Who cares about wireless charging

[spinedoc77]

Not having to fumble around in the dark at 3am to replug my iphones cable? Priceless. Not having to fumble around with replugging my cable the 30 times I get into and out of my car on a typical day? Priceless.
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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

We used to use the Pre wireless charging modules to hack the Note's 2/3 into having wireless charging, ahh fond memories.

 

[9594864]

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

If you actually say you phone down on a wireless charger and had Lightning headphones plugged into it to listen...I mean there aren't words.

That's absolutely insane to even think about. You'd basically be like a dog on a leash by being bound to the wireless puck.

 

[sean000]

If you actually say you phone down on a wireless charger and had Lightning headphones plugged into it to listen...I mean there aren't words.

That's absolutely insane to even think about. You'd basically be like a dog on a leash by being bound to the wireless puck.

Have you walked around a typical office building these days? Person after person will have their smartphone on their desk, plugged in to a USB port on their computer to charge, while wearing headphones/earbuds plugged into their smartphones. Personally I don't do this very often, because it's rare that I get to listen to anything while I'm working. Sometimes I do it though. My desktop computer is a small form factor case that sits underneath one of my displays. I plug my iPhone 6 into one of the front USB ports to charge, so the iPhone is well within reach of the headphone cable with quite a bit of slack to spare.

One of the big complaints about the aux port going away in the iPhone 7 was from people who wanted to know how to charge the phone while listening to headphones at the same time. They sell splitters just for that purpose. Why would it be insane to imagine people listening to Lightning headphones while their iPhone 8 rests on the charging pad on their desk?

Sean

 

[tann]

Have you walked around a typical office building these days? Person after person will have their smartphone on their desk, plugged in to a USB port on their computer to charge, while wearing headphones/earbuds plugged into their smartphones. Personally I don't do this very often, because it's rare that I get to listen to anything while I'm working. Sometimes I do it though. My desktop computer is a small form factor case that sits underneath one of my displays. I plug my iPhone 6 into one of the front USB ports to charge, so the iPhone is well within reach of the headphone cable with quite a bit of slack to spare.

One of the big complaints about the aux port going away in the iPhone 7 was from people who wanted to know how to charge the phone while listening to headphones at the same time. They sell splitters just for that purpose. Why would it be insane to imagine people listening to Lightning headphones while their iPhone 8 rests on the charging pad on their desk?

Sean

Excellent point, the office environment is actually one of the best uses for wireless charging too from my experience.

 

[jc0187]

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.

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.

Oh ok. Well I use a pretty thick Seidio case for drop protection. But thanks for the reply. It might work.
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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.
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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.

I used the official Google Nexus 5 wireless charger. The case I was using wasn't all that thick to begin with.

 

[cryptonator]

Oh ok. Well I use a pretty thick Seidio case for drop protection. But thanks for the reply. It might work.

I used the official Google Nexus 5 wireless charger. The case I was using wasn't all that thick to begin with.

No problem! It is most likely the charger. I seem to recall similar issues when I used my S7 with the previous generation Samsung wireless charger, where I had to be very precise with the placement of the phone for it to work, and when using a wallet case, it wouldn't charge.

Given that I am not facing these issues with the new Samsung wireless charger, let's hope that Apple's variant is seamless.

 

[lordofthereef]

I have a feeling plenty of people will hop on the wireless charging bandwagon when it starts getting integrated everywhere.

They started doing this at some coffee shops and I suspect it didn’t take off simply because there are so many android models and not even all of them handled the same standard.

Take a look at Apple
Pay. It took its existence for android pay to become ubiquitous despite android pay being around much longer. Not a dog st android by the way. It’s just the reality. Even stores that didn’t want to get on board at first have adapted.

I just can’t get caught up in the “but It take a cord anyway” mentality. Or that it’s slower to charge. So what? This isn’t meant to be your travel charger. It’s meant to be a convenient way to just drop your phone in the table and giving some juice while you work, enjoy a meal, etc. I can see even more utility in the car.
[doublepost=1504334030][/doublepost]

If you actually say you phone down on a wireless charger and had Lightning headphones plugged into it to listen...I mean there aren't words.

That's absolutely insane to even think about. You'd basically be like a dog on a leash by being bound to the wireless puck.

You don’t ever listen to music while sitting at a table? I did all the time in grad school.

Now imagine the table has this built in. I’m not talking immediately. I’m talking a few years down the road. Shoot. I’ve had Apple Pay for three years now? My grocery chain I frequent just now got that and chip credit card machines active.

 

[MjWoNeR]

Some posts here remind me many of the arguments about "EarPods2 with noise cancelling". There people said they don't want cancelling because they like to hear their surroundings, raising safety concerns in traffic.

Same here, some raise the "cable is more practical, because you can use it while you charge" argument.

You are going to be able to use both. EarPods won't force noise cancelling on you, you will choose when to turn it on or off.
And it's the same with the charging pad. Put in on the pad to charge, or stick a cable into it to charge, your choice.

 

[valinda]

I would love to have wireless charging, mainly because my truck has a wireless charging pad.

 

[danny842003]

I personally just do not see the hype.
You can't charge and use your phone at the same time, at least not in a comfortable position.
Plus we are going back to glass back rather than the alloy one. Another thing to smash for a function the vast majority won't use, unless the charge pad is included (it won't be)

 

[Superrjamz54]

Oh ok. Well I use a pretty thick Seidio case for drop protection. But thanks for the reply. It might work.
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I used the official Google Nexus 5 wireless charger. The case I was using wasn't all that thick to begin with.

Any case should work fine as long as the case isn't metal.

 

[Dave245]

I personally just do not see the hype.
You can't charge and use your phone at the same time, at least not in a comfortable position.
Plus we are going back to glass back rather than the alloy one. Another thing to smash for a function the vast majority won't use, unless the charge pad is included (it won't be)

Actually the glass back is needed less with a case I found, when I had my 4s I never used a case and the back held up well with less scratching then the alloy case of the iPhone 6 and so on, each have their own good and bad points. Wireless charging will be good if it's like the Apple Watch puck charger.

 

[44267547]

I would love to have wireless charging, mainly because my truck has a wireless charging pad.

That's interesting. I didn't know vehicles had a wireless charging pad. Is this Something the manufacturer installs stock or is this aftermarket?

 

[Ralfi]

That's interesting. I didn't know vehicles had a wireless charging pad. Is this Something the manufacturer installs stock or is this aftermarket?

More manufacturers are installing them from factory. I notice the latest version of my car (Volkswagen Golf) has it as standard on certain models.

 

[44267547]

More manufacturers are installing them from factory. I notice the latest version of my car (Volkswagen Golf) has it as standard on certain models.

I think I have heard of this before. But I didn't realize if this was for select vehicles or just starting to become more widespread. But certainly is interesting to see this expanding into vehicles and not just into the home.

 

[danny842003]

Actually the glass back is needed less with a case I found, when I had my 4s I never used a case and the back held up well with less scratching then the alloy case of the iPhone 6 and so on, each have their own good and bad points. Wireless charging will be good if it's like the Apple Watch puck charger.

Although then the front screen has less protection as most cases wrap around that little bit offering protection so I don't buy that argument.

 

[Dave245]

Although then the front screen has less protection as most cases wrap around that little bit offering protection so I don't buy that argument.

It's not an argument as I'm going off my own experience, I had less scratches and marks to my iPhone 4s with a glass back (and didn't use a case) than I did with my 6 Plus which I ended up later buying a case for.

 

[danny842003]

It's not an argument as I'm going off my own experience, I had less scratches and marks to my iPhone 4s with a glass back (and didn't use a case) than I did with my 6 Plus which I ended up later buying a case for.

Yeah but your front screen has zero protection with no case. From my experience a case has saved my screen multiple times

 

[Dave245]

Yeah but your front screen has zero protection with no case. From my experience a case has saved my screen multiple times

I think it depends on lifestyle and how the device is handled, if your working on a building site then yea you will want to get a case but if your an office worker or (like myself) you work for yourself at home or an office style job then you might not need one, however the alloy iPhone's scratch more easily in my experience.

Obviously the front scratches about the same, but there is a rumour that the 8 will use Gorilla Glass 5 which is supposed to be more tough, how true that is tho I don't know.

 

[d123]

My work phone has been a Galaxy S7 for the last 8 months, when I got the phone I bought a charging pad from Amazon and thought it was a wonderful idea. I used it for a week and then gave up on it, it's just as easy to plug a lead in and you don't run the risk of bumping the phone on the pad and it stopping charging (yes, it happened to me).

 

[Starfyre]

My work phone has been a Galaxy S7 for the last 8 months, when I got the phone I bought a charging pad from Amazon and thought it was a wonderful idea. I used it for a week and then gave up on it, it's just as easy to plug a lead in and you don't run the risk of bumping the phone on the pad and it stopping charging (yes, it happened to me).

I think wireless charging is a great idea. I've been eyeing the charging pad on Amazon myself.

Why did you stop? It sounds convenient.

 

[valinda]

That's interesting. I didn't know vehicles had a wireless charging pad. Is this Something the manufacturer installs stock or is this aftermarket?

Yes, manufacturer installed. It is standard on Toyota Tacomas.

 

[zone23]

Oh ok. Well I use a pretty thick Seidio case for drop protection. But thanks for the reply. It might work.
[doublepost=1504312444][/doublepost]
I used the official Google Nexus 5 wireless charger. The case I was using wasn't all that thick to begin with.

Gotcha, strange you would think that a charger designed for a phone form 2013 would have worked perfectly on a phone from 2017 /s. Mind blown..
[doublepost=1504614226][/doublepost]

I think wireless charging is a great idea. I've been eyeing the charging pad on Amazon myself.

Why did you stop? It sounds convenient.

It is very convenient 95% of the time thats how I charge the S8. I have three wireless chargers one is a old slow charger that I use at night (speed isn't a factor) the other two, One is at work on my desk (fast charge) that I charge up my phone after lunch (even though I don't have too) the other is at home on a end table (fast charge) that I use for a quick boost if I'm going out. I will throw the phone on say while I'm in the shower. Its just nice not plugging it in all the time. Is it necessary? No, but nice.

 

[penajmz]

I think it will be slightly useful. Get home, drop it on the mat, it’s charging. Get in your car, drop it in the middle compartment where you’ve put a charging mat (some cares have it preinstalled now), it’s charging. Get to work, drop it in the mat, it’s charging.

It will save a few seconds, nothing groundbreaking.

 

[Tom2893]

I really care about it, I'm lazy and want an easier way to put my phone on charge from laying in bed.