Wired vs Wireless charging: Pros and cons, tips on how best to charge your smartphone

Back in the day, charging your phone was something you didn’t have to do very often; some devices could run for days at a stretch. Charging itself usually took a few hours, and we’d usually leave our phones plugged into the charger overnight so we weren’t too hassled by it being tethered for so long. Things have changed a lot since then, with modern smartphones typically needing to be charged every day (sometimes multiple times a day), because of how much more capable and powerful our devices have become.

Of course, we can’t keep our phones plugged in for so many hours a day if we have to charge so often, and fast charging solutions have become a popular feature on new smartphones as a result. In addition, there’s also the convenience of wireless charging, which itself is now capable of achieving rapid charging speeds. If you’re confused about the best way to charge your smartphone, take a look at the various pros and cons of wired and wireless charging, which will help you figure out how to go about it.

Pros of wired charging

Faster: Wired charging offers the fastest charging speeds, especially when using the ideal charging adapter and cable with your smartphone. Many premium smartphones are now capable of getting charged up completely in less than an hour when used with wired charging solutions.

More reliable: Not only is wired charging more efficient in delivering the charge without much loss, but it’s also less susceptible to issues such as positioning and alignment. Once plugged in, you’re usually assured of your phone charging up to the desired level in the promised timeframe.

Affordable: Wired charging solutions are usually much more cost-effective for users. Many smartphones come with the right wired charging adapter and cable in the box, and even aftermarket accessories such as multi-port wired chargers typically cost a lot less than wireless charging systems.

Cons of wired charging

Susceptible to damage: The wired charging accessories are typically more susceptible to wear-and-tear, such as bending and breaking of cables, or overheating and damage caused by power surges to the adapter. 

Inconvenience: Wired charging means that your smartphone needs to be connected using cables, which creates clutter. Additionally, you need to be a bit more careful and precise when plugging in or removing the smartphone from the charger.

Pros of wireless charging

Convenience: Wireless chargers offer convenience when charging, since you simply need to place the smartphone onto the charging pad. Similarly, taking it off is as easy as lifting it, and you don’t need to worry about cables and precision when using it. This can come in handy in certain spaces, such as when charging in a car or with a power bank while on the move.

Ease of use: It’s a lot quicker to use a wireless charger, and the lack of cables reduces the clutter as well. Magnetic wireless charging solutions also offer a secure grip on your smartphone while charging, making it useful for use with charging mounts, where you might be able to use the phone easily while it is being charged.

Cons of wireless charging

Slower: Wireless charging is a lot slower than wired charging, and your smartphone will take longer to charge fully as compared to using the wired charging solution. Additionally, placement issues might mean that your smartphone does not charge when you think it should, thus further delaying the process.

Battery health: Wireless charging is known to cause greater wear-and-tear on the battery of the smartphone, and over time, you’ll find the battery efficiency and health reducing with frequent wireless charging. Hence, it’s recommended to charge wirelessly only occasionally, rather than all the time.

Expensive: Wireless charging accessories are typically priced higher than wired adapters and cables. They are also usually optional extras, and aren’t included with the smartphone, as is the case with wired charging adapters and cables.