The Sam Vimes “Boots” theory of socioeconomic unfairness, often called simply the boots theory, is an economic theory that people in poverty have to buy cheap and subpar products that need to be replaced repeatedly, proving more expensive in the long run than more expensive items.
Mobile phones: I’m gonna throw the one I have away because the usb-c port worn out, just like the one before. After just 2 years.
I’m going to spend the extra money now and get a Fairphone
I nearly threw out a pixel 3 thinking the usb c port had worn out- in fact it had just got gummed up with fluff. A quick dig around with a pin (no shorting risk - checked) got it all and restored the port. Phone still going strong, but I do need to that about once a year
I had to do the same thing with my previous phones. Since my new phone has good wireless charging, I put a dust plug in the USB port and only do wireless charging now.
Is there a concern of wearing out the battery faster using only wireless?
(I’m not the person you replied to)
I’m unsure, I use both. In theory it should wear out less, since you’re loading slower and with less current. In practice it generates heat and this gets generated in the coils that are right near or on the battery, which then again causes wear… I’m not sure which effect is stronger, or whether it’s a trade-off and doesn’t do much of a difference.
Batteries primarily wear out from charging cycles, the more drain the worse. So constant cycles down to 5% and up to 100% are the most taxing. If you keep your battery between 20% and 80%, that is less damaging than 5% and 100%.
Batteries do have issues with fast charging and discharging. Discharging a phone fast isn’t really a concern. Fast charging can be a concern, but most phones that can do fast charging will manage the charge rate to be within the design specifications for the battery. Charging within the tolerances of the battery, but at the upper limit, isn’t ideal so slower charging is better for the battery long-term.
Wireless charging is a slower charging than being plugged in, which is generally better for battery health.
So if you treat your battery right, wireless charging is better for battery health. If you are always using your phone enough to kill the battery and then fast charge it up to 100%, your battery will not have the longest life. If you are killing your battery and wireless charge it to 100%, your battery will take less wear than wired fast charging. If you are keeping your battery between 20% and 80%, the difference in longevity between always fast charging or always wireless charging will not be night and day but the battery should have a longer life only wireless charging. If you change phones every one or two years and don’t run the battery dead, you probably won’t notice much of a difference wired vs wireless.
My S23U wireless charges at 10w(15w with OEM charger) and 45w wired. I also have the charge limit of 85% set and don’t generally use my phone enough to run the power down lower than 20%. I use 100% wireless charging because my work causes phone ports to get construction dust in them and may expose it to water while it is in my pocket, so I keep the port plugged and removing the plug to charge is a pain. My phone case(Rokform) supports wireless charging and Apple Magsafe accessories so I can use a magnetic wireless car charger and wireless charging puck; not having to plug my phone is such a huge convenience for me. I only change phones when the phone becomes unusable and batteries are what has kept me from keeping phones for more than 5 years. I don’t see myself ever going back to wired charging.
Not an expert on this, but the battery itself does neither know nor care where the power comes from, so the only thing making a difference afaik is how fast you charge (slower = better) and how much (keeping it at 20 to 80% is recommended).
Have you tried cleaning the port out? My last phone had issues with a wobbly cable and not always connecting when I plugged it in. Turned out a bunch of pocket lint and other debris got packed in there, and once I cleaned it out it worked like new. Had to do that twice in the 6 or so years I owned that phone.
Are you sure it’s worn out and not just dirty. Gunk and fluff from your pockets get in the port over time and each time you plug a cable in it pushes the gunk down to the bottom.
Eventually there’s so much crap in there the cable doesn’t push in fully anymore and doesn’t “grip”.
You can simply clean it with something small and non-metallic like a tooth pick. I usually cut a little sharp sliver off a plastic guitar pick.
Get to the bottom and scrape it all out. Try to avoid damaging the contacts in the middle.
It was like I had a new phone when I did this. And yeah a lot of dirt can build up in 2 years.
Second cleaning it out - makes a world of difference. I usually shave a toothpick down a little sharper with scissors, then gently fish out gunk and dust.
I second this, but woult deny the “gently”. I didnt get anything iut until i used some force.
Just in case the other 4 comments didn’t hit quite right:
Have you thought about cleaning the USB port out?
I guess uncovered ports on mobile devices is the new planned obsolescence.
Spending a little more on a case gets you a little flap to cover that opening. Or a very cheap plug that keeps everything out
I had that problem with a phone once. Turned out the port was just caked with lint from being in my pocket all day. It wasn’t enough to simply fire some canned air in there and blow it out, I had to get a thin piece of plastic (don’t use metal so you don’t wear out the connector pins) and scrape the inside of it, and I couldn’t believe how much kept coming out. Get a bright flashlight and keep going until you can see the wall at the bottom of the port.
I also started using a wireless charger to reduce how often I need to jam a cable in there in the first place, and now my current phones has been going strong for 4 years.
Have you tried replacing the cable? My xiaomi ate the connectors on usb-c cables every six months for some reason.
If cleaning it doesn’t work, check if it can easily be replaced and use an old phone in the meantime if you fuck something up (if you don’t have one someone you know must).
FYI, (and mostly for others) one can get magnetic usb cables. There is a part that lives in the port and the plugging/unplugging is via magnet. Works for power, I don’t know about high power or data.
Get a case with a USB port cover, or a little plug to fill in the hole so it’s not collecting pocket lint all day.