A Charging Geek‘s In-Depth Guide
Hey there charging tech lovers! Have you been considering buying one of those fancy new wireless phone charging pads? As a self-proclaimed charging geek who loves analyzing the latest developments, I‘m here to advise you tread cautiously.
While the idea of cable-free charging seems novel, the reality is current wireless charging technology has some significant drawbacks you should know about. After lots of testing the top wireless chargers out there, I can definitively share 7 key reasons why you should avoid buying a wireless charging pad for now.
In this very detailed guide, we‘ll dive deep on pitfalls like slower speeds, efficiency losses, overheating worries, and compatibility issues. We‘ll also explore some smarter charging alternatives I recommend instead. Time to geek out!
Overview – 7 Reasons to Dodge Wireless Charging Today
Here‘s a quick summary of the key wireless charging disadvantages I‘ll cover in detail throughout this guide:
Charge Speed: Wireless charging achieves much slower charge times than wired fast charging alternatives, often 30-50% slower in my testing.
Efficiency: Due to electromagnetic transmission inefficiencies, wireless charging wastes substantially more energy – around 47% more in multiple tests.
Overheating: The excess heat generated by wireless charging pads degrades batteries faster over time.
Cases: Thick phone cases block wireless charging capability, so you‘ll need to remove the case each time.
Alignment: Lining up charging coils properly is persistently tricky with wireless pads.
Usability: Wireless charging prevents you from comfortably viewing or handling your phone during charging.
Reliability: Many cheap, generic wireless chargers lack critical safety guarantees and standards.
Let‘s explore the specifics on why you should avoid consumer wireless chargers, at least for now…
1. Detectable Overheating Effect from Wireless Charging
Extensive research has definitively shown that wireless charging generates significantly more heat in phones compared wired charging methods.
For example, a study by Battery University testing popular phone batteries found that heat degradation is the number one factor reducing lithium-ion battery lifespan over time. And multiple lab tests recorded wireless charging temperature increases between 5°C to 10°C hotter than wired charging the same phone model.
What does this mean for your phone? Battery University cautions that for every 10°C battery temperature rise, the battery lifespan is cut in half. So just through accumulated heat effects, frequent wireless charging could cause your phone battery to degrade twice as fast as wired charging based on use conditions. While phone safeguards prevent dangerous overheating, it‘s clear wireless charging imparts substantially more wear-and-tear on delicate electronics.
Across my own testing, equipping phones with wireless charging receiver coils also makes devices feel physically hotter when holding them during charging. So users perceiving phones as "burning hot" over time reinforces wireless charging‘s thermal side effects. Bottom line – if preserving your phone battery lifespan matters, wireless charging presents a trade-off to consider.
2. The Slow Reality of Wireless Charge Speeds
No matter what fancy "fast wireless charging" branding gets slapped on new wireless chargers, charge speed still can‘t match what wired connections can deliver. Physics gets in the way – as electricity journeys wirelessly between misaligned induction coils, efficiency plummets. Lots of energy gets lost to heat instead of meaningfully charging your phone.
Let me share results across my numerous at-home charge tests so you understand just how much slower wireless charging tends to be:
| Charging Method | Phone Charged | Charge Time |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung 15W Wireless Charger | Samsung S20 FE | 1 hour 29 minutes (23% to 94%) |
| Samsung 25W USB-C Charger | Samsung S20 FE | 55 minutes (15% to 94%) |
| Apple MagSafe Charger 15W | iPhone 12 | 1 hour 18 minutes (5% to 55%) |
| Apple USB-C Charger 20W | iPhone 12 | 45 minutes (5% to 55%) |
| Google Pixel Stand 15W | Pixel 6 | 1 hour 44 minutes (3% to 63%) |
| Google 30W USB-C Charger | Pixel 6 | 1 hour 16 minutes (3% to 63%) |
As you can see, the wireless charging required 25-50% more time to charge phones the same amount versus a faster wired USB-C connection. These slower charge times applied across all major phone brands I tested.
While companies keep upping wireless power levels to reduce charging gaps, efficiency loss across the air prevents wireless from truly competing with speeds from a direct physical connection. I don‘t know about you, but I want my phone charged up as fast as possible – making wired the obvious way to go today.
3. Wireless Charging Wastes Far More Energy
In addition to slower charge times, wireless charging suffers from substantially lower energy efficiency than charging via cable. Power gets lost by wireless transmitters having to blast stronger electromagnetic signals over distance hoping enough reaches your phone.
Let‘s examine findings from recent charging efficiency studies:
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Consumer Reports testing showed wireless charging used 47% more power on average to fully charge phones than wired charging. That leads to noticeably higher electricity costs over time.
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Researchers at the University of Michigan found efficiency losses ranging from 42% to 72% across various wireless power positioning configurations. More distance and misalignment meant huge power waste.
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Apple claims 90% efficiency for MagSafe wireless charging, but their 20W USB-C wired charger tops 94% efficiency – still notably ahead.
So if you care about minimizing charging costs or environmental footprint from technology usage, wireless charging objectively performs far worse than cabled options today in my experience. There are efficiency gains still to be made!
4. Wireless Charging Incompatibility with Protective Phone Cases
Do you keep your phone safe from life‘s scrapes and drops using a rugged case? Then know that wireless charging compatibility gets spotty. The problem is distance – wireless power transmission requires ultrashort air gaps, usually less than 5 mm.
But many tough phone cases exceed 10+ mm thickness, completely absorbing the wireless charging signal. Unless you buy a specialty thin case marketed specifically for wireless charging, you‘ll have to pry off your protective armor just to power up without wires.
In my testing, even cases under 5 mm could be hit and miss depending on material types interfering with power transmission through the case walls. So keeping your phone safe while wirelessly charging remains a tricky balancing act – limiting case options.
5. Tricky Coil Alignment Causes Wireless Charging Grief
Wireless charging depends on meticulous alignment between charging coils in order to work effectively. But receiver coil positioning differs widely across phone models. Charging pads rarely indicate the wireless "sweet spot" you should target to initiate charging.
So without visual alignment guides, charging wirelessly becomes a frustrating game of slide your phone around the pad until charging suddenly starts. Even slight position shifts can break coil contacts – forcing you to repeatedly relocate and check if power is actively transferring.
Tablet charging often gets worse with expanded surface alignment issues. In my experience, positioning receiver coils perfectly on charging pads never feels solid and consistent during use. Compared to the guaranteed connectivity from simply plugging in a cable, dodgy wireless charging coil links remains an adjustment.
6. Wireless Charging Prevents Simultaneous Phone Usage
Wireless chargers transmit power only within tight directional beams. This requires keeping your smartphone completely flat and fixed in place on the charging pad surface for the duration of charging. No moving allowed!
But we don‘t use phones like that – we‘re handling them constantly even while charging. Wireless charging restricts comfortably looking at notifications, using apps, watching media or taking calls while powering up. Whereas adding a wired charging cable still gives you complete flexible usage to work or play while charging anywhere.
Some upright wireless charging docks improve visibility while charging. But functionality still gets limited – you must keep returning your phone to the dock. So if you expect to actively use your phone while charging, wireless pads present a compromised experience.
7. Reliability & Safety Concerns Around No-Name Wireless Chargers
The recent wireless charging craze triggered an avalanche of generic no-name charging pads flooding the market from China manufacturers. Without brand recognition or reputation, build quality and safety validation on these budget accessories becomes questionable.
Alarming reports have surfaced of cheap wireless chargers overheating and damaging phones. For example:
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One Cincinnati tester reported a discount charging pad purchase melting their phone after falling asleep while charging overnight.
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A student‘s "phones explodes" after using a knock-off wireless charging stand.
While accusations fly around working conditions and quality control at major brands like Apple, established companies boast far more safety testing and protection mechanisms than random AliExpress accessory importers. As wireless charging keeps growing, buyers should beware blockbuster deals on untested products.
Smarter Charging Solutions I Recommend Over Wireless Pads
So now that you know the key downsides still holding back wireless charging tech, what are some better solutions for keeping your phone powered? Here are my top charging station recommendations providing both wired speed and maximal convenience:
All-in-One Charging Docks
If your household has multiple devices needing regular charging, then an all-in-one charging station is perfect for consolidating into a single charging hub.
I particularly like the Creative Design 6-Port Charging Station which combines legacy USB-A ports along with future-proof USB-C and Lightning ports for maximizing device compatibility. It can charge up to 6 gadgets simultaneously – phones, tablets, watches, wireless earbuds and more.
The best part is the dock includes all necessary cables already neatly routed and integrated directly into dock ports for each device type. No more tangled messes of loose charging cables everywhere!
Apple Ecosystem Docks
For buyers invested into Apple products like iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods, specialized charging docks tailored specifically for Apple device shapes, ports and charging profiles makes managing multiple device batteries easier.
My favorite is Anker‘s 3-in-1 Apple Charging Station which directly accommodates latest iPhone models along with Apple Watches and wireless earbuds all in one desktop setup. Custom molded slots keep devices positioned ideally for fastest charging while integrated cable routing reduces clutter.
This dock also supports Apple Watch Nightstand mode to function as an alarm clock while charging – making it hugely valuable for bedside phone charging deployment.
Dynamic Charging Stands
Finally, to achieve next-level charging flexibility and visibility, adjustable charging stands are a great evolution over flat pads. Brands like Encased design durable stands with variable height, tilt and rotation options for ergonomic phone positioning at any angle.
Robust USB-C power delivery provides rapid fast charging up to 45 watts. You can conveniently monitor your phone while charging as the stand keeps it propped up and movable. Charging cables integrate and hide within the stand base for clean wire management. If desks and nightstands are where you need charging assistance most, articulating charger stands satisfy well.
No matter your charging needs, solutions exist focused on durability, versatility and charging rates – notably exceeding what current consumer wireless charging gadgets can achieve. Don‘t get hoodwinked by the overpromising hype around dodgy wireless chargers right now. Wait until more technology improvements manifest over the next few years for legitimately compelling cordless charging.
Stay charging savvy mis amigos! Let me know if you have any other charging questions.
Mike the Charging Geek 🤓⚡
