Picking up a new phone charger these days is no easy task. Between buzzwords like ‘Qi2-enabled’ and ‘Omnicharge,’ it’s hard to tell which charger and charging method are actually right for your phone and lifestyle. Get the answers you’ve been looking for with this quick guide.
What’s The Difference Between Wireless Charging and Fast Charging?
Wireless charging has improved leaps and bounds since Apple CEO Tim Cook mentioned it as an afterthought in his 2014 keynote. Many experts considered the new technology to be a mere gimmick. Today, research analysts from top firms expect “the market will top $200 billion within 10 years,” up from $17 billion in 2021.
The driving force behind that growth is simplicity and universality. Wireless charging involves three simple components:
- Your phone’s receiver coil.
- The charging pad/station.
- The power source your charging station is connected to.
Placing your phone on the charging pad allows current to flow and creates a magnetic field, charging your phone. This process was fairly slow when it was first introduced, with some devices charging at a mere 5W. Today’s Qi2-enabled wireless chargers can deliver well over 15W, powering phones up at record speeds.
Fast charging, on the other hand, usually refers to standard wire-based charging. The only difference between old-school wired charging and fast charging is that the latter provides significantly higher power delivery to your phone (assuming it supports higher wattages).
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Which Charging Type is Better For My Phone?
‘Better’ is a big word. For some, longevity is the highest priority, while others prize speed above all else.
Longevity
Longevity is usually consumers’ biggest concern when it comes to both fast and wireless charging, and it’s easy to see why.
- Fast charging can deliver up to and even beyond 120W of power to compatible phones like the OnePlus lineup. However, this also means certain phones naturally heat up quickly while charging.
- Certain higher-wattage wireless chargers can also heat up phones. For example, Androids like Samsung’s S22 were notorious for heating issues during wireless charging.
Why does heat matter? Heat degrades batteries quicker than almost any other external factor, which, on paper, could shorten your phone’s longevity.
In practice, you likely don’t have anything to worry about. Modern phones come with built-in safeguards against overheating and overcharging, whether you’re using a wire or going wireless. iPhones will even turn off automatically if they get too hot. That said, wireless chargers deliver less power and heat your battery less in the long term.
Speed
Fast charging is still unbeatable in this department. Qi3 is still in the concept stages, and Qi2, the current most advanced wireless charging standard, only supports up to 15W of power for most phones. In comparison, you can get 27W fast charging on an iPhone 15, and over 80W with a OnePlus 13.
As a consumer, that directly translates to an incredible reduction in charging times. You can fully charge the latest iPhones in under an hour with the official 27W adapter, while wireless charging with a standard MagSafe pad might take you over 80 minutes.
Note that buying a more powerful, unofficial wireless charger will not give you faster charging speeds, since iPhones can only receive a maximum of 15W.
Convenience
This is another area where wireless charging excels. You might not have the lightning-fast speed of fast charging, but wireless charging technologies like MagSafe open a whole new realm of possibilities if convenience is a top priority for you. For example:
- You can use MagSafe-enabled phone case batteries to wirelessly charge your phone on the go and protect it from most typical falls.
- MagSafe-enabled car mounts can charge your phone during long road trips and double as reliable, stylish phone holders.
- Multi-device chargers are the ultimate convenience for power users who cycle through multiple devices daily, charging their phones, watches, and headphones simultaneously.
Picking The Right Charger
Now that we understand the unique advantages and disadvantages of each charging type, let’s turn our attention to the real question: which charging method is best for your phone?
- For the Power Users: If you’re on a set routine, you already know how long you’re going to be out traveling, and you have absolutely no time to spare before or after work, go with a standard fast charger. These chargers are perfect for those single-device power users who need to power up their phone as quickly as possible before work.
That said, you can’t go wrong with a wireless charging-enabled accessory like a power pack, even if you’re relying mostly on a fast charger. These accessories can be a massive help in emergencies. - For Everyone Else: For everyone else, wireless charging most likely offers the best possible balance between speed and convenience. If you can set aside an hour to charge your devices before heading out, a reliable wireless charger will allow you to juice up your phone, headphones, and watch all in one go.
Before You Buy
Before locking in your fast or wireless charger, remember to only stick with trusted brands. You don’t necessarily have to buy an official Apple charger here; in fact, many third-party brands offer chargers with additional features that are much sturdier than first-party products.
Welcome To The 100% League
Ready to charge your phone in style? Now that you know how wireless charging works and how it differs from your standard fast charging, all that’s left to do is find the right charging station for you. Consider your lifestyle and stick with trusted brands to keep your phone healthy in the long run.
