Apple joined the wireless charging party much later than Android. Although many Android devices have had the feature for years, wireless charging only arrived on the iPhone in 2017. So, does the iPhone 8 have wireless charging capabilities?
The iPhone 8 does have wireless charging capabilities. It was Apple’s first foray into the wireless charging field, and it works on Qi-standard magnetic induction. That means you can charge your iPhone 8 with any Qi-certified wireless charger, from Apple or other sellers.
Apple holds the reputation of striving for perfection, so it’s no surprise that they took their time to come out with a wireless charging system that meets their high standards. iPhone 8 was the first iPhone model to offer wireless charging, a feature that has been carried over to all the later models. Let’s look at how wireless charging works on the iPhone 8 and the pros of having this feature.
Does an iPhone 8 Have Wireless Charging Capabilities?
Yes, the iPhone 8 has wireless charging capabilities, and it can be charged with any Qi-compatible charging dock.
Wireless charging works through magnetic induction. Both the phone and the charging docks have magnetic coils inside them. When the coils in the dock align with the coils in the phone, an electromagnetic field is created.
This field can then be used to transfer energy from the dock to the phone, charging its battery and eliminating the need to physically connect your phone to a charger using a cable.
iPhone 8 wireless charging works on Qi-standard, the most popular standard in the market. This means that iPhone 8 can be charged on any Qi-compatible wireless charger.
Apple has, however, upgraded its wireless standard to the new proprietary “MagSafe” charging; iPhone 12 models and later can only use Apple’s own chargers.
Qi-compatible charging in iPhone 8 makes it more universal, as many public spaces, such as airports and coffee shops, provide Qi-standard wireless chargers for their customers. It’s recommended to use Qi-certified chargers to avoid any potential damage to your iPhone 8.
Apple also has an Mfi (Made for iPhone) program for accessories that pass their quality guidelines; choose your charger from their partners for the best results.
Best iPhone 8 Wireless Chargers
Here are a few of the best options when it comes to iPhone 8-compatible wireless chargers:
- The iPhone MagSafe Charger (on Amazon) is the official Apple wireless charging pad. It’s one of the fastest Qi chargers, providing up to 7.5W power to the iPhone.
- The Anker 313 wireless (on Amazon) pad is another great option for iPhone 8. It’s a Qi-certified charger with a power output of 10W.
- Belkin Boost Up 3-in-1 is another super-fast charger with a power output of 7.5W; it can charge three devices simultaneously.
Can You Charge an iPhone 8 Overnight?
Contrary to popular belief, it’s perfectly safe to charge your iPhone 8 overnight. Phone batteries are protected with special chips that keep them from overcharging, so you don’t need to worry about your phone battery exploding or catching fire.
One small downside to charging your phone overnight is that it may heat up because of the longer charging time, which can impact phone life in the long run. But as long as you’re not using a cheap knock-off charger, your phone should be just fine.
Are Wireless Chargers Better Than Regular Chargers?
No doubt, wireless charging is becoming more popular, but is it actually better than using a regular charger? Let’s look at both pros and cons and see which one comes out on top.
Regular wired chargers are tried and tested, so we know they work well. They’re also relatively inexpensive, and you can find them for sale just about anywhere.
However, the convenience of not having to fumble around with wires is hard to pass up. Apart from getting rid of tangled wires, wireless chargers are much gentler on your phone’s charging port. Constant plugging and unplugging can eventually damage the port, but with wireless charging, you don’t have to worry about that.
Many wireless chargers also come with multiple charging coils, which means you can charge multiple devices simultaneously. If you have more than one device, you can just set them all on the charger, and they’ll all start juicing up.
When it comes to charging speed, however, wired chargers are still the reigning champions. They can charge your devices much faster than wireless chargers. Nonetheless, the gap is closing, and newer wireless chargers are catching up.
So, even though wired chargers have a few advantages, at the end of the day, wireless charging seems to be emerging victorious. It’ll soon become the new standard, and we may even see wired chargers becoming a thing of the past.
What Should You Do if Your Phone Won’t Charge Wirelessly?
If your iPhone is having trouble charging wirelessly, you can try a few things:
- Remove the phone case: Make sure your phone case is thin and wireless charge-friendly. A thick case can increase the distance between your phone and the charging coils, making it difficult to charge. If you’re unsure, try removing the case and see if that makes a difference.
- Align the coils: The coils in your phone and the charger must be aligned for wireless charging to work. Try moving your phone around on the charger until you find the sweet spot.
- Restart your phone: Sometimes, minor glitches and software issues can prevent your phone from charging wirelessly. A restart can often fix these kinds of problems.
- Use a different charger: If you’re using an aftermarket wireless charger, it might not be compatible with your phone. Make sure you’re using an Apple-certified charger.