charging coil.  You may refer to Galaxy S10 layout to check the location of the USB-C port and wireless charging coils.

So, you can charge Galaxy S10 battery in two ways:

• Through a USB cable (USB charging). Normally, you will use a  wall charger. But you can also charge Galaxy S10 battery with a power bank, PC, or another mobile device with USB-C port.
• Wireless charging.

In Galaxy S10 box, a wall charger is included.

The wireless charging pad is not included in Galaxy S10 box. You may have to buy one.

What are fast charging and fast wireless charging for Galaxy S10, S10+, and s10e?

Galaxy S10, S10+, and 10e support quick charge 2.0 when charging through the USB-C port (USB charging). Of course, this requires a wall charger with quick charge support.

In the Galaxy S10 box, you can find the included 15W wall charger, which is a quick charge 2.0 compliant charger.

Samsung named the fast charge technology as adaptive fast charging. As mentioned in the top 10 disappointing and missing features of Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10 (except Galaxy S10 5G) does not support the newer (and faster) quick charge 3.0 or even 4.0.

Basically, when you charge Galaxy S10 battery through the USB-C port (USB charging) with the included (official) wall charger, the maximum charging rate will be:

• 15W (9V/1.67A) in fast charging mode (when the battery level is less than about 60-70%, and the screen is off).
• 10W (5V/2A) in normal charging mode.

Please note this is the maximum or theoretical limit. The actual charging power will always be lower, especially when the battery level is higher than 90%.

On Galaxy S10, you can disable fast cable charging mode if you want.

For wireless charging, Galaxy S10 now supports fast wireless charging 2.0.

You should confuse fast wireless charging 2.0 with Quick Charge 2.0 mentioned earlier. Quick Charge 2.0 is the technology owned by Qualcomm. It is for USB charging.

Fast wireless charging 2.0 is based Qi wireless charging standard set by Wireless Power Consortium. The 2.0 was coined by Samsung to differentiate its implementation from previous fast wireless charging.

If you charge Galaxy S10 battery with wireless charging, the maximum charging power can be:

• Up to 12W if you use a fast wireless charger with fast charge 2.0, like Samsung Wireless Charger Duo Pad, Fast Charge 2.0.
• Up to 7.5W if you use a fast wireless charger, like Samsung Qi Certified Fast Charge Wireless Charger Stand.
• Up to 5W if you use a normal wireless charger.

For your reference, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge,  and Galaxy S6 Edge+ support normal wireless charging (up to 5W). Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, S8, S8+, S9, S9+, Note 5, Note 8, and Note 9 support fast wireless charging (up to 7.5W).

Again, the charging power is the theoretical limit. Actual charging power is always lower and depends on many factors including ambient temperature, phone usage, and temperature, ventilation of the charging pad.

On Galaxy S10, fast wireless charging can be disabled if you do not want to use fast wireless charging (e.g., you will put the phone on the wireless charging pad overnight).

How to charge Galaxy S10 battery with a wall charger?

You may follow these steps to charge Galaxy S10 battery with a wall charger:

Step 1: Connect the USB cable to the wall charger (power adapter)

Step 2: Plug the USB cable into the USB-C port on Galaxy S10, S10+ or S10e

As shown below, you can plug the other end (with smaller connector) to the USB-C port in the bottom of the phone.

The USB-C connector is symmetric. So, you can plug it without worrying about the upside or the downside.

Step 3:  Plug the USB power adaptor into an electric socket

Step 4: Wait till Galaxy S10 is fully charged

You should not use Galaxy S10 heavily (e.g., play games) when it is being charged.

Of course, you can (and should) use it normally.

If possible, you should let the battery be fully charged. There is no notification LED on Galaxy S10; you have to check the charging status on always-on display (AOD) screen or lock screen.

Step 5: Remove the USB cable form Galaxy S9 or S9+

Step 6:  Power off the wall charger

Wall chargers are not able to turn off themselves automatically. It is better to unplug the wall charger or shut off the power supply to the charger if it is convenient to do so.

How to charge Galaxy S10 battery with a wireless charger?

You can use any Qi-certified wireless charging pads to charge Galaxy S10 battery.  But you should get a branded one.

Please note, each wireless charging pad may require a different wall charger (power adapter) to function as expected.  For example, the fast wireless charging 2.0 pad requires a 25w wall charger. If you use a 15W wall charger to power it, it will not function properly.

To charge Galaxy S10 battery with a wireless charger, you may follow these steps.

Step 1:  Connect the power adapter or USB wall charger to the wireless charging pad

As mentioned, you need to use the bundled power adapter/wall charger to power the wireless charging pad.

Step 2: Plug the power adapter or wall charger into the wall socket

Most wireless charging pads have one or more LEDs indicating the status of the pad.  You need to make sure the wireless charging pad is ready.

Step 3: Place Galaxy S10 in the wireless charging pad

You need to place Galaxy S10s  on the center of the wireless charging pad as shown below. As explained in Galaxy S10 layout, the wireless charging coil is located near the center of the Galaxy S10 back.

You should also remove any metal accessories between the back of Galaxy S10 and the wireless charging pad.

Some third-party Galaxy S10 covers or cases may affect wireless charging. If this happens, you can try to remove the case or cover and try again.

All official Samsung cases and covers (including the LED cover, clear view cover, an LED back cover) do NOT affect wireless charging. It is not necessary to remove them for wireless charging

Step 4: Wait till Galaxy S10 is fully charged

Step 5: Remove Galaxy S10 from the wireless charging pad

The typical battery charging time for Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e

Based on our test, the typical charging time (from 5% 5p full charged)  of Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e is summarised in the table below

Please note, we used the “official” wall charger for USB charging and Samsung Wireless Charger Duo Pad, Fast Charge 2.0 for wireless charging. The phones were powered on, but not being used.

Best practices for charging Galaxy S10 battery

For most Galaxy S10 owners, you should not worry too much about battery lifespan because it can normally last 2-3 years if you charge the battery once a day or less. After 2-3 years, you very likely will switch to other newer phones. Otherwise, you need to replace the battery.

Current Li-ion battery typically has a shelf lifespan 3-5 years. You cannot expect a  5-year-old battery performs well. It will lose at least 50% of its original capacity.

If you are a heavy user who charges Galaxy S10 battery more than once a day on average, it is recommended to replace the battery after 12-18 months.

The key point is that your usage and convenience are the most important. You get the best ROI (return on investment) if you can enjoy the phone or if you can improve your productivity of life.

However, if you try to follow some best practices when charging Galaxy S10 battery, you may keep the battery healthier without sacrificing usage and convenience.

#1. Charge Galaxy S10 battery only it is needed

It is unnecessary to keep the battery at a certain level.

Some so-called experts tell you to top up to full or less than 80%.  Don’t waste time to “top up” Galaxy S10 battery. It is not necessary and very likely not good for the battery.

You only need to charge Galaxy S10 battery when you know the battery cannot last to the time when you can access the charger again.

#2. If you charge Galaxy S10 battery, charge it to full

If possible, you should try to wait until the battery is fully charged if it is being charged.

This serves two purposes:

• Galaxy S10 knows (rather than estimates) the actual “full” state of the battery, and therefore, it can estimate the battery usage more accurately.
• Charging the battery to the fully charged state will prevent the battery from accumulating a “dead zone” in the battery cells.

Of course, it is OK to unplug the charger earlier occasionally when you need to. Again, do NOT sacrifice your usage and convenience.

#3. Try not to heavily use the phone when charging

When you charge Galaxy S10 battery, you should try to minimize the usage. It is not recommended to use the phone heavily when it is being charged.

First, the heat will build up when you use the phone heavily. This will slow down or even stop the charging processes.

Second, when the screen is on, the fast charging mode will stop.

Third, you should try to give yourself some time free from distractions. Your life will very likely be improved if you can slightly reduce the usage of the smartphone every day.

Again, it is OK to pick up calls, reply SMS, or check the stock price when it is charged if they are important.

#4. If it is convenient, disconnect the wall charger once Galaxy S10 is fully charged

If you charge Galaxy S10 battery through USB charging, the charger can only adjust the current output, but cannot stop current output. In other words, the charger needs to maintain certain trickling current.

Such trickling current will not hurt or damage Galaxy S10 battery. But it creates an unnecessary drain on the battery when the phone is not used.  It also wastes energy (although marginal).

Of course, you do this only if it is convenient. It is absolutely unnecessary to get up at wee hours to disconnect a wall charger.

#5. Use branded chargers and quality cables

Don’t try to save money on quality chargers and cables.

The bundled wall charger and USB cable are quite durable and have quite good quality.

If you need to get a spare one, try to get a quality one.

#6. Do not drain the battery completely, if possible

For modern Li-ion battery, it is NOT necessary to drain it completely to get an accurate battery level estimation. Only the fully charged state is needed.

Besides, if you drain Galaxy S10 battery completely may damage the battery or the phone.  Galaxy S10 does shut down automatically to protect the phone before the battery is fully drained.

Anyway, try not to drain the Galaxy S10 battery completely unless you have to.

Can I use wireless PowerShare when charging Galaxy S10 battery

Yes, you can use Wireless PowerShre when charging Galaxy S10 battery.

Please refer to this guide (coming soon) on how to use Galaxy S10 wireless PowerShare.

Do you have any questions on charging Galaxy S10 battery? Can you charge Galaxy S10 battery with USB charging and fast wireless charging?

If you have any questions on charging Galaxy S10 battery for Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e, please let us know in the comment box below.

The community will help you find the answer.

If you have questions on new features of Samsung Galaxy S10, please check Galaxy S10 new features guides page.

For using Galaxy S10, please check Galaxy S10 how-to guides page.

You can find the detailed guides of using Galaxy S1o camera in Galaxy S10 camera guides page.

To find and use accessories for Galaxy S10, please check Galaxy S10 accessories guides page.

To read and download the official Samsung Galaxy S10 user guides (in PDF format) in your local language, please check Galaxy S10 user guides page.

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