Wireless charging: a year of testing proved it’s ready to replace wired alternatives

Modern wireless charging technologies, especially the Qi2 standard, are delivering impressive results and gradually pushing out traditional cables, even in the most demanding use cases. A full year-long experiment was conducted by a journalist from MakeUseOf, whose goal was to test how real the concerns are about slow speeds, overheating, and accelerated battery degradation in smartphones when using wireless charging methods. The results were encouraging: wireless charging not only proved viable, but also significantly improved the user experience.

The evolution of wireless charging: from slow to efficient

Historically, wireless charging has raised a number of questions about its efficiency compared with wired alternatives. It has often been criticized for slow charging speeds, a tendency to heat up devices, and, most importantly, the potential to accelerate battery wear. However, with the arrival of new standards and ongoing technological improvements, these drawbacks are gradually being reduced.

For the study, the journalist chose two popular smartphones: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and the iPhone Air. Despite their relatively modest battery capacities — 3900 mAh for Samsung and 3149 mAh for iPhone — he relied on the constant presence of wireless chargers. His goal was to keep the phones in as comfortable a state as possible, maintaining a charge level of no lower than 50%.

Throughout the year, wireless chargers accompanied him at home, in the car, and while traveling. A 25W Belkin Qi2 charging station was placed on his desk. Wireless charging pads were integrated into the car interior, and on the road he often used magnetic power banks compatible with MagSafe. This strategy meant the smartphones almost never dropped to a critical battery level.

Qi2 and MagSafe: game changers in the world of wireless charging

The most striking finding of the experiment was the noticeable difference in the experience of using the two smartphones. Although the iPhone Air battery had a smaller capacity than Samsung’s model, using wireless charging on it turned out to be much easier and more pleasant. That’s thanks to two key technologies: Qi2 support and built-in MagSafe magnets.

The iPhone aligned itself perfectly on the charging pad automatically, ensuring fast and stable charging. In addition, its compatibility with MagSafe magnetic batteries expanded its mobility. A 20W charger on the iPhone made it possible to reach 50% charge in about 30 minutes, which is a very competitive result.

By contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, which supports only 15W wireless charging and lacks built-in magnets, proved less convenient in everyday use. To ensure proper positioning on the charging pad, a special magnetic case had to be used. The charging process felt noticeably slower, and the lack of magnetic alignment, along with the relatively low power, became the main sources of a negative user experience.

Does wireless charging really “kill” the battery?

One of the most serious concerns at the start of the experiment was accelerated battery aging due to constant wireless charging. However, the test results exceeded even the boldest expectations.

After about 10 months of use, the iPhone Air, despite 231 charge cycles, retained 100% of its original capacity. Battery diagnostics on the Samsung S25 Edge, which was actively used for 13 months, also showed that the battery remained in excellent condition.

It is important to note that wireless charging does have lower energy efficiency and generates more heat compared with wired charging. However, modern smartphones are equipped with advanced temperature control systems that automatically adjust power delivery when needed. This feature made it possible to avoid any critical impact on battery health throughout a full year of intensive use.

Is the future wireless?

Summing up the results of his long-term study, the journalist concluded that wireless charging is already ready today to become the main charging method for most smartphone users. However, to achieve maximum comfort and efficiency, it is highly desirable for a device to support the Qi2 standard, include built-in MagSafe magnets, and offer high wireless charging power.

These technologies not only make charging simpler and more convenient, but according to the experiment, they also do not pose significant risks to battery longevity. This opens the door to a future where cables are rare and topping up a battery is as intuitive and hassle-free as possible.

Interestingly, previous experiments also highlight the lack of critical harm from modern charging technologies. For example, research into limiting charging to 80% showed that while this method can somewhat extend battery life, it is not a cure-all. Likewise, studying the impact of fast charging on batteries found that the most important factor is user convenience. In simple terms, the best way to charge a phone is the one that works for you. With the arrival of improved wireless charging standards, this principle becomes even more relevant. The mobile battery market spends billions of dollars every year on research and development aimed at increasing energy density, speeding up charging cycles, and, of course, improving battery lifespan itself. Every new standard, such as Qi2, and every improvement in power management software brings us closer to the ideal interaction between user, device, and power source.