Why Is Wireless Charging So Slow and 5 Ways to Speed It Up

Wireless charging may sound futuristic to many people because it is still not that common. It is not like wired charging as it requires special hardware to implement. Currently, only flagship smartphones may have this feature. However, smartphones with a cheap price tag are devoid of this charging technology to keep overall manufacturing costs low. Despite this, wireless charging is still fast developing and wireless chargers are more and more popular. Doesn’t this question bother you? Let’s learn why is wireless charging so slow but still welcomed today in this article. 

Why Is Wireless Charging So Slow?

Is wireless charging slow? To answer this question, you need to know how wireless charging works. The setup includes a coil of copper wire in both the charging pad/station and your phone. The charging pad coil is much larger than the coil in your smartphone. When current passes through the charging pad at the required voltage, its coil converts it into a magnetic field of some intensity. When you place your phone on this charging pad, the magnetic effect of the charging pad causes an electric current to flow through the smaller coil of your phone.

The current thus generated is supplied to the battery and stored as charge. The wireless charging process with most wireless chargers can only output a maximum of 15 watts, which is why it is slower compared to wired charging. However, Qi as the most popular wireless charging standard is providing a max limit of 30W which will enable the smartphone to be charged from 0 to 50% in about half an hour. This will be very significant progress for Qi wireless charging. Besides, some branded phone manufacturers like OnePlus are also providing high-wattage wireless chargers so as to speed up the charging process.

How To Solve The Problem?

To fix the problem of wireless charging slowly, please follow the tips below.

1. Charging the right way: When using a wireless charger, place your smartphone correctly on it. Improper placement prevents your phone from charging the battery. If the wireless charger is a charging dock, the phone must not tilt, as this results in slow charging.

2. Avoid phone cases: Although silicon phone cases up to 3mm thick do not largely affect wireless charging. However, it is still better to remove them from your phone while charging for fast heat dissipation.
3. Limit background apps: If your phone has too many apps running in the background, it can slow down charging. Set the phone to flight mode or turn it off when charging and save the battery from unnecessary discharge cycles.

4. Invest in a fast wireless charger: The wireless chargers that come with your smartphone may only provide 10 to 15 watts of power output. That much power is not enough to charge the battery fast enough. Depending on your phone manufacturer, you can buy wireless chargers with power outputs of up to 50 watts. But remember that they are expensive in comparison to wired chargers.

Wireless Charging Vs Wired - Pros And Cons

Let’s see the advantages and disadvantages of wireless and wired charging from the following aspects:

1. Wear and tear:Wireless charging does not require physical contact with a power source, so it avoids wear and tear often associated with traditional wired connections due to plugging and unplugging time and time again.

2. Convenience:Wireless charging can be done at any convenient location without searching for an outlet or plug-in cords. While wired charging is more used when you can easily find an electrical outlet.

3. Simultaneous Charging:Anker wireless chargersand many more offer simultaneous charging. For example, Anker’s 3-in-1 models can simultaneously charge a smartphone, smartwatch, and earbuds like AirPods. On the contrary, wired wall chargers can charge one device only at a time.

4. Safety and health:In case of a short circuit in wired charging, the cables may heat up and catch fire. With wireless charging, risks such as these do not exist. Since there is no risk of insulation failure, current leakage, and corrosion of the charging ports, wireless charging is a much safer option than traditional wired charging methods.

5. Speed:Is wireless charging slower? Wireless charging is slower compared to traditional wired methods. Wired charging is already topping its output at 100 watts. Reports also suggest that within a few months, this can further go beyond 200 watts. That humongous power output can charge a phone in a matter of minutes. This is something that wireless charging can’t do currently with its 30 watts output.

6. Price:Wireless charging is usually not a part of the standard smartphone package. So it needs to be purchased separately. And Wireless chargers are often more expensive than wired chargers which can be a concern for some people.

Conclusion

If you want convenience while charging your smartphone, then you can go with wireless charging technology. But remember that wireless charging is still not mature enough to replace traditional wired charging. Looking forward to faster development of wireless charging so that we can enjoy more convenience in the near future.

FAQ about Why is Wireless Charging So Slow

How Long Should Wireless Charging Take?

Generally speaking, it usually takes about 3-4 hours to charge a smartphone from 0 to 100% using a basic wireless charger with a power rating of 10 to 15 watts. However, this also depends on factors like the battery capacity, the wattage of the wireless chargers, the distance between the charging pad and your device, etc. In addition, newer appliances tend to support faster charging rates than older models.

Can Slow Wireless Charging Damage the Battery?

No! It is safe to charge your device using a slow wireless charger and it will not damage the battery. In fact, using a wireless charger with a relatively higher power rating (18W or more) like Anker wireless charger can reduce the aging of the battery through faster and more efficient charging. However, never use cheap off-brand wireless chargers without following Qi or other wireless standards, which may damage phones.

Should I Avoid Wireless Charging?

It is up to you whether you want to use or avoid it. Busier people want to spend much less time charging their phones. Wireless charging may not be for such a class of emergent users. However, wireless charging comes in handy if you don't take a wall charger or want to charge multiple devices simultaneously to save time. So you can give it a shot if your phone supports it and you can afford fast wireless chargers.