With wireless charging becoming widespread in today’s society, many people are probably wondering whether or not it’s worth it. Well, I’m here to clear up some of the confusion.

For those who don’t know, wireless charging works by setting your phone, face-up, on the charging pad, and the pad charges your phone. The main problem with this system is that your phone needs to be near perfectly aligned for it to charge, and you can’t use your phone while it’s charging. 

With a wireless charging pad, your phone can charge much faster than with a cord. However, there is, again, a downside. “The technology has also improved enormously … the latest spec allows for up to 15 watts” says Simon Hill on Digital Trends. And while a wireless charger lasts longer overall, nearly 20% of the power that it generates is just released into the air. Wireless charging pads are also very expensive. Charging pads can start at $15 and can reach prices of over $70. Meanwhile, you can buy a four-foot cord for as little as $3. The charging pads are nowhere near as portable as cables, and they are very large, but they are also generally very light. 

One bonus to wireless charging technology is the ability to “share power” between phones, so that you don’t need a charger, as long as your friends have power. There are pros and cons to wireless charging, but it has its uses. 

Wires will never be completely gone, but they are falling out of style. With the increasing use of wireless charging, it might be worth it to look into the technology yourself.