Wired is more efficient, you can pick it up and use it while charging, and the cable usually comes free with the phone. What is the point of wireless charging pads?

  • flop_leash_973@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    I just like being able to walk by the nightstand and have the phone “lock” to the charging pad when I lay it down.

    In my car it is a lot more convenient than a charging cradle for being able to use turn by turn while driving.

  • dukeofdummies@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    Admittedly, charging ports are the first to break on any electronic unless it has a joystick. Wireless charging is a lot more robust, more water resistant, and allows you to do sleek shit without a weird hole in it

  • T156@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    On my S5, there’s a little flap that you had to open and close to maintain the IP67 rating. Constantly opening and closing it was a recipe to breaking it off, where wireless didn’t put that kind of wear in.

    With my newer phone, it’s easier to keep the cable with a battery pack to charge when out and about, and charge wirelessly at home, since I generally don’t need it done with any great speed, and it saves having to buy/replace another cable, or forgetting to unpack and take it with me.

    Qi charging is also pretty standard, which is also good if I have a few devices with different cable needs, but mutually support the same wireless charging standard, since I can put an iPhone and an android on the same pad, without having to swap cables back and forth.

  • 46_and_2@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    I bought a wireless magnetic battery recently, and what quickly turned me off was that it charges at ~2/3rd efficiency (so effectively I have only 2/3rds of my powerbank capacity) and speed compared to its wired mode, even though it’s fast wireless and a solid brand and build. Also heats up my phone battery way more, so I just snap it to my phone and use the short and unobtrusive usb-c cable to charge it instead.

    Now, if I was changing phones every year or two and I didn’t care about keeping its battery life - sure, I’d use the wireless charging without worries, although it will still be slightly slower than wired (but still fast charging anyway).

  • randombullet@programming.dev
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    3 days ago

    I travel on the go often, wireless charging is too inefficient for me. I’d rather charge with my PD battery pack.

    Another point, I use my PD pack to charge everything from my phone, drone, camera, to my laptop, ear buds.

    Most of those don’t have a wireless charger so I just stick to wired PD charging.

  • aturtlesdream@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    I have a wireless charger by my bed for charging overnight, it’s easier to just plop my phone on the stand when half asleep rather than fumble with a cable. Also, charging speed doesn’t matter because it’s going to be plugged in for a few hours when I and it’s easy to grab when my alarm goes off. But when I need a quick charge, then it’s a fast charge cable all the way

  • Krudler@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    I know people love these and I’m not going to go and break anyone’s balls but the reality is, because it is inductive charging you will never get clean voltage

    Anything electronic, it really doesn’t matter what it is, is going to suffer basically the equivalent of “mechanical damage” when powered/charged with unstable current

    An inductive charging is always going to be highly unstable, there’s no way around that

    Anybody who tries to tell you different just doesn’t understand that this is a real thing, and yeah, really nobody should ever use wireless charging unless they’re willing to accept continual device (battery) damage

    • oppy1984@lemm.ee
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      4 days ago

      I get what you’re saying but as a counterpoint I charge exclusively via wireless and my last phone lasted 4 1/2 years. The only reason I replaced it was my friends kid was playing a game on my phone and dropped and it got damaged. It was running just fine right up to the end.

      Maybe it’s because I only use low power wireless chargers, or maybe it’s something with Samsung’s wireless charging controller. Who knows.

      • Krudler@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        That’s not a counterpoint, you’re just describing that you had a battery that was okay for 4 years

        It doesn’t say anything really I’m sorry friend

    • friend_of_satan@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      Can you explain why it’s not possible to stabilize the voltage on the receiving side before the power is sent to the battery?

      • Krudler@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        That can be done but the voltage that it receives is variable so that’s causing damage. Which ripples down the chain, it’s not avoidable no matter how much you put in capacitors and diodes

        It’s really just an unavoidable aspect of electricity, people think of it as magic fairies floating through wires but really it’s like ropes pulling on things, and just like mechanical things, ripples and vibrations fk things up!

        If you’re really want to get down to it, electricity is destroying things by its very flow. But you want to reduce the unwanted harmonics as much as possible and wireless is not the way to go

  • DrFistington@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    I’ve noticed that with the varying quality of USB cables, and them having broken/cracked wires over time, I usually get much faster charging when doing it wirelessly. If anything is way more consistent. With cords it’s a crap shot. Is this a fast charge cord? Was it cheaply made, is it deteriorating? I can use 4 different cords and get different results from each

    • batmaniam@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      Similar. I got a vehicle that had android auto, but not wireless. Plugging and unplugging all the time I’d go through a cable every few months. Power would work, but the shielding would break and it would screw with cell/GPS until I replaced the cable.

      Got a wireless android auto adapter to stop buying cables. That’s great but I knew I wouldn’t plug in my phone every time like normal, so I use the wireless charging.

  • TootSweet@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    Probably if you’re too lazy to grab a cord, line it up with the plug, and press gently but firmly. With wireless, you can just lob it vaguely in the right vicinity and not overstrain your fine motor skills.

  • Tahl_eN@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    I use one in my car - it’s more convienet for short trips or trips with multiple stops. I do keep a cable for longer trips though, especially if I need to keep the screen on for GPS - the wireless charger makes the phone warm enough to stop charging over the course of an hour or so.

  • kn33@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    My port isn’t worn out, but I’m worried it will become that way. I also don’t need it to charge at full speed overnight. Therefore, wireless charger.

    • ReanuKeeves@lemm.eeOP
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      4 days ago

      I feel like I’ve been a usb c my whole life and I just want to be someone’s puck

  • cheese_greater@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    They’re very convient, I use them for the phones, airpods, battery phone cases (airpods cases even with a silicon skin still on much less). Just nice to be able to leave your device on them while running them and know they won’t die out

  • ILikeTraaaains@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    Mainly it is convenience of not having to lug a cable and I have a bit of fear of breaking the interior of the usb-c, it feels fragile to me.

    I have an iPhone with MagSafe, so I can use it while charging.

    Using a charging pad without MagSafe and cannot use the phone while charging can also be a plus for some people, it forces you to not being constantly on the phone.