Even as more and more people make the switch to wireless charging, there’s still some hesitation about this new technology and how it works. One major question that users have is whether the wireless charger will turn off when the battery is full.
Most wireless chargers turn off when the battery is fully charged. Your phone will also stop charging when the battery is full. However, in order to preserve your battery’s health, it’s best to avoid charging your phone completely and leaving it on the charger continuously.
Wireless chargers are often misunderstood, but many of the latest models are quite impressive. Let’s take a look at whether wireless chargers switch off when your phone is charged and which wireless chargers are the most efficient.
Do All Wireless Chargers Know When to Stop Charging?
Just like most quality smartphones, most wireless chargers know when to stop charging. Most wireless chargers from reputable brands stop charging when the phone’s battery is fully charged. They have chips that can detect when the phone stops taking power and will stop automatically.
Most wireless chargers will go into standby mode, where they will stop charging as long as the phone’s battery is 100% and then resume charging when the battery’s charge drops a few percentage points.
However, not all wireless chargers stop charging when the phone’s battery is full. If you have a fake or second-rate wireless charger, it may continue to provide energy output. This could cause the charging pad to overheat, damaging your phone in the process.
Fortunately, most smartphones will also stop charging when the battery is full, so you don’t have to worry about the battery getting damaged by overcharging. If you’re going to charge your phone regularly with a wireless charger, make sure it’s Qi-compatible.
How to Tell If Your Charger Has Shut Off
While there’s no harm in leaving your phone on a wireless charger after it’s fully charged, it’s better to remove your phone just in case. That said, if you’re like most people, you won’t want to keep checking your phone every few minutes to see if it’s charged.
So, how can you tell if your wireless charger has shut off?
Most wireless chargers have a light that indicates that the phone is charging. When the light goes off, it’s an indication that your phone is fully charged.
Other wireless chargers can detect the battery level in your phone and will flash a green light when the phone is charged.
Some smartphones also give you a notification when the battery is charged so that you can remove it from charge. You can also see when your smartphone is charged by looking at the color of the charging light.
What to Do to Preserve Your Phone or Charger’s Battery Life
While most smartphones from reputable brands are designed to last a few years without any issues, some parts will wear out eventually.
Unfortunately, the battery is usually the first thing to show signs of wear. The same goes for wireless chargers that have batteries and double up as wireless power banks.
Here are some ways to preserve your phone and charger’s battery life:
Avoid Leaving the Phone On Charge When the Battery Is Full
While the latest smartphones and wireless chargers won’t get damaged if they’re left on charge, it’s still better to disconnect the power source when the battery is full. Leaving your phone on charge when the battery is full will slowly decrease the battery’s life.
Leave the Phone at 50-80% Charge
While you won’t notice the immediate effect of charging your phone to 100% every time, it will reduce the battery’s capability over time. Avoid charging your phone more than 80%, and don’t let it die completely either to preserve the battery.
Some of the latest smartphones, such as the iPhone 13, have a setting that allows the phone to stop charging at 80%. If your phone has this setting, activate it to preserve the battery for longer.
Use a High-Quality Charger
Low-quality chargers are the main reason behind smartphone batteries getting damaged. If you’re using a wireless charger, make sure it’s Qi-compatible. Also, avoid using second-grade chargers as they may overheat and damage your battery.
Although you don’t always have to use the top brands, make sure the charger passes all the required safety tests.
Always change your charger if it becomes defective or wires are exposed. Defective chargers may cause short circuits and seriously damage your phone’s battery.
Don’t Use Battery-Intensive Apps When the Phone Is on Charge
You can use your phone while it’s charging, but it’s best to avoid using streaming apps or other power-intensive apps. These apps drain the battery while charging and could cause overheating if you’re using a wireless charger.
As long as you don’t consistently overcharge your phone and use a quality charger, your phone’s battery will last.
The Most Efficient Wireless Chargers
Even though some wireless chargers are much slower than traditional cable chargers, many of the latest wireless chargers are actually more efficient. You can also increase the efficiency of your charger by using a thinner casing and charging your phone in a well-ventilated area.
Here are some of the most efficient wireless chargers:
Apple MagSafe
The Apple MagSafe charger (on Amazon) is ideal for iPhone models 12 and above. It can charge with a power output of up to 15 W. It’s easy to attach your phone to the MagSafe charger magnetically, and you don’t have to worry about misaligning the phone. Best of all, you can also charge your Apple watches with the MagSafe charger.
iOttie iON Wireless Duo
The iOttie Wireless Duo (on Amazon) comes with both a vertical and horizontal charging pad that gives you a range of options to charge your phone. You can charge your phone vertically on the charging pad if you want to use it while it’s on charge, or you can conveniently place it on the rubber pad.
It also charges with an impressive output of 7.5 W to 10 W, making it one of the most efficient on this list.
Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic
If you’re looking for a wireless charger that doesn’t look obtrusive, the Nomad Base Station (on Amazon) is ideal. It’s a small but hefty charger that looks great on any desk and won’t slide around easily. It also comes with magnets to keep your phone aligned for consistent charging and has a reliable power output of up to 15 W.
Kerf Wireless Charging Block
The Kerf Wireless Charging Block takes blending to a whole new level with its wood base. It’s easy to mistake for a wooden cup holder on your desk! When it comes to performance, this wireless charger delivers a power output of up to 10 W, which is on par with the most efficient wireless chargers.