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Is Wireless Charging Safe For iPhone | 2024 Guide

Is Wireless Charging Safe For iPhone

Apple introducing wireless charging to its iPhones was one of the best features to be added to them. I have dreaded wired charging for a long time now.

Wired charging, while fast is not convenient and comes with its own share of troubles. So, Is Wireless Charging Safe For iPhone? Let’s find out.

All this was going to be a thing of the past when wireless charging was introduced to a whole plethora of Apple devices including the iPhones. I have multiple wireless charging pads in my home, but then a friend of mine said that they are not safe for you or your device.

Which got me thinking and this is the reason for this article. This article will clear your doubts about wireless charging and if they are safe or not. Here’s our “Is Wireless Charging Safe For iPhone” guide.

After going through various sources and subjecting various wireless chargers to stress tests: my team and I found that:

Wireless Charging is relatively safe but is dependent on various factors. For example, you must use a good quality charger and charge it only when necessary. A subpar charger can cause quite a few issues. While the chances of exploding are almost non-existent, there are detriments to the battery of the iPhone.

Related: Will there be an iPad with Wireless Charging?

Is Wireless Charging Safe For iPhone

Wireless charging is a technology that allows you to charge devices without connecting them to wires. It is a convenient and useful feature if you don’t like messing with wires.

Apple has been embracing wireless charging tech on its devices since the iPhone 8. Other Apple devices like the Apple Watch, and AirPods and AirPods support wireless charging too. Apple now is doubling down on wireless charging with the inclusion of MagSafe on its 12th generation iPhone lineup. 

There are even rumors about Apple going to release a port less iPhone soon, which means that it will only feature wireless charging. But all this ultimately leads to if wireless charging is safe to use. I will be answering this in detail below: 

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Is Wireless Charging Safe? 

To answer this question, you will have to know the technology behind wireless charging. Wireless charging that we use in day-to-day devices uses the process of induction.

  • This is also known as inductive charging. Inductive charging happens by using a transmitter coil and receive coil. The transmitter coils contain electrons which flow inside it when electricity is passed through it.
  • This generates a magnetic field and this is known as electromagnetic induction. This magnetic field causes electrons in the receiver coil in the device to flow which in turn generates electricity.
  • This electricity is used to charge the device’s battery. Inductive charging needs correct alignment and contact between the charging pad and device.  
  • Apple uses Qi (pronounced “Chee”) wireless charging technology developed by The Wireless Power Consortium. Qi uses inductive charging technologies and is specific for mobile devices only.  
  • Now, why would anyone consider this to be unsafe for your device? Because it is a fairly new technology and people are always doubtful of new technology, to say the least.

This is common and the fears and doubts will only vanish when the tech is more mainstream and proven to be safe. People are scared of the harm it can do to the device sand to themselves. I am not going to lie; I was fearful too when wireless charging started to roll out in the industry. I had doubts about how harmful it can be for me and my devices.  

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Is Wireless Charging Safe for iPhone? 

  • Since this is what most consumer devices, we will have to look if it’s safe. All Apple devices that support wireless charging use electromagnetic induction to charge wirelessly.
  • From iPhones to AirPods to Apple watch, all of the use of induction to charge wirelessly. Even the Apple Pencil 2 charges using electromagnetic induction from the iPad.
  • The new MagSafe chargers in the iPhone 12 series are also based on electromagnetic induction technology and they also support Qi charging.  

Is wireless charging safe overnight?

Yes, it is safe for your iPhone if used correctly. And by safe, I mean you have to be safe about the charger you are using. The wireless charger might be the cause of problems, that and how you use the wireless charger itself.

  • You may think that buying a cheap wireless charger can be a cost-saving measure but it is not. Cheap wireless chargers can be fake and of low quality, and this can damage your phone and battery.
  • Wireless charging can lead to heat buildup, good quality wireless chargers allow for better heat dissipation and keep the charging under control. Whereas low-quality ones can supply power irregularly and be a heating pad. This can damage the internals and battery of your iPhone and devices. It can also decrease the battery life significantly.  
  • Similarly, you need to use the wireless chargers in an optimal way for the best and long life for your iPhone’s battery. A well-ventilated place is vital to avoid overheating of your iPhone or Apple device. Good quality chargers are also turn off automatically when your iPhone is fully charged.
  • This is important to reduce heat buildup. And it is best to charge your iPhone only up to 90%, this can extend battery life. This is also applicable to wired charging, not charging your phone fully or letting it die can increase your battery life in the long run. Constantly charging your iPhone can also degrade battery life, this is true for wireless charging too, so keep in mind to charge only when you need to. 
  • Make sure to buy a good quality, officially certified by Apple for best wireless charging capabilities and to maintain the health of your iPhones. You don’t want to cheap out a few dollars on your wireless charger to damage a premium iPhone that costs hundreds of dollars. A lot of good quality, certified chargers are available for cheap now.  
  • So, wireless charging for your iPhones and other Apple devices is definitely safe for the device itself. But what about you, the user, is it safe for you to be around wireless chargers.  

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Is wireless charging safe for health?

In short yes, it is safe for you. It is safe because the electromagnetic field that is created by these chargers is weak and small in power. Also, it is directly transferred to a receiving device that converts it to electricity again and it gets sent to the battery.

  • This type of charging has been used in many appliances like medical devices, electric toothbrushes, etc. The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) found that no inductive charging causes no adverse effects on human health and it is safe.  
  • Wireless charging can be safer in some ways compared to plugging in your iPhone every time you want to charge it. This is because wireless charging requires no meddling with wires or connectors.
  • This reduces the risk of electric shocks and failure of components that can cause harm. This lets you use your electric toothbrushes in bathrooms without the risk of getting electrocuted because there won’t be any loose ends that conduct electricity from the toothbrush.  
  • There are concerns that electromagnetic fields can cause health issues. High levels of EMF are indeed a risk to your mental health but the EMF from wireless chargers is very low to pose any health risk to you or any person.
  • A study done by the World Health Organization (WHO) supports that low EMF emissions are safe and don’t lead to health issues. If there were any problems, there wouldn’t be any wireless charging tech in the first place. Apple and Qi would have nipped the whole operation in the bud if there were any risks at all.  Check out our “Is Wireless Charging Safe For iPhone” guide.
  • Besides we are all surrounded by different radiations around us, our iPhones have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular networks continuously in use and among all these, the radiation from Wireless chargers and wireless charging is the least effective for your health.  
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How to wirelessly charge your iPhone

What you need,

  • iPhone 8 or later
  • Wireless Qi Charger, MagSafe charger for iPhone 12 and later

To charge your iPhone wirelessly follow these steps,

Step 1 Connect your wireless charger to power. Use the power adapter that came with your charger.

Step 2 Place the charger on a level surface like a table or a flat counter.

Step 3 Place your iPhone on the wireless charger pad with the display facing up. For best performance, place it in the center of the charger pad or in the location recommended by the manufacturer.

Your iPhone should start charging a few seconds after you place it on your wireless charger pad. If not try moving around a bit. 

How to keep your iPhone battery safe while using a wireless charger?

To charge your iPhone safely on a wireless charger there are a couple of things you should know. By following these points you will be able to prolong the life of the battery so you won’t have to get it replaced every few months.

  • First, make sure your iPhone is on charge only when the battery drops to below 20%. Refrain from plugging it into charge when it is between 30% – 80% as this can deplete the battery cycle count
  • Don’t let your iPhone battery die very often as this means that you will have to place it on the charging pad frequently and this as well can significantly reduce the number of battery cycles that are left
  • Restrict yourself from buying cheap wireless chargers and try sticking to branded Qi chargers or an original Apple wireless charger.
  • Finally, try using the fast charge feature only when and if you need it. Regularly charging your iPhone using fast charge can reduce the battery life.

Follow these tips and i can guarantee that your iPhone battery will last a lot longer than before and you won’t have to invest in a new battery every few months.

Advantages of Wireless charging

The advantages of wireless charging are why it is implemented in the first place. This is not just true for Apple and iPhones, almost all premium smartphones use wireless charging because it has a lot of advantages. 

More convenient, compared to wired charging. Just place on a wireless charging pad and you are golden. And when you need the phone, just lift it and you are good to go. 

  • Easier compared to fiddling with wires and stuff, you can just place the pad on your desk and leave it there forever. You don’t have to hunt for your charger and charging cable every time you want to charge your iPhone.  
  • Can improve battery performance and life if used properly.  
  • Safer, as you don’t have to play with wires, and no one will trip over either.  
  • You can charge multiple devices with supported wireless chargers; you can even charge different smartphones that support Qi charging with the same pad.

Disadvantages of wireless charging:

Although Wireless charging can be a real lifesaver to many, sadly it does suffer from a few disadvantages that you must take into account before you decide on buying one.

1. Performance

One of the reasons why wireless charging is not fully integrated is that it is not as efficient as compared to normal chargers. There are certain wireless chargers that simply cannot reach the same efficiency level as compared to traditional ones, so it may take a longer time to charge your phone.

Also, the heat generated in a few wireless chargers can be much more compared to the conventional method of charging your phone.

2. Mobility

It is the signals transmitted between your mobile phones and the charger which are wireless, but you still need to plug the charging station into a wall. So, it makes the charging stations non-portable.

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Additionally, you must keep the device on the pad at all times and it cannot be moved. This obviously makes it quite challenging to use your phone while it gets charged at the same time.

3. Reduced the Battery Cycles of the iPhone

Yes, using a wireless charger doesn’t necessarily affect the battery charge cycle more than a wired charger, but it does cause a significant drop in the number of cycles left if the device is put on charge frequently.

Charging your iPhone on the wireless charger multiple times a day will not kill the battery but it will reduce the lifespan of the battery in the long run.

Is Wireless Charging Safe For iPhone – Takeaway

Wireless charging comes with a lot of benefits and this makes it great to use over wired charging. But myths surrounding it have made it seem like they might be harmful to you or your iPhone. But these are not true, both WHO and ICNIRP have found wireless charging to be safe for the user or anyone around them.

Similarly, apart from some precautions, it is as safe or safer than wired charging. And it speaks a lot when Apple is going for a portless iPhone in the future which means it will only feature wireless charging. All this makes it the best and most convenient way to charge your iPhones.

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Debunking Common Wireless charging myths

Below are some of the most common wireless charging myths and these are either not true or overexaggerated in most cases. While wireless charging technology is different from conventional wired charging, it is just as safe and similar in use to wired charging.

  1. Wireless charging is slow –  Yes, wireless charging is slower than wired charging, but smartphone manufacturers have been increasing wireless charging speeds by a lot now. Some phones support 65W charging speeds, which is faster than the wired charging speeds of Samsung and Apple phones. 
  2. Wireless charging is inefficient – When compared to wired charging, it is slightly inefficient, but you can beat the convenience of wireless charging. 
  3. Wireless charging is dangerous – This is completely not true, wireless charging is just as safe as wired charging unless you use fake/poor quality chargers.
  4. Wireless charging can overheat your phone’s battery – Wireless charging does provide heat but it is the same as when you are charging through a wire. Also, smartphones and wireless chargers come with safety features that protect against overheating too. 
  5. Frequent wireless charging degrades your phone’s battery life – No, it doesn’t, battery degradation from wireless charging is the same as battery degradation from wired charging. In fact, the slower wireless charging speeds should help reduce degradation. 
  6. Overnight wireless charging can damage your phone – It won’t, all modern smartphones stop charging after they are fully charged.

Is Wireless Charging Safe for iPhone: FAQS

Will my wireless charger work with iPhone 12?

Yes, your wireless charger is designed for faster and most definitely supports iPhone 12 model. The iPhone 12,iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and iPhone 12 mini, support both Qi chargers and MagSafe chargers where they can charge up to 15W under ideal conditions.

How do I enable wireless charging on my iPhone?

First, connect your charger to power. Next, use the power adapter that came with your accessory. Place the charger on a level surface and place your iPhone on the charger with the display facing up. Your iPhone should start charging on your wireless charger after a few seconds. 

Will an iPhone 7 charge on a wireless charger?

Sadly, no. The iPhone 7 and older models do not have wireless charging, and generally need to be charged with a cable.

Do wireless chargers work on all iPhones?

No, it does not support the older models. One way to check if your iPhone supports wireless charging is to check if the back is made out of glass. Apple made the switch to glass starting with the iPhone 8 series so you will find the iPhone 8, X, 11, 12, and 13 series all support wireless charging.

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