09-09-2026 10:18 via technologyreview.com

Understanding the thermal ceiling in portable power

Plug a phone into a modern charger and the first 10 minutes are impressive. The next 20 are not.This is not a defect. It’s the connected device protecting itself. As temperature rises during charging, a smartphone’s battery management system reduces the current it will accept, because heat accelerates the chemical degradation that permanently reduces battery capacity. The charger may be capable of delivering more, but the device simply stops taking it.For anyone building products in
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