Though wireless charging has existed for some time, it is not widespread for a few important reasons. First and foremost is that many believe wireless charging is slower than plugging in their device, though that perception is beginning to change. As wireless charging technology continues to advance, the speed at which it charges your phone is beginning to match that of the typical plugin adapter.
Why is My Phone Charging Slowly on a Wireless Charger?
1. Background Activity: Running multiple apps or having background processes can consume power, reducing the charging speed.
2. Case Interference: Phone cases, especially thick or metal ones, can interfere with wireless charging.
3. Charger Output: Different wireless chargers have varying power outputs (measured in watts). If your charger has a lower output, it will charge your phone more slowly.
4. Old Battery: As batteries age, their ability to hold and receive charge diminishes. If your phone's battery is old, it may charge more slowly, regardless of the charging method.
How Fast Can Wireless Charging Be?
Fast wireless charging, as its name implies, is faster than standard 5 Watt wireless chargers. The majority of smartphones in today’s market only support wireless charging below 20 Watts. The iPhone supports 7.5 Watts while the Samsung Galaxy/Note devices support 10-15 watts and most other devices are below 10W. For this reason, a 10W wireless charger is an optimal choice for most iPhone and Android models at this time.
Some devices can now support up to 30 Watt wireless charging, but wireless chargers of this speed are much more expensive than their slower counterparts. It is only when both your phone and your charger support up to 30 Watt fast charging that you can charge from 0% to 50% in just 29 minutes.
How Do I Speed Up Wireless Charging on My iPhone?
Here are some tips to speed up your fast wireless charging experience:
1. Power off the device or use Airplane Mode
Whether you are charging with a wire or wirelessly, turning off your phone or putting it in Airplane Mode will speed up the process. If this is not an option, you should at least use your phone as little as possible during this time: this means no scrolling through Instagram or other more nefarious activities. This is because the less power your phone consumes, the less power it requires from the external power source.
2. Close background apps
If disengaging entirely is not an option, you should at least close any apps running in the background to speed up the charging process. Keep in mind that most apps stay active in the background even you exit them and they continue to consume power to maintain basic operation. Worse still, there are some apps that cause abnormal charging, so don’t forget to delete some of your less useful apps and clear your cache on a regular basis.
3. Remove the phone case
The less interference between your phone and the wireless charger, the better. Most phone cases are made from metal or plastic. Thick or metal cases may slow down the charging process, so be sure to take off the case before putting it down on a wireless charger. For a case that you won’t impede wireless charging, check out the PITAKA phone cases.
4. Upgrade your battery
Your phone’s battery ages with use. Over time you’ll notice it doesn’t hold the charge as long as it did when it was new. If your phone is two years old or older, consider replacing the battery if problems begin to occur. Apps such as Battery Health on iOS help you to determine the maximum capacity and peak performance capability of your device, which are good indicators for the health of your battery and how long it will last.
Normal Wireless Charging Can Be A Good Thing
Technological advances are making wireless charging faster than ever before. With this in mind, here are some key ways wireless charging can improve your life.
No fiddling with cables
Wireless charging has an advantage over wired charging: cable-free convenience. You don’t have to plug and unplug a cable every time you need to charge your phone and what’s more, you don’t have to look for specific types of replacement cables. This saves you time and money.
Wireless charging helps you stay organized
Qi wireless chargers are compatible with all Qi smartphones, which represents nearly all wireless charging phones in today’s market. This eliminates messy adapters and cables, making organizing your workspace a breeze. This is particularly true with multi-device wireless chargers that allow you to charge two or more devices simultaneously.
The Air Omni Lite by PITAKA is a 6-in-1 wireless charging station for multiple devices and maybe the last charger you’ll ever need. It supports 7.5W and 10W fast wireless charging, depending on your device and can support 18W QC/PD fast wired charging as well. When you are in a hurry, just quickly swap from wireless charging to wired for spectacular results.
Wireless charging can happen anywhere anytime
Fast or slow, is a relative concept. Imagine if you need to leave in 10 minutes but your phone is only at 10%. What you can do? Use a fast charger or charge on the go.
The MagEZ Slider by PITAKA is one of the best portable wireless chargers to charge on the go and at home.
The magnetic wireless charger for multiple devices consists of a wireless charging base and a battery pack. When you are at home or the office, snap your phone to the base to form a wireless charging stand while you focus on your work. So when you finish your work, your phone will be ready. If it's not? Don't worry, simply slide the magnetic wireless charging battery pack and your phone out from the base, then you can charge on the go. If you can literally charge anywhere anytime, how fast the charging is is no longer an issue.
Conclusion
Thanks to technological advances, wireless charging is faster than ever before. Get yourself a fast wireless charger or get a portable wireless charger, and follow the tips above, then you’ll never have to worry again.
