Why are there so many fast charging standards, and what's the difference between them?

A guide to the confusing world of USB-C fast charging. "Fast charging" has become a catch-all term that can mean many different things. There's USB PD, PPS and even SuperVOOC, which sounds like a limit break in a Final Fantasy game. All the jargon for different standards can be confusing. Fortunately, there's less to worry about than that might suggest. Years ago, USB charging was a slow trickle of power. But as mobile devices took over and demand for charging systems adapted accordingly, different companies developed their own approaches. That's how we ended up with Qualcomm's Quick Charge, Oppo's SuperVOOC and Xiaomi's HyperCharge — all proprietary systems advertising some form of fast charging. To be clear, USB-C itself doesn't tell you much: A device with that port doesn't necessarily