Slightly, sometimes. Low power mode doesn't speed up the charger itself, but it frees up a small amount of power that would otherwise go to background tasks.
Some people flip on low power mode expecting a real charging hack, but it's not doing anything to the electricity coming through the cable.
What it actually changes is how much the phone competes with the charger for that same power while plugged in.
Low power mode typically reduces background app refresh, automatic downloads, mail fetching, and some visual effects, and on some phones it also dims the screen slightly or lowers the refresh rate. All of that frees up a small amount of power that would otherwise be used while the phone charges.
If the phone is doing less work in the background, more of the incoming power goes toward filling the battery instead of running processes at the same time. The difference is usually a matter of minutes, not a dramatic speed boost.
Charger wattage matters far more — a 20-watt charger fills a phone much faster than a 5-watt one, provided the phone and cable both support that higher wattage. Battery temperature also plays a big role, since phones intentionally slow or pause charging if the battery gets too warm.
If the phone is already on a slow charger or an old cable that doesn't support fast charging, low power mode won't make up that gap — the charger's wattage is still the bottleneck.
Low power mode is a minor assist, not a real charging hack. A higher wattage charger, a cool phone, and leaving it alone while it charges will always matter more.
No, it's not linked to battery damage. It simply reduces background activity and, on some phones, a few visual effects to save energy.
It's not necessary, but it doesn't hurt. It's most useful when trying to get a quick top-up before heading out the door.
It can help slightly by stopping cellular and Wi-Fi radio activity, but like low power mode, the effect is minor compared with using a higher wattage charger.
Phones intentionally reduce charging speed, and sometimes pause it, when the battery gets too warm to protect its long-term health. Cooling the phone down restores normal charging speed.