Robert Triggs / Android Authority
My position on USB-C is well-documented at this point; it’s a complex and opaque set of specifications and features that have become increasingly difficult to decipher over the years, resulting in a failure to live up to its promise. Still, when it comes to fast-charging my smartphones, there’s no denying that USB-C is the best option in terms of speed and efficiency. As convenient as wireless charging can be, it’s proving to be just as much of a headache in terms of compatibility, but without the fast charging times to help justify it.
However, whenever I pick a new phone to be my daily driver or recommend a new model to friends and family, I’ve recently started making sure they come with robust wireless charging capabilities. Not because I think this is how everyone should fast charge their handset all the time, but as a backup for the seemingly inevitable day when the phone’s USB-C port starts malfunctioning.
Does your phone's USB-C port act up while charging? 19 votes Yes 11 % Sometimes 11 % No, it's fine 79 %
USB-C ports constantly break on me
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Perhaps I’m just having a string of bad luck, but all four of my previous flagship daily drivers have suffered from USB-C connection issues in one form or another — it was just a matter of time. My Pixel 6 Pro developed a loose connection, with the cable wobbling and disconnecting easily when plugged in, which likely started around 18 months after I owned it. I had to angle the cable aggressively while plugging it in to achieve a connection. My Galaxy S22 Ultra suffered a similar fate, albeit in a little less time. Charging was less of an issue, but it constantly disconnected when transferring large files to my PC. Thank goodness for Quick Share as a wireless transfer backup.
Then there was my Pixel 8 Pro (the last Pixel I used daily), which certainly wasn’t as problem-prone. However, I recall it disconnecting from my computer at least a couple of times. This issue would likely have worsened had the phone not completely died on me after barely over a year of use. Now, I’m on to the OPPO Find X8 Pro, which I’ve owned for less than a year, and it already fails to charge unless I angle the cable just so inside the USB-C port. Equally confusing is that some USB-C cables seem to work fine while others won’t charge the handset at all, regardless of how I wrestle and wrangle the cable. Infuriating doesn’t begin to describe the experience.
My last four phones have all had USB-C issues of some kind.
I don’t think I’m doing anything particularly wrong here — there’s only one way to plug in a USB-C cable, after all. I wouldn’t say I’m particularly vigorous; if anything, my experience has encouraged me to try to be gentle. Perhaps some of my cables are causing the issue, maybe they’re too tight, or their pins are too abrasive, but I have absolutely no way of knowing which ones could be the culprits. My wife uses many of the same chargers and hasn’t encountered the same issues, so I think I’ve just been unlucky.
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