Key Points
- Wireless charging technology was developed by Nikola Tesla in the late 19th century, but it has limited practical applications beyond electric toothbrushes.
- Wireless charging relies on an electromagnetic field between two copper coils, which limits the distance between the charging pad and the device.
- The primary drawback of a wireless charging lamp is the slower charging speed compared to using a fast-charging cable plugged into a wall socket.
- Some wireless charging lamps have issues with intermittent charging, which may be caused by phone cases or the phone’s battery.
- Wireless charging lamps can cause light flickering when charging, potentially due to environmental interference or too many devices in close proximity.
- The charging base of a wireless charging lamp can get too hot, requiring the removal of the phone until it cools down.
- Using a wireless charging lamp prevents you from using your phone or tablet while it’s charging.
- Alternatives to wireless charging lamps include fast-charging cables, fast chargers with built-in safety features, and multi-port charging docks for efficient charging without cords.
A desk lamp for studying or working combined with a charging pad for our devices…that sounds like an ideal combination, doesn’t it? But the design has some drawbacks that might seem less than perfect. We’ll look at some reasons to avoid a new wireless charging lamp. But first, let’s discuss some background details.
Some Background on the Wireless Charging Lamp
Nikola Tesla developed the first wireless charging in the late 19th century. However, there weren’t many practical applications for the technology beyond some electric toothbrushes.
Tesla created and transmitted electricity through a magnetic field between a transmitter and a receiver, called magnetic resonant coupling. However, today’s smartphones use different wireless technology.
Now, an electromagnetic field lies between two copper coils and limits the distance between a charging pad and your device. So, even though wireless charging is the next wave, it isn’t perfect.
Hopefully, continued improvements will allow small Internet of Things (IoT) devices to recharge greater distances from a charger’s physical base.
However, for the most part, the coils in your phone or other device need physical contact with the charging base in order to work most efficiently. Once there is contact, the charging signal focuses on your device’s receiver coil to start battery charging.
Reasons to Avoid a Wireless Charging Lamp
Here are seven reasons to avoid a wireless charging lamp. But don’t worry; we’ll offer some alternatives below.
1. Charging Speeds
- 3-level brightness (Low, Medium, High)
- Features 5V/ 2.1A USB port and latest wireless charging
- Designed for a classic and elegant look
- 8 watts
The primary reason to avoid a new wireless charging lamp is the slower charging speed. When compared with plugging your phone into a wall socket with a fast-charging cable, the lamp base provides a painfully slow charge. If you need your devices up and running quickly, using a fast charger with a solid cable is best.
2. Size Options
The charging base is sometimes too small for full functionality. So, make sure you check your phone’s measurements against the wireless charging lamp base.
Finding the balance between sleek and in-efficient or bulky but efficient is important. While having fewer cords lying around is great, you might not find the best size option for your devices.
3. Trying to Accomplish Too Much
Some manufacturers want one item to accomplish several tasks, potentially resulting in a lower-quality option. So, if you’re looking for a lamp that charges your devices and also has a built-in speaker to play music, you could be asking too much.
It’s difficult to excel at all three tasks with one device. And you might be better off with a separate speaker system or device charger.
4. Stop Charging Intermittently
Sometimes, the problem with intermittent charging issues on wireless charging lamps isn’t with the base at all. For example, if your phone case has a spot for your credit cards and driver’s license, it may be too thick to get a good charge without a cord.
Your phone’s battery might also be the issue, so try another phone, and if it charges fine, then the intermittent charging issues might not be the charging lamp’s base.
5. Light Flickers When Charging
- Built-in USB charging port (5V/2.1A) and 2-prong AC outlet (120V)
- 3 levels of brightness
- Noise-free touch control design
Nothing is worse than trying to work when a nearby light continually flickers. Some wireless charging lamps have the problem of flashing or flickering lights when charging your devices.
Of course, it could be environmental interference, meaning you simply have too many devices (including a microwave or fridge for kitchen island workstations) clustered in a small area. And while removing a device might stop the flicker, it isn’t a great long-term solution when you need to charge.
6. Charging Area Too Hot
Have you ever gotten the notification that your phone is too hot and charging will resume once it has cooled down? That same phenomenon is a reason to avoid a new wireless charging lamp.
The charging base might get too hot, so you have to remove your phone until it’s cooled down. You can try removing your phone case to cool your phone faster. But that doesn’t actually fix the base heating issue.
7. No Phone Use When Charging
Another reason to avoid a wireless charging lamp is that you can’t use your phone or tablet while it’s charging. On the other hand, with wired charging, you can still pick up your device to answer a call or search Google.
Alternatives to Wireless Charging Lamps
If you want to avoid a new wireless charging lamp, here are some excellent alternatives.
Fast Charging Cable
- Reversible design
- Up to 480 Mbps data transfer speed
- Certified by USB-IF to be compliant with USB 2.0
Connect a fast-charging cable with a wall charger for the quickest battery charge for most devices. Depending on your needs and your desk setup, this combination offers convenient and quick charging.
- 100 Watts
- 4 ports (1 USB-A, 3 USB-C)
- Protection from overheating/ overcharging
- Super fast charging compatible
Of course, if you’re trying to reduce the number of cords on your workstation, you might opt for something different. But for speedy recharging, you can’t beat the fast-charging cable and wall charger option.
Fast Charger
- Compatible with Qi-enabled Apple iPhones with charging speeds up to 7.5W
- Integrated LED lights indicate the charging status
- Comes with a 2-year limited warranty
Since some smartphone manufacturers no longer include power adaptors, you might purchase your own compatible fast charger. These chargers have built-in safety features to protect your gadget while charging.
They recognize your device and allocate the ideal amperage current for it to charge fast. Fast chargers are suitable when you want to avoid a new wireless charging lamp because of the overheating protection.
They continually monitor the temperature, shift the power outage to decrease heat buildup, and safeguard your phone or other devices. And that prolongs your device’s battery life and provides safe, fast charging.
Multi-Port Charging Dock
- 3 Lightning cables, 2 Type-C cables, 1 Micro USB cable, and an Apple Watch charger holder
- Also features a Type-A to Type-C adapter converter
- Max output of 2.4A delivers up to 80% faster charging
- Compatible with Apple and Android devices
When you’d like to charge more than one device without cords hanging everywhere, a multi-port charging dock helps you avoid a wireless charging lamp. Use the included short-length lightning, Type-C, and micro USB cables to charge your devices efficiently without a tangled mess.
Some charging docks even have a dedicated spot for your Apple Watch or similar device. So, you keep all your electronics in a tidy area without cables running everywhere. If you like the simplicity of charging stations, a multi-port charging dock is an efficient way to avoid a new wireless charging lamp.
Wrap-Up: Reasons to Avoid a New Wireless Charging Lamp Today
We’ve outlined seven reasons to avoid a new wireless charging lamp.
- Their slower charging speeds can’t compare to the quick recharge you’ll get from plugging into a wall outlet.
- You are limited to the charging pad size option that comes with your selected lamp. Some have small pads that only charge one device at a time. Others may have larger charging bases for tablets but may take up too much of your workstation area.
- Some wireless charging lamps try to accomplish too much and then don’t live up to expectations. So, an all-in-one solution might not be your best choice.
- Sometimes, wireless charging lamps stop charging intermittently, and that could be due to your phone or tablet case. If your case is too thick, you may need to remove it before trying to charge wirelessly.
- A flickering light sometimes results from wireless charging, and it is super annoying.
- Another reason to avoid a new wireless charging lamp is that the base sometimes gets too hot, and you must pause charging.
- And the most annoying part of using a wireless charging lamp is that you can’t use your phone during the charging process.
Hopefully, you’ve found a great alternative from our list and can avoid a new wireless charging lamp while still meeting your charging needs.
Summary Table
| Reason | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Charging Speeds | Slower charging speed compared to fast-charging cables |
| 2. Size Options | Charging base may be too small for some devices |
| 3. Trying to Accomplish Too Much | Multi-function devices may result in lower quality |
| 4. Stop Charging Intermittently | Issues with phone cases or batteries may cause intermittent charging |
| 5. Light Flickers When Charging | Lamp may flicker when charging devices |
| 6. Charging Area Too Hot | Charging base may overheat, causing charging to stop |
| 7. No Phone Use When Charging | Cannot use phone or tablet while charging on the base |
The image featured at the top of this post is ©mariakray/Shutterstock.com.
