How to Optimize Your Wireless Charging Speed

Wireless charging has come a long way from the sluggish 5W chargers of years past. Modern Qi2 and MagSafe chargers can deliver 15W or more, charging your phone from flat to usable in under an hour. But are you actually getting those speeds? Many users unknowingly sacrifice significant charging performance through easily fixable issues.

This guide reveals the factors that affect wireless charging speed and provides actionable tips to ensure your devices charge as fast as your hardware allows. From power adapter selection to ambient temperature management, we'll cover everything that impacts your charging experience.

Understanding Wireless Charging Speed Factors

Before optimizing, it helps to understand what determines your charging speed. Several factors work together to determine how quickly your phone charges wirelessly:

• Charger output: The maximum wattage your charger can deliver
• Phone input: The maximum wattage your phone can receive wirelessly
• Power adapter: The wattage supplied to your charger
• Coil alignment: How well the charging coils are positioned
• Temperature: Heat reduces charging speed for safety
• Case thickness: Distance between coils affects efficiency
• Battery level: Charging slows as the battery fills

Your actual charging speed is limited by the weakest link in this chain. A 15W charger with a 10W power adapter will only charge at 10W. A phone that maxes out at 7.5W wireless won't benefit from a 15W charger.

The Power Adapter: Your Most Important Upgrade

Here's a secret many wireless charger owners don't know: the power adapter you use matters as much as the charger itself. Most wireless chargers ship with only a USB cable, expecting you to supply the adapter. Using an underpowered adapter is the single most common reason for slow wireless charging.

Power Adapter Requirements

To achieve maximum wireless charging speeds, your power adapter must supply enough wattage to the charger. Here's what you need:

• 15W wireless charger: Minimum 20W USB-C adapter (we recommend 25W+)
• 2-in-1 charger: Minimum 30W adapter
• 3-in-1 charger: Minimum 45W adapter

The extra headroom above the minimum isn't wasted—chargers operate more efficiently when not pushed to their maximum input, generating less heat and maintaining optimal speeds throughout the charging session.

Perfect Your Alignment

Wireless charging uses electromagnetic induction between two coils—one in the charger and one in your phone. When these coils are misaligned, energy transfer efficiency drops dramatically, slowing charging and increasing heat generation.

Magnetic Chargers (MagSafe/Qi2)

If you're using a magnetic charger with a compatible phone, alignment is handled automatically. The magnets ensure perfect positioning every time. However, make sure to:

• Use a MagSafe or Qi2-compatible case (or no case) for strongest magnetic connection
• Let the phone snap into place rather than forcing it to a specific position
• Ensure no debris is preventing full magnetic contact

Non-Magnetic Chargers

For standard Qi chargers without magnets, alignment is crucial and manual. Tips for optimal positioning:

• Most charging coils are centred on the pad, but some are offset—experiment to find the sweet spot
• The coil in your phone is typically in the upper-centre of the back—align this with the charger's centre
• Watch for charging indicators (LED lights, phone notifications) to confirm proper alignment
• If charging stops intermittently, slight vibrations may be shifting your phone out of alignment

Manage Temperature for Consistent Speed

Heat is the enemy of fast charging. When your phone or charger gets too warm, the charging system automatically reduces power to prevent damage. Managing temperature keeps charging at maximum speed.

Heat Reduction Strategies

• Remove thick cases: Cases trap heat. Slim cases are fine, but thick, insulated, or leather cases can significantly increase temperatures. Consider removing your case for faster charging.
• Ensure ventilation: Don't charge on soft surfaces like beds or couches that block airflow. Hard, flat surfaces allow heat to dissipate.
• Avoid direct sunlight: Don't place your charging setup near windows or in cars parked in the sun.
• Mind ambient temperature: Charging is slower in hot rooms. During Australian summer, air conditioning helps maintain charging speeds.
• Don't use while charging: Using your phone while wirelessly charging generates additional heat and significantly slows charging.

Optimize Phone Settings

Your phone's settings and software can impact charging speed. Here are adjustments to consider:

For iPhone Users

• Optimised Battery Charging: iOS learns your schedule and may hold charging at 80% overnight. You can disable this in Settings > Battery > Battery Health if you need full charge quickly, but keeping it on improves battery longevity.
• Airplane Mode: Enabling airplane mode while charging can speed things up by reducing power consumption from radios.
• Low Power Mode: Reduces background activity, allowing more power to go toward charging.

For Android Users

• Adaptive charging features: Many Android phones have similar "slow charge overnight" features. Check your battery settings.
• Battery Saver Mode: Reduces background power consumption during charging.
• Close background apps: Apps consuming power compete with charging.
• Disable location services: GPS is power-hungry; disable when not needed.

Choose the Right Time to Charge

Understanding your phone's charging behaviour helps you plan for maximum speed when you need it.

The Charging Curve

Phone batteries don't charge at a constant rate. Charging is fastest from 0-50%, slows from 50-80%, and slows dramatically from 80-100%. This is by design—it protects battery longevity. If you need a quick top-up, getting from 20% to 60% is much faster than going from 80% to 100%.

Strategic Charging

• Don't wait until empty: Topping up from 30% is faster than waiting until your phone dies.
• Consider the 80% rule: If you don't need maximum runtime, stopping at 80% saves time and extends battery lifespan.
• Use wired for emergencies: If you need the absolute fastest charge, wired charging (especially with high-wattage adapters) still outpaces wireless. Keep a cable handy for time-critical situations.

Hardware Considerations

Sometimes optimization means upgrading hardware. Consider these factors:

When to Upgrade Your Charger

• Your current charger doesn't support your phone's maximum wireless speed
• You're using an older Qi charger (5-7.5W) with a phone that supports 15W
• Your charger lacks magnetic alignment but your phone supports Qi2/MagSafe
• You've noticed declining performance from an aging charger

Case Selection

Your phone case affects charging speed more than you might think:

• Best: MagSafe/Qi2 compatible cases (maintain magnetic alignment and are designed for charging)
• Good: Thin TPU or silicone cases under 2mm
• Acceptable: Most standard cases up to 3mm
• Problematic: Thick rugged cases, battery cases, cases with metal plates or kickstands

Troubleshooting Slow Charging

If you've tried everything and charging is still slow, work through this checklist:

1. Verify power adapter wattage—most issues start here
2. Try without a case to rule out case interference
3. Clean both charger and phone back with a dry cloth
4. Test in a cooler environment if possible
5. Try a different cable from charger to adapter
6. Test with a different phone if available (rules out phone issues)
7. Check for phone software updates that might address charging bugs
8. Contact charger manufacturer if issues persist—it may be defective

Realistic Expectations

Even with perfect optimization, wireless charging will always be somewhat slower than the fastest wired options. Today's 15W wireless chargers compare favourably to standard wired chargers, but can't match 65W+ wired fast charging available on some devices.

The convenience trade-off is worth it for most people—just drop your phone on a pad and it charges. But understanding the speed limitations helps you plan. Use wireless charging for routine overnight charges and desk top-ups, and keep a wired option available when you need maximum speed.

With the tips in this guide, you'll get every watt of performance your wireless charging setup can deliver—making cable-free charging as fast and efficient as possible.