Who cares about wireless charging

[Ghost31]

So can someone clear this up for me? The only difference in usability for me as a consumer will be that I don't have to stick a cord into my phone to charge? Or are we talking some long distance charging where I could be near a wall but not like super closer to an outlet? Cause it seems to me if my phone has to be on a charging pad to charge, it's even LESS useful since I can't hold it comfortably while charging.

But I may be wrong.

 

[walds11]

So can someone clear this up for me? The only difference in usability for me as a consumer will be that I don't have to stick a cord into my phone to charge? Or are we talking some long distance charging where I could be near a wall but not like super closer to an outlet? Cause it seems to me if my phone has to be on a charging pad to charge, it's even LESS useful since I can't hold it comfortably while charging.

But I may be wrong.

You may be on to something!

Also, what's this thing going to cost?

 

[AsherN]

So can someone clear this up for me? The only difference in usability for me as a consumer will be that I don't have to stick a cord into my phone to charge? Or are we talking some long distance charging where I could be near a wall but not like super closer to an outlet? Cause it seems to me if my phone has to be on a charging pad to charge, it's even LESS useful since I can't hold it comfortably while charging.

But I may be wrong.

It's convenient. At home, it means not fumbling in the dark. At work, right now I don't charge my phone because of the cable. I put it down on my desk and pick it up when I leave my desk. A charging pad would help.

 

[PortableLover]

If we going to inductive charging thtough a pad, what is the point? A cable would do the same job.

Now if it was truly wireless.. that'd be something that would be useful. Imagine just walking around with your phone, talking to someone, while the phone charges. Not bound to any cable or pad, that would be something id like.

 

[Macalway]

The charging pad is for overnight also.

How many of you make a habit of pugging it in overnight? Personally, I haven't done this in 5 years

 

[sean000]

If we going to inductive charging thtough a pad, what is the point? A cable would do the same job.

Now if it was truly wireless.. that'd be something that would be useful. Imagine just walking around with your phone, talking to someone, while the phone charges. Not bound to any cable or pad, that would be something id like.

I don't know... I've cursed my lightning cable many times as I fumble to plug my iPhone 6 in to charge after I've turned the lights out. A charging pad would be more convenient, assuming I can find that in the dark

Clearly this is a convenience feature that some will find more helpful than others. I can think of several ways it would be convenient for me:

• Charging in the dark (as long as I remember where the pad is)
• Charging the iPhone while listening to headphones/ear-buds that are using the lightning port... without having to purchase and fiddle with a lightning port splitter. (although I may get the AirPods, which will make this moot)
• Frequent top-off charges during the day. This may not be a concern with the iPhone 7+ or the iPhone 8, but my iPhone 6 requires some topping off during the day. It would be convening to have a charging pad on my desk so I can just plop it down to charge and then pick it up when I need to leave my desk.

As far as new features go, it's hard to get too excited about this one. I expect it to be convenient, but it might prove to be even more convenient than I imagine. Touch ID was like that for me. I wasn't that excited about it, but once I had it I thought it was fantastic (even though it refuses to work with my left thumb, or with a wet thumb).

Sean

 

[jlseattle]

I don't know... I've cursed my lightning cable many times as I fumble to plug my iPhone 6 in to charge after I've turned the lights out. A charging pad would be more convenient, assuming I can find that in the dark

Clearly this is a convenience feature that some will find more helpful than others. I can think of several ways it would be convenient for me:

• Charging in the dark (as long as I remember where the pad is)
• Charging the iPhone while listening to headphones/ear-buds that are using the lightning port... without having to purchase and fiddle with a lightning port splitter. (although I may get the AirPods, which will make this moot)
• Frequent top-off charges during the day. This may not be a concern with the iPhone 7+ or the iPhone 8, but my iPhone 6 requires some topping off during the day. It would be convening to have a charging pad on my desk so I can just plop it down to charge and then pick it up when I need to leave my desk.

As far as new features go, it's hard to get too excited about this one. I expect it to be convenient, but it might prove to be even more convenient than I imagine. Touch ID was like that for me. I wasn't that excited about it, but once I had it I thought it was fantastic (even though it refuses to work with my left thumb, or with a wet thumb).

Sean

I have that with the Apple watch. Because it has the grooved back it makes it easier "find" the charger in the dark but it's just as difficult as the cable for me.

 

[SmugMaverick]

I have a qi pad from an old lumia that it came with, No way will I buy a pad if it's not even fast.

I only care about fast charging anyway, the new models better have it or I will scream.

Lightning to USB-C fast charging will do just dandy for me.

 

[Jayson A]

I didn't care about wireless charging until I got a phone with it (S8) but I've found it incredibly useful.

I've got a wireless charging stand on my bedside table and one on my desk and all I do is sit the phone it to charge - no messing about with wires or wearing sockets out constantly plugging and unplugging power.
Also, it's incredibly convenient to just top my phone's charge up when I'm sat at my desk: If I want to use my phone I just pick it up and when I've finished with it, I just set it down again

Personally, having used it for the last 5 months or so, I would be reluctant to buy a phone that doesn't have it now

I've never worn out any sockets on any of my Apple devices EVER. That's a myth.

 

[Phonephreak]

If the inductive charger is included with the phone, I would probably use it to save wear on the lightning port. Wont pay extra though

 

[Michael Scrip]

While I can see the convenience of charging pads... I have to interject some humor here.

I've lost count of all the "fumbling in the dark" posts here and elsewhere.

Does anyone realize that there are about 2 billion smartphones on Earth that don't have wireless charging? And that their owners must use a crazy complicated cable to charge their phones daily? How does this world keep turning?

It reminds me of a silly infomercial. Look up "infomercial fails" for some quick laughs.

 

[ronincse]

Wireless charging is probably the feature I miss the most from my Galaxy S7. I know it isn't asking a lot to just plug a cable in but seriously it is soooooo nice. Can't wait for an iPhone with wireless charging!

 

[44267547]

Wireless charging is probably the feature I miss the most from my Galaxy S7. I know it isn't asking a lot to just plug a cable in but seriously it is soooooo nice. Can't wait for an iPhone with wireless charging!

Wireless charging is still Expanding, but long range wireless charging will be the future eventually.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I'm finding myself agreeing with posters here. If it was directional, like, say I could point a cone at a location and within 6 ft the phone would "wirelessly" charge even if slowly, that would be pretty cool. Then I think people would probably freak at the health implications of this wireless energy being directed (if there were any).

My phone spends most of its day sitting face down on my desk as I work on my computer, watch tv, do homework, a small amount in my pocket, and I use it at MOST an hour or two a day. This means it spends maybe once every other day plugged into a 6 ft Anker cable connected to a 6 port 60w Anker charger for an hour or two. Since it spends a lot of time not being used, this type of charging is not inconvenient at all as the lengthy cables reach my desk easily.

Whenever I go to unscheduled places I usually bring an Anker 10,000 mAh battery with a cable just because I like my phone to be near full charge or have the ability to be fully charged when I'm out and about.

With light usage my phone lasts 3 days until I need to charge.


People like me, if there are any, won't benefit much from wireless charging - it'll be a luxury instead of a necessity. As long as it doesn't cost me $$$$, I'm all for giving it a try.

 

[mctrials23]

Lets be honest, they ain't giving away a charger with the iPhones. The only reason you get it with the watch is because thats the only way to charge it. They didn't give you a free set of airpods with the 7 when they removed the 3.5mm jack and they won't give you a wireless charging pad with the 8.

 

[cryptonator]

Loved the wireless charging feature on the S7 and S8, very handy and convenient. By the comments on this thread, it's definitely a feature that can only be appreciated once you have actually used it.

Of course, it is a luxury, but so is paying $AUD1569 for an iPhone, and I would much rather the iPhone 8 came with wireless charging capabilities, than not.

 

[44267547]

Loved the wireless charging feature on the S7 and S8, very handy and convenient. By the comments on this thread, it's definitely a feature that can only be appreciated once you have actually used it.

I think this is a fair assessment. Once the wireless charging is available and others have read reviews or tested it, it likely will convert others to purchase it. Maybe not right away, but a future purchase later on after their initial iPhone purchase.

 

[jc0187]

So all the new iphones seem to be getting wireless charging but it seems to be a slower version of what the likes of samsung etc are using for whatever reason. I don't know about scale but the leaked pictures of the assembly for it make the components required for it look quite large which must take up quite a bit of room that could be dedicated to something more useful for power management... the battery.

So the question is, how many of you actually want wireless charging vs the rest of us who either couldn't care less or simply will never use it. I assume that we will be able to use cheap third party wireless chargers but I wouldn't put it past apple to make that a bad idea.

I had wireless charging on my Nexus 5. I thought it was so cool, that was until I put my phone in a case. After it's in a case, wireless charging was useless. If the next iPhone has wireless charging that's far superior than it was with my Nexus 5 and charges through the case, I'll change my mind.

 

[cryptonator]

I had wireless charging on my Nexus 5. I thought it was so cool, that was until I put my phone in a case. After it's in a case, wireless charging was useless. If the next iPhone has wireless charging that's far superior than it was with my Nexus 5 and charges through the case, I'll change my mind.

If it gives you an idea, I am using a Samsung S8 with the Alcantara Cover, and wireless fast charging works perfectly without any hiccups when using the official Samsung Wireless Charger.

The thickness of a case maybe a potential issue, especially when considering rugged hard cases, but I haven't had any issues, and with Apple being Apple, I would expect better than average results with the iPhone 8.

 

[The fudge]

so pointless

 

[zone23]

I had wireless charging on my Nexus 5. I thought it was so cool, that was until I put my phone in a case. After it's in a case, wireless charging was useless. If the next iPhone has wireless charging that's far superior than it was with my Nexus 5 and charges through the case, I'll change my mind.

My S8 is in a case and wireless fast charges just fine, maybe you should have tried another case and/or charger. My guess is it was your charger they are not all equal some have more than one coil in them. Maybe you should have thought of that before you just gave it the ax.
[doublepost=1504295451][/doublepost]

so pointless

A lot like your post..
[doublepost=1504295683][/doublepost]the mentality of people in this thread... we will see when the iPhone gets it. You all will act like Apple has invented the greatest technology ever.

 

[tann]

I love wireless charging on my S7 Edge, it's one of the things I missed greatly when I had to give up my Note 7 (and one of the BEST things about that when I traded in my 6S Plus).

It's one of those things I didn't realise I loved or even needed until I could use it myself. Got a nice little charge pad next to my sofa so just throw the phone on there when I'm home or watching TV and it gets a nice little charge.

Also mind you it charges wirelessly faster than my iPhone ever charged with a wire. (With a wire it's almost an hour faster than that too!).

I think wireless charging is a great addition to the iPhone, and if you don't want it you literally never have to even acknowledge it's existence (though don't tell me if you're wandering around IKEA and see those wireless charging bedside tables you won't put your phone down to try it...).

My only reservation is if Apple make some proprietary bs that means none of the excellent charge pads in the £10-£15 range work. There's no reason to do that. It should be like bluetooth to me.

 

[Apple-of-my-eye]

My first smart phone was the Palm Pre, and had the hockey puck wireless charger.... LOVED that thing!!! Looking forward to wireless charging with the iPhone, especially since the charging cords always wear out with plugging it in and out of the phone.... this should solve that problem too!!

 

[sean000]

My first smart phone was the Palm Pre, and had the hockey puck wireless charger.... LOVED that thing!!! Looking forward to wireless charging with the iPhone, especially since the charging cords always wear out with plugging it in and out of the phone.... this should solve that problem too!!

I didn't realize the Pre had wireless charging! I never had one, but was a Palm OS user for many years starting with a Palm II or III and ending with a Tungsten T5. Also had a Handspring Visor. I used the Tungsten T5 alongside a Blackberry that work paid for. I didn't give up Palm OS until I bought an iPhone 3G. Some of my favorite Palm apps were even migrating to the iOS platform, so I didn't miss Palm OS as much as I thought I would. I bet I would have much preferred the Pre over the Blackberry phones I used though. I was never a huge fan of Blackberry, but my employer had standardized on them as a mobile platform at the time.

Sean

 

[Ralfi]

For me, the wireless charging pad needs to be in spot where my phone will sit for a while ie. bedside table for overnight charging, kitchen bench for top ups during days when I'm at home or in the car.

For most days though, I'm on the move a lot & won't be able to sit it down for charging.

If the tech evolves to suit my lifestyle then I'm sure I can make it work for me.