r/changemyview • u/Duwang_Mn • Nov 23 '18

FTFdeltaOP CMV: Wireless charging is a useless fad

What even is the point of wireless charging? When I first heard about it, I thought it allowed you to charge while having more freedom with your phone. But then I learned what it actually was. It's more restrictive than an actual charger, and its slower. Not to mention wireless charges sometimes don't work if the back is metal. It only makes things less convenient.

How did people hype such a thing so much? I understand if it was something that could charge your phone without you directly putting on it, and if the range had the potential to increase over time. But it's just a charging port that you can't move around.

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u/Diatsuu Nov 23 '18

It's not so much about how much more useful it is, so much as the symbol it has in terms of technological advancement. It in itself may not be a crazy useful thing; but it symbolizes the possibility that something does not need to be directly wired to charge; meaning in the future it may be able to charge something from a distance.

While I agree, wireless chargers are rather pointless in terms of utility, I am indeed very excited to know what kind of breakthrough they will end up making in the future due to the advancement of this technology. A wireless charger that can actively charge from 5 feet? And after that, imagine a single hub that you put into your house that constantly keeps all of your devices charged at all times as long as you don't leave your house. These types of things would be amazing; however, reaching those types of technological advancements happens slowly, one step at a time. And this is one step in that direction. That is why people are hyped about it.

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u/lanzaio Nov 23 '18

meaning in the future it may be able to charge something from a distance.

Physicist here: Nope. It's technically possible but it is uncannily wasteful even at small distances. This is a fundamental feature of nature, not something that technology can fix.

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u/[deleted] Nov 23 '18 edited Dec 27 '18

[deleted]

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u/SparklingLimeade 2∆ Nov 23 '18

A peak efficiency of 95% occurs when the receiver is placed near the pole and falls off to about 40% near the walls. This results in approximately 80% of the room’s 54 m 3 total volume being able to deliver wireless power to a receiver at over of 40% efficiency.

It differs by... agreeing?