The iPhone X was a massive gamble for Apple back in 2017. It killed the home button, gave us the "notch," and, perhaps most importantly for the long-term health of our pockets, finally introduced iPhone X wireless charging. I remember sitting in the Steve Jobs Theater (virtually, of course) when Phil Schiller announced the glass back was back. Everyone knew why. Metal blocks induction. Glass lets the energy flow. But honestly, even years later, people are still struggling with why their X gets blazing hot on a charger or why it suddenly stops at 80%.
It's not just a "set it and forget it" situation.
The Reality of iPhone X Wireless Charging Speed
If you’re expecting lightning-fast speeds, you’re gonna be disappointed. The iPhone X uses the Qi standard, which is basically the universal language for wireless power. When it first launched, it was capped at a measly 5W. Apple eventually bumped that to 7.5W via a software update (iOS 11.2), but let’s be real: that’s still slow. If you compare it to a modern 20W wired brick, the wireless option feels like it’s moving through molasses.
There is a specific dance happening between the copper coil inside your phone and the one in the pad. If they aren't lined up perfectly, efficiency drops off a cliff. You aren't just losing time; you're creating heat. This is the biggest gripe most users have. Because the iPhone X doesn't have the MagSafe magnets that the iPhone 12 and later models have, you’re basically playing a game of "find the sweet spot" every single night.
Why does the phone get so hot?
Heat is the enemy of lithium-ion batteries. Period. When you use iPhone X wireless charging, you’re essentially dealing with an inefficient energy transfer. About 20-30% of the power being pulled from your wall outlet isn't making it into your battery—it's being converted into raw heat.
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If you have a thick case, like an OtterBox Defender or something with a lot of silicone, you're basically wrapping your phone in a winter coat while it’s trying to run a marathon. The heat can’t escape. When the internal sensors hit a certain threshold, iOS kicks in. It’ll throttle the charging or stop it entirely until the temp drops. This is why you wake up sometimes and find your phone at 78% even though it was on the pad for eight hours.
Choosing the Right Hardware (And What to Avoid)
Don't just buy the cheapest $5 pad at the gas station. Seriously.
You want something that supports the Fixed Frequency 7.5W standard. Brands like Belkin, Mophie, and Anker worked closely with Apple during the early days of the X to ensure their chips talked to the iPhone’s power management system correctly. A cheap, non-certified pad might claim it does 10W or 15W, but the iPhone X will often default back to 5W because it doesn't recognize the handshake. It’s a safety feature, but it’s an annoying one if you bought the wrong gear.
I've seen people try to use those magnetic car mounts with a metal plate stuck to the back of their iPhone X. Don't do that. The metal plate will heat up like a frying pan. It’s a genuine fire hazard. If you want to use a magnetic mount and wireless charging, you need a specialized case that builds the magnets around the coil, not over it.
The "Sweet Spot" Problem
Since there are no magnets to guide you, placement is everything. If the phone is slightly off-center, the induction coils struggle to create a stable magnetic field. The phone will still say it's charging, but it’s pulling way more current than it should just to overcome the gap. This leads to—you guessed it—more heat and a battery that degrades faster over time.
- Look for pads with a rubberized grip so the phone doesn't vibrate off if you get a text.
- Avoid "Stand" chargers unless they have multiple coils. Single-coil stands are notoriously finicky with the iPhone X height.
- Check your wall brick. A 7.5W wireless pad needs at least a 10W or 12W input to actually hit its max speed. If you plug a wireless pad into an old 5W iPhone cube, you’re basically charging at a snail's pace.
Battery Health and the Long-Term Cost
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: battery health. The iPhone X is an older device now. Most original units are likely on their second battery or sitting at 80% capacity. Wireless charging is inherently tougher on a battery than wired charging because of the thermal stress.
If you plan on keeping your iPhone X for another year or two, you might want to limit wireless charging to occasional desk use rather than your primary overnight method. Or, at the very least, make sure Optimized Battery Charging is turned on in your settings. This feature learns your routine and waits to finish charging past 80% until you actually need it, which helps mitigate some of the heat-related wear.
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Honestly, the iPhone X was the "guinea pig" for Apple's wireless future. It works, but it’s unrefined compared to what we have now. You don't get the satisfying "snap" of MagSafe. You just get a glass slab that might slide off your nightstand if the haptic motor vibrates too hard during an alarm.
What to Do if It Stops Working
If your iPhone X wireless charging suddenly quits, it’s usually one of three things. First, restart the phone. I know it sounds like tech support 101, but the software responsible for the "charging handshake" can and does crash. Second, check your case. If you recently added a PopSocket or a credit card holder to the back, that's your culprit. Even a few millimeters of extra distance can break the connection.
Third, check the pad’s power source. These pads are notorious for being picky about the USB cable and the wall adapter. If the light on your charging pad is blinking, it’s usually a "Foreign Object Detection" error or an underpowered input.
Actionable Steps for Better Charging
If you want to keep using wireless charging without killing your iPhone X battery, follow these specific tweaks. Switch to a thinner case—anything over 3mm is pushing it. Avoid charging in direct sunlight or on a soft surface like a bed, which traps heat; a flat, hard desk is always better. If you find the phone is too hot to touch in the morning, it's time to ditch that specific charger and try a name-brand one with better thermal regulation.
Check your Battery Health in Settings. If you’re below 80%, the internal resistance of the battery is higher, which means it will generate even more heat during wireless sessions. At that point, a $69 battery replacement from a reputable shop will do more for your charging experience than any high-end wireless pad ever could. Keep the coils aligned, keep the environment cool, and your iPhone X will keep chugging along just fine.