You're down to 5% battery, and you've finally found an outlet. You plug in your phone, turn on Low Power Mode, and hope for a quick charge before you have to run out the door. But does that battery-saving feature actually slow down your phone's charging time?
It's a common question with a surprisingly complex answer. While you might assume that reducing power consumption would speed up charging, the reality is a little different. The short answer is no, Low Power Mode doesn't make your phone charge slower. In some cases, it can even make it charge a little bit faster.
This article will explain what happens when you enable Low Power Mode, bust some common myths about charging, and give you practical tips to power up your phone as quickly as possible.
What is Low Power Mode?
Low Power Mode is a feature on iPhones, and "Battery Saver" is its equivalent on Android devices. (Low Power Mode, n.d.) When enabled, it conserves energy by reducing or disabling certain background functions. (Does Your Phone Charge Faster in Low Power Mode, 2025) (Apple, 2025) Its primary goal is to extend your battery life when your charge is running low, typically when it drops below 20%. (Use Low Power Mode to save battery life on your iPhone or iPad, 2025)
On an iPhone, activating Low Power Mode does the following:
- Reduces screen brightness.
- Lowers the screen's refresh rate (on ProMotion displays).
- Disables automatic downloads and background email fetching.
- Pauses iCloud Photos syncing.
- Limits or turns off certain visual effects.
- Reduces the auto-lock time to 30 seconds.
- Disables 5G connectivity for non-critical tasks.
Android's Battery Saver mode works similarly, often limiting background app activity, disabling the always-on display, and sometimes even slightly reducing the phone's processing speed. (Battery Saver Active: What Systems It Affects, Causes, And How To Fix [Updated On- 2025], 2025)
The key takeaway is that these modes are designed to minimize the amount of power your phone is using.
How Low Power Mode Can Speed Up Charging
Think of your phone's battery like a bucket you're trying to fill with water (charge). At the same time, there are small holes in the bucket letting water out (power consumption). Low Power Mode works by plugging some of those holes.
When you charge your phone, you're pouring energy in. But your phone is simultaneously using energy to power its screen, connect to Wi-Fi, and run background processes. The net charge is the energy going in minus the energy going out.
By enabling Low Power Mode, you reduce the amount of energy your phone consumes. With fewer background tasks running and a dimmer screen, there's less power being drawn from the battery as it fills up. This means more of the incoming charge from the power adapter is dedicated to actually filling the battery.
While the difference isn't always dramatic, this reduction in power usage can result in a slightly faster charging time. A phone that is completely off will charge fastest for the same reason—it's using virtually no power. (Does a Phone Charge Faster When Off? (Explained), 2023) A phone in Low Power Mode is the next best thing.
Why Do People Think It Charges Slower?
The myth that Low Power Mode slows down charging likely comes from a misunderstanding of what the feature does. Some people assume it throttles all phone functions, including the charging process itself. This isn't the case. Low Power Mode limits performance and background activity, but it doesn't place any restrictions on the amount of power the battery can accept from a charger.
Another factor is heat. Charging generates heat, and so does using your phone. If your phone gets too hot, its internal battery management system will automatically slow down the charging speed to protect the battery from damage. (Does Heat Affect Battery Charging, 2025)If you're using your phone for intensive tasks while it's charging, it will heat up faster and charge more slowly, regardless of whether Low Power Mode is on. Because people often continue using their phones while they charge, they might mistakenly blame the charging speed on Low Power Mode instead of their own activity.
Practical Tips for Faster Charging
If you're in a hurry and need to get the most charge in the shortest amount of time, here are a few proven methods.
1. Use a High-Wattage Charger
The single biggest factor affecting charging speed is the power adapter. Many modern phones support fast charging, but you need the right charger to take advantage of it. (Feel like snapping your phone charger in two? Here's how you can access much faster charging speeds (2025). For example, using a 20W USB-C adapter will charge a new iPhone significantly faster than the old 5W cube that came with older models. Always check what wattage your phone supports and use a compatible fast charger.
2. Turn on Airplane Mode
If you don't need to be connected to the internet or receive calls, enabling Airplane Mode is a great way to speed up charging. It turns off all your phone's radios—cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth—which are major sources of power drain. (Fact or fiction: Does airplane mode make phones charge quickly?, 2014) This has a similar, but more powerful, effect to Low Power Mode.
3. Turn Your Phone Off Completely
For the absolute fastest charge, power your phone down entirely. When it's off, it isn't using any energy for background tasks, screen display, or network connections. This allows 100% of the charger's power to go directly into the battery.
4. Keep Your Phone Cool
As mentioned, heat is the enemy of fast charging. To keep your phone cool while it powers up, try these tips:
- Take it out of its case, which can trap heat.
- Avoid placing it in direct sunlight.
- Don't use it for demanding tasks like gaming or streaming video.
Get Charged Up
So, should you use Low Power Mode while charging? Absolutely. It won't slow down the process and can even give you a slight speed boost by minimizing your phone's energy consumption.
While the effect may not be as significant as switching to a more powerful charger or turning on Airplane Mode, every little bit helps when you're short on time. Combining Low Power Mode with other best practices, like keeping your phone cool and using a fast charger, will ensure you get the quickest and most efficient charge possible.
The next time your battery is in the red, you can confidently turn on Low Power Mode knowing you're helping, not hurting, your charging speed.