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Pros and Cons of Wireless Charging a Crucial Issue For Smartphone Users

As of now, there are more than two billion smartphone users worldwide, and the figure is going to jump into another two billion very shortly, while the reasons behind such prevalence are not difficult to assess.

With a Smartphone you can do everything at once, including receive calls, check your calendar while you watch videos in Media Player, or while you sync your device with others, and all this without interrupting any of the tasks. In short, it is nothing less than a computer, where you can open windows and work on all simultaneously. However, its Achilles ’ heel lies in its charging process that may often make you fumble with wires after reaching home, finishing a day’s hard work.

However, with innovative wireless charging system introduced by Apple, even this disagreeable chore seems to have become simpler. In fact, all you need to do for charging the battery of your phone boils down to leaving your device on top of the charging pad and then forget about it.

Although there are a few different wireless charging methods, this post focuses  on Qi charging (as Apple is adopting this process). Qi utilizes inductive charging technology, which is rather easy to set up. Despite its commercial popularity (it’s used by thousands of public locations worldwide in hotels, airports, restaurants, manufacturers, etc.) one question that consumers and industry experts are asking now as to how wireless charging will affect a device’s battery. 

What The Industry Experts Say

Industry experts say it’s a bad idea to keep your phone fully charged all the time, regardless of using wired or wireless charging. Although you can’t overcharge a smartphone battery, keeping its power levels at the maximum 100% will hasten its death. The best way to explain the charging process revolves round the fact that a cellphone’s lithium-ion battery charges by passing ions between a positive and negative electrode. The positive electrode releases lithium ions that move to the negative electrode, which are stored as energy. While the battery discharges, ions move back to the positive side, which creates electricity. The electrolyte serving as a medium for the ongoing exchange of ions degrades as time progresses. In addition, the more the battery is charged; the electrolyte mentioned earlier degrades faster, a situation that is the same for both wired and wireless charging. 

Some Firmly Believes That Wireless Charging Will Hasten The Death of Smartphone Battery

Some believe wireless charging can hasten the decline of a smartphone battery, and the inductive coils used in wireless charging make use of the lithium-ion battery to make sure the phone stays on while placed on the charging pad. When it comes to wired charging however, this responsibility is shifted on to the cord. For industry experts however, there is concern that while the battery may normally decrease as the number for the recharge cycle boosts, battery lifetime experiences a four-time increase when the amount of battery drained, is held at about 50 percent. Ideally, if you don’t let your smartphone go down below 50% and top the battery life off throughout the day, your battery may last longer.

Incidental Benefits of Wireless Charging

While there is no tangible proof that wireless charging will degrade your smartphone battery, there are quite a few tangible benefits that accrue out of wireless charging. For example:

  • It reduces wear and tear on the charging port, that often requires  repairing or replacement of port
  • The same is applicable with the charging device
  • Hassle free charging all the time.

To be honest about it, wired or wireless charging makes very little or no impact on the smartphone battery. The battery will, however, last longer if you follow the simple rule: (a) Doi not keep it fully charged all the while; (b) Do not let it discharge fully any time.