A phone case can slow down wireless charging by causing the device to heat up, according to a report by MakeUseOf.
Journalist Brady Snyder discovered that battery charging speed depends not only on the phone and the charging adapter but also on the protective case. Depending on the case used, a smartphone may take longer to charge due to heat buildup and other related factors.
In an experiment, Snyder examined how a case affects the charging process of his smartphone. An iPhone 18 Pro took 44 minutes to charge wirelessly without a case, whereas it took 62 minutes with a leather case—a difference of nearly 20 minutes.
The expert explained that a smartphone battery heats up during charging, and a case can hinder the device’s ability to dissipate excess heat. To prevent overheating, built-in safety mechanisms reduce the charging power, which in turn lowers the charging speed. During the experiment, the journalist used a wireless charger and concluded that a thick case increases the distance between the coils in the smartphone and the charger, further reducing charging speed.
In late October, the team at PC-Welt suggested that to reduce smartphone heating during gaming, users should power the device directly from the charger, bypassing the battery. This feature is particularly useful during long gaming sessions, when the device is already prone to heating up under a heavy workload.
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