How do I choose between wired and wireless charging for my iPhone?

mitsguy2001 wrote:

Thank you. How exactly is wireless more convenient? If you have to use the phone while charging, isn't it easier to just have a cable connecting it to a charger via the USB port, rather than having to place it on a wireless charger? The wireless charger isn't really wireless, since it still has to be plugged into the wall. Seems I am missing something.

In any case, I don't think Apple makes a wireless charger. Is there one that you recommend, or should I not bother?

Yes they do; it’s called a MagSafe charger.

Also, is there a portable charger that you recommend for the iPhone 16? Thank you.

Anker, Griffin and any other certified as Made for iPhone.

An interesting, often ignored fact: Wired charging is “greener;” Wireless charging uses more energy in the charging process than wired, because there is some inefficiency in the wireless energy transfer. You can see this in Apple’s guidance to use a 20 watt power source for wired charging or a 30 watt for MagSafe charging.

mitsguy2001 wrote:

I must be missing something, since I thought wireless chargers had a cord too, since they have to be plugged into the wall.

Wireless chargers, such as the one Lawrence and I mentioned, have to be plugged into the wall. The "wireless" part is that no wires are plugged into the phone. Apple's Magsafe chargers hold the phone to the charger with a magnet. This allows for things like charging the phone on its edge so that you can see the screen. It also means that there is no wear and tear on the port.

"Portable chargers", also called battery packs, external batteries, etc, do not have to be plugged into the wall at the time you are using them to charge the phone. However, they themselves need to be plugged into a wall to be charged up.

I like wireless chargers because I need glasses for close work. And that includes seeing where the cord plugs into the phone. Sticking it to the charger is much easier for me. I also have one in my car that I like a lot. It attaches to my vent clip (and has a cable to the DC power port) but when I get into the car, I just put the phone against the charger. It is in the perfect position for navigation. When I get out of the car, I grab it. No fumbling with unplugging it. (I have an old car without CarPlay.)

mitsguy2001 wrote:

Thank you. Sounds like there may be some good reasons to switch to wireless charging. Is damage to the charging port a common problem? Does wireless charging damage the battery?

Wireless charging does not damage the battery. I’ve never had a port fail, but if you carry the phone in your pocket where it can pick up the cruft at the bottom of everyone’s pocket that can clog the port.

Whether wired or wireless, there is an option to charge to less than 100%. I currently have it set to 100%. What do you recommend setting it to?

Thank you.

You should enable Optimized Charging, and charge overnight with the phone powered on. You should also enable automatic backups, so you will have a current backup in case of disaster.

mitsguy2001 wrote:

Thank you. How exactly is wireless more convenient? If you have to use the phone while charging, isn't it easier to just have a cable connecting it to a charger via the USB port, rather than having to place it on a wireless charger?

It's a matter of personal preference. I primarily use wireless chargers because they are easier than plugging and unplugging a cable. If I need to use the phone, I pick it up. I don't have to worry about the cord. When I'm done, I put it back. Note that I almost never run my battery down far enough for their to be an issue.

In any case, I don't think Apple makes a wireless charger. Is there one that you recommend, or should I not bother?

Apple absolutely does make a wireless charger:

MagSafe Charger (1 m) - Apple

I happen to use one by Belkin because I like the little kickstand.

Belkin Wireless Charger (Amazon)

Also, is there a portable charger that you recommend for the iPhone 16? Thank you.

I've used ones by Mophie for years and liked them. You might also look at Anker.

In terms of the phone, battery, etc they are the same - the phone manages the way it charges to optimise battery in line with the way you use it. Minor advantages/disadvantages: no risk of damage or wear to phone USB port with wireless; wireless gets warmer than wired; wireless is more convenient at home.

mitsguy2001 wrote:

Is damage to the charging port a common problem?

It's not common but it happens. As Lawrence noted, a bigger problem is getting lint in the port. That will prevent a cable from making a proper connection. It's quite possible to fix that yourself but it's an annoying process.

Whether wired or wireless, there is an option to charge to less than 100%. I currently have it set to 100%. What do you recommend setting it to?

I have optimized charging turned on. I see no need to change the charging level to less than 100%. I remain convinced that Apple added those features to give the people who like to micromanage their batteries something to keep them occupied. I want my battery to be fully charged in the morning when I take it off the charger.

I'm not trying to be unkind but I think you're really overthinking this. It's not as if you have to choose wired or wireless and never use the other. I prefer wireless charging for a number of reasons. However, last night, I planned on using my phone (yes, to play a game) for a while before I went to bed. It was running low so I plugged it in to the charger that was downstairs rather than taking it upstairs to the wireless charger. Laziness often dictates actions.

I'm pretty agnostic when it comes to charging my AirPod Pros. If I'm near a wireless charger when they need to be charged and it's not occupied by my phone, I'll use that. If a cable is more convenient, I use that.

If wired charging is working for you and you don't want to spend the money on another charger in order to get the wireless option, that's fine. If you really like the idea of wireless charging and the extra money is burning a whole in your pocket, go for it. Your phone will be fine regardless of which you choose.

Whatever. Just try to minimise cable connection unless you really have to.

I have offered advice from a personal experience, please take it gracefully without putting up barriers based on details you failed to give in the original question.

Good luck.

mitsguy2001 wrote:

I didn’t think the battery could be replaced.

Ah, no the battery can be replaced at an Apple store or other Authorized Apple Service Providers, such as Best Buy or Microcenter, usually while you wait→iPhone Battery Replacement - Official Apple Support

An iPhone 16 battery will last at least 3 years; these are newer batteries with 1,000 cycle life (compared with iOS 14 and earlier phones, which were 500 cycles).

And even if it doesn’t you can get it replaced at any Apple store, usually while you wait.

There is very little you can do to damage an iPhone battery; about the only thing that will reduce the useful life is to routinely use the phone until it goes to zero and shuts down, and not recharge it immediately.

mitsguy2001 wrote:

The main reason I'm asking ("overthinking", as you say) is because my batteries seem to go bad before everybody else's battery goes bad. I need this new phone to work well for at least 3 years.

The expected life of a battery is about two years. Unless you are doing something terrible to the phone like leaving it in a hot car in the sun in the summer, there isn't a huge amount you can do to affect the lifespan. Use optimized charging.

Remember, just because the battery is no longer good, that doesn't mean you need to buy a new phone. Just getting the battery replaced. It's about $100, and the phone will be good for quite a while longer.

Assuming you have enabled Allow Siri While Locked, Siri will respond when the phone is locked to any request that does not require accessing private data on your phone. Which means you can say “Siri, what’s today’s weather”, or "Siri, read my text messages” but the phone will have to be unlocked for; “Siri, Call my brother”, because Siri cannot access your contacts while the iPhone is locked. You can keep the phone unlocked by just running an app that uses the screen full time, like a navigation app (which serves the double purpose of also showing where you are).

mitsguy2001 wrote:

But then I don't know how to actually use it without unlocking the phone, regardless of settings.

You use it exactly the same way you do when it's not locked. There are a couple of things you still have to unlock for. I can't recall exactly what they are but they aren't things you should be doing while driving.

I don't have Spotify, since it doesn't work with my car at all.

Spotify was just an example of a music service that wasn't Apple's Music. You mentioned Pandora which I haven't used in years so I have no experience with using it with Siri.

My understanding, at least back when I bought my car, is that Spotify was for teenage girls who were too young to drive at the time.

Hopefully, now that you're older and wiser, you are also less judgemental.

mitsguy2001 wrote:

Thank you. How exactly is wireless more convenient? If you have to use the phone while charging, isn't it easier to just have a cable connecting it to a charger via the USB port, rather than having to place it on a wireless charger? The wireless charger isn't really wireless, since it still has to be plugged into the wall. Seems I am missing something.

In any case, I don't think Apple makes a wireless charger. Is there one that you recommend, or should I not bother?

Also, is there a portable charger that you recommend for the iPhone 16? Thank you.

It's more convenient for me cos I just put the phone on the wireless charger when I go to bed and it's charged when I get up. Any QI certified charger works.

I must be missing something, since I thought wireless chargers had a cord too, since they have to be plugged into the wall.

Of course a wireless charger must be connected to a wall socket. How else could it provide power to another device like an iPhone?

There is no cable that connects from the charger to the phone to charge the phone. This saves wear and tear on both the cable and the charging port on the iPhone. I had to have the charging port on an iPhone replaced because of wear and tear a few years ago, and the cost exceeded $200.

I don't have to worry about this happening on my new iPhone, because the phone charges without using a cable from the charger to the iPhone.

So for me, "wireless charging" is the way to go. But, it might not be the way to go for you.

Now, you have all the information that you need to make your decision.