Charging your new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra can be confusing, especially when it comes to understanding wattage and choosing the right charger.
You want to charge your phone quickly and efficiently without damaging the battery.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about charging wattage for the S23 Ultra so you can optimize your charging experience.
What is Charging Wattage?
Charging wattage refers to the power or speed at which your phone’s battery charges. It’s measured in watts (W).
The higher the wattage, the faster your phone can charge as more electricity is delivered to the battery at once.
For example, a 25W charger will charge your S23 Ultra faster than a 15W charger because it’s delivering more power.
Charging wattage depends on both the charger/power adapter and the phone’s internal charging capability.
What is the Highest Charging Wattage for the S23 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is capable of supporting up to 45W wired charging.
This means you can charge your S23 Ultra with a charger up to 45W to get the fastest charging speeds.
When using a 45W charger, Samsung claims you can get up to 65% battery charge in just 30 minutes.
This ultra-fast charging can replenish your phone’s battery conveniently when you’re pressed for time.
Considerations for 45W Charging
While 45W is the highest wattage supported, there are some things to keep in mind:
- The S23 Ultra doesn’t come with a 45W charger in the box – you’ll have to purchase one separately.
- Using a 45W charger all the time can generate more heat and put more strain on the battery over time compared to lower wattages.
- Charging speed depends on other factors like the cable and temperature. A 45W charger won’t always deliver a full 45W.
- The S23 Ultra has a 5000 mAh battery. Once the battery capacity drops over time, 45W charging speeds will also decrease.
Because of these factors, you may want to consider balancing fast charging with slower charging overnight to minimize battery wear.
Many experts recommend using 45W charging occasionally when you need a quick boost, but not making it your daily driver.
Lower Wattage Options
If you don’t want to buy a separate 45W charger, the S23 Ultra can charge at fast speeds with lower wattages too:
- 25W – Can charge from 0 to 50% in 30 minutes
- 15W – Samsung’s standard fast charging wattage, can charge fully in around 1 hour 20 minutes
- 10W – Basic charging, slower but reduces heat/wear on battery
The charger included in the S23 Ultra box is a 15W USB-C power adapter. So you can still get decent charging speeds with the in-box charger.
Other Charging Methods
In addition to wired charging, there are a couple other charging options available for the S23 Ultra:
- Wireless Charging – The S23 Ultra supports up to 15W wireless charging. Wireless charging is slower but more convenient since you just place your phone on a charging pad.
- Reverse Wireless Charging – The S23 Ultra can wirelessly charge other devices like earbuds and watches at up to 4.5W.
Choosing the Right Charger
When shopping for an S23 Ultra charger, make sure to use an authentic Samsung-approved power adapter.
Low-quality or unsupported adapters can damage your device and battery.
Consider how you use your phone. If you regularly need quick top-ups throughout the day, investing in a 25W or 45W charger may be worthwhile. But if overnight charging is more convenient, a lower 15W or 10W charger will suffice.
Higher wattage chargers will also drain your phone’s battery faster when not in use. Unplugging when at 100% is recommended to avoid overcharging.
Maximizing Battery Health
To maximize long-term battery health:
- Avoid letting your battery drain to 0% before recharging
- Don’t leave your phone plugged in overnight after reaching 100% charge
- Avoid exposing phone to high heat while charging
- Use lower wattage chargers whenever convenient
- Let the battery drain to around 30% before recharging
Following best practices for charging and discharging can help you get the most out of your S23 Ultra’s battery lifespan.
Charging Speed Comparison
To give you a better idea of how charging speeds vary, here is an approximate comparison of how long it takes to charge the S23 Ultra battery from 0-100% with different wattage chargers:
| Charger Wattage | 0-50% Charge | 0-100% Charge |
|---|---|---|
| 45W | 30 mins | 1 hour |
| 25W | 30 mins | 1 hour 20 mins |
| 15W | 50 mins | 1 hour 40 mins |
| 10W | 1 hour 10 mins | 2 hours 30 mins |
As you can see, the 45W charger provides the fastest charging times, while 10W is quite slow. But keep in mind, slower charging places less stress on the battery.
Charging Speed vs. Battery Health
The faster you charge your phone, the more heat it generates, and more heat can degrade your battery faster over time.
That’s why charging at the maximum 45W speed all the time may not be the best option if you want to maximize your battery’s lifespan.
Slower charging gives the battery time to absorb the incoming power while staying cooler. Excessive heat is one of the biggest enemies for lithium-ion batteries like the one in the S23 Ultra.
Most tech experts recommend limiting the use of ultra-fast 45W charging for when you really need it, and opting for slower 15W or 25W the rest of the time.
This balanced approach gives you the best of both worlds.
Tips to Extend Battery Lifespan
Here are some tips to help prolong your S23 Ultra battery lifespan while still enjoying fast charging:
- Avoid 100% to 0% drain and recharge cycles. Keeping battery between 30-80% is ideal.
- Don’t leave phone charging overnight after reaching 100%.
- Use lower wattage chargers whenever you don’t need quick charging.
- Avoid exposing phone and battery to very warm environments.
- Turn off Always On Display feature to reduce battery drain.
- Enable battery protection modes in Settings if available.
- If possible, charge phone while powered off to reduce heat.
Following best practices allows you to take advantage of fast 45W charging when needed, while still preserving long-term battery capacity.
Understanding Volts, Amps, and Watts
When comparing phone chargers, you’ll see specs listed for volts, amps, and watts. Here’s what each one means:
- Volts – Measurement of electrical force or pressure. Higher volts increases charging speed.
- Amps – The current or amount of electricity flowing through the charger.
- Watts – Equal to volts x amps. Indicates total power or charging speed.
For the S23 Ultra, you want a charger that provides approximately 9V and 5A to achieve 45W fast charging. Multiplying the volts and amps gives you the wattage.
Wireless Charging
The S23 Ultra supports up to 15W fast wireless charging. This allows you to charge your phone by simply placing it on a Qi-certified wireless charging pad.
Benefits of wireless charging include convenience and reduced wear on the charging port. However, wireless charging is generally slower than wired charging.
Choosing a wireless charger for your S23 Ultra? Look for an output of at least 15W and a Qi wireless charging certification. Align the phone carefully on the center of the pad for best results.
Using Power Banks to Charge
Another option is charging your S23 Ultra on the go with a portable power bank. There are high-capacity power banks capable of 45W fast charging.
Benefits include being able to charge your phone multiple times without needing an outlet. However, output will be limited by the power bank’s capacity and supported wattage.
When selecting a 45W power bank, check that it has a USB-C output capable of delivering 45W, 9V and 5V. A 20,000 mAh capacity is a good sweet spot for recharging your S23 Ultra multiple times.
What Cables to consider
Always use high quality charging cables designed for Samsung devices. Low quality cables can bottleneck charging speeds.
When 45W fast charging, opt for thick, short cables designed to handle high wattage. Avoid long, thin generic cables.
For wireless charging, make sure your cable can deliver 15W power if using a wireless charging stand. Aim for USB-C to USB-C cables for fastest wired charging.
Avoid Cheap Chargers and Cables
Stay away from cheap, off-brand charging accessories that are untested and uncertified. These may claim to offer 45W fast charging but fail to deliver full speed.
Worse, faulty chargers and cables can damage your device or battery by delivering incorrect voltate and amps. Only use chargers and cables approved by Samsung for optimal safety.
Charging Your S23 Ultra Abroad
If traveling internationally with your S23 Ultra, you’ll need an adapter to work with different outlets and voltages. However, you should still be able to achieve 45W charging speeds if you have the right adapter.
Select an adapter that converts the outlet to your needed voltage, while still supporting your 45W charger’s power delivery. Be sure to check the required voltage and plug shape for the country you’re traveling to.
Troubleshooting Charging Problems
If your S23 Ultra isn’t charging properly, here are some troubleshooting steps:
- Check connections – unplug and re-plug cable at both ends
- Try a different charging cable
- Inspect USB port for damage or debris
- Test different charger of appropriate wattage
- Restart your phone
- Check battery settings and toggle options off/on
- Update software in case of bug affecting charging
If issues persist after trying these steps, you may need to have your S23 Ultra serviced by Samsung support for a hardware issue.
New Battery Saving Mode
One new feature Samsung has introduced on the S23 Ultra is Battery Saving Mode. This optional mode extends battery life by limiting background processes, screen brightness, and CPU speed.
Battery Saving Mode can buy you several extra hours when battery is running low. Enable it in Settings when you need to keep using your phone with limited charging options.
Keep in mind performance will be reduced in this mode. Disable Battery Saving when higher speeds and full brightness are required.
One UI Software Tweaks
Samsung’s One UI software includes customizable features to optimize battery charging and lifespan:
- Adaptive battery – Limits battery for infrequently used apps
- Deep sleep apps – No background activity for unused apps
- Super fast charging – Toggle on/off as needed
- Fast wireless charging – Can disable for slower speed
Adjust these options in Battery and Device Care settings to match your charging preferences.
Customizing Your Charging Experience
There are a few ways to customize and enhance your S23 Ultra charging experience:
- Rearrange Quick Settings for easy charging toggles
- Set up routines to enable Battery Saving at certain times/locations
- Get a case with integrated kickstand for easy viewing
- Set LED Cover to light up when charging completes
- Buy a spare charger to leave at work, home, or in the car
Personalize your charging routine to match your usage patterns and needs.
