If your Supernote seems to take forever to charge or drains faster than you’d expect even when you’re not actively using it, you’re not doing anything wrong, and your device probably isn’t faulty. There are some straightforward reasons why Supernote charging works the way it does, and a few easy changes that can make a real difference to both charge time and battery life.
Is 5 Hours to Fully Charge Normal for a Supernote?
Yes. Roughly 4 to 5 hours for a full charge is within the expected range for a Supernote. Here’s why: Supernote devices do not support fast charging.
The maximum charging speed is around 10 watts. To put that in context, many modern smartphones charge at 25W, 45W, or even higher. The Supernote Nomad has a 2,700 mAh battery and the Manta has a 3,600 mAh battery. Both are smaller than a typical smartphone. At 10W maximum input, filling either of them from empty to full takes several hours rather than one.
This is a deliberate design trade-off. E-ink devices prioritise battery longevity over fast charging, and slower charging rates are generally gentler on battery cells over the long term.
So if you’re seeing a full charge in the 4–5 hour range, that’s normal. If it’s consistently taking significantly longer than that, your charging setup may be the cause.
Why Your Supernote Might Be Charging Even More Slowly
Not all cables and chargers are equal, and this matters more than most people realise.
A low-quality USB-C cable, a cable that only supports USB 2.0 speeds, or a charger that delivers less than 10W will all reduce your charging rate. If you’re charging from a laptop USB port, a low-wattage phone charger, or a cheap third-party cable, you may be getting significantly less than the 10W maximum. This will push your charge time well beyond 5 hours.
What to try:
– Use the cable that came with your Supernote, or a quality USB-C cable rated for power delivery
– Use a wall charger that outputs at least 10W. Most modern phone chargers meet this, but older ones may not.
– Avoid charging from laptop USB ports if possible; wall charging is always faster
Why Is My Supernote Draining Quickly When I’m Not Using It?
E-ink screens are famous for their battery efficiency, but that efficiency only applies to the display itself. The rest of the device can still draw power in the background. Several common features are known to cause noticeable background drain on Supernote devices:
Wi-Fi is one of the biggest culprits. If Wi-Fi is enabled and your Supernote is constantly checking for syncs, updates, or cloud activity, it will drain the battery even when the screen is off. Disabling Wi-Fi when you’re not actively syncing is one of the most effective battery-saving steps you can take.
Auto sync works alongside Wi-Fi and can trigger frequent background activity. If you use cloud sync, consider setting it to manual rather than automatic.
Bluetooth draws power continuously when active, even if nothing is connected. Turn it off when not in use.
Real-time handwriting recognition: if enabled, this processes your handwriting as you write and is notably more power-hungry than writing without recognition. If you don’t need live conversion, disabling it can meaningfully extend your writing sessions.
Active pen input draws some power during writing sessions, more so than simply reading or having the device idle.
Tips to Improve Supernote Battery Life
| What to do | Expected impact |
|---|---|
| Turn off Wi-Fi when not syncing | High |
| Disable Bluetooth when not in use | Medium |
| Switch auto sync to manual | Medium |
| Turn off real-time handwriting recognition | Medium |
| Use a quality 10W+ wall charger | Improves charge time |
| Use the original or a quality USB-C cable | Improves charge time |
| Enable sleep mode when not in use | High |
When to Be Concerned
If your Supernote is fully charged and drains to empty within a single day of light use with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off, that would be unusual and worth investigating. Contact Supernote support, particularly if the device is relatively new, as this could indicate a battery issue covered under warranty.
Similarly, if charging has become noticeably slower recently compared to when the device was new, it’s worth trying a different cable and charger before assuming a hardware problem. Degraded or incompatible cables are the most common cause of unexpectedly slow charging.
Final Thoughts
A 5-hour charge time on a Supernote is normal. It’s a consequence of the 10W maximum charging rate rather than anything wrong with your device. The best things you can do are use a quality charger and cable to make the most of those 10 watts, and keep background features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and real-time recognition switched off when you don’t need them.
For more help with your Supernote, browse our full e-ink troubleshooting guides.