Wires are the bane of the technology world. They make otherwise sleek and stylish technology look clunky and outdated, tethering these innovative devices to the past like a ball and chain. However, many recent smartphones have wireless charging functionality, and Motorola is starting to get with the program on more of its devices. While far from perfect, wireless charging has become an important feature that smartphone buyers are interested in. Motorola has been busy with releases in 2023 and has made strides regarding wireless charging. So, which Motorola phones have wireless charging?

What is wireless charging?

Wireless charging is the technology that allows a device, like a smartphone, to be charged without being plugged in. The technology usually takes the form of a pad or stand that can charge your device as soon as you place the device on top of it. The charger and phone have coils tuned to electromagnetic signals. The charger beams power a few inches, where the coil in your phone receives the signal and turns it into power via induction. This is one of the reasons modern phones are glass or plastic, which doesn't interfere with the wireless signal, but it can almost always work through a case, as long as it doesn't have anything in between (like a credit card holder).

The primary standard for most smartphones on the market is Qi wireless charging, which uses inductive charging for up to four centimeters. Another standard is Powermap (PMA), but with the likes of Samsung, Motorola, Huawei, and others opting for Qi wireless charging, it's safe to assume that's what you'll be working with.

Does my Moto have wireless charging?

The list of modern Motorola phones that offer wireless charging was, until recently, short. Only the Edge+ had evolved beyond a total reliance on wireless charging. The company focuses on budget and mid-tier devices, so it didn't embrace the technology as enthusiastically as Samsung and Apple. However, in recent months, the smartphone veteran bolstered its wireless offering. Here's an up-to-date list of all Motorola phones with wireless charging capabilities, which helps make them among the best Motorola phones of all time.

  • Motorola Edge 40 Pro
  • Motorola Edge 40
  • Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
  • Motorola Edge 30 Pro
  • Motorola Edge 30 Neo
  • Motorola Edge (2023)
  • Motorola Edge+ (2023)
  • Motorola Edge+ (2022)
  • Motorola Edge+ (2020)
  • Motorola Moto X30 Pro
  • Motorola Moto X40
  • Motorola Defy 2
  • Motorola Razr 40 Ultra
  • Motorola Razr 40
  • Motorola ThinkPhone

It's a significant shift from one device. But it's not surprising. Motorola isn't new to the wireless charging game. The company was an early entry into the technology, with a wide range of now-defunct devices sporting the technology. Here are a few discontinued Motorola phones that have wireless charging:

  • Moto X Force (2015)
  • Droid Turbo 2 (2015)
  • Moto Maxx (2014)
  • Droid Turbo (2014)
  • Droid MAXX (2013)
  • Nexus 6 (2014)

Will my Moto at least support fast charging?

A hand holding the Moto Edge smartphone face down with the metallic blue case facing the camera.

Charging convenience is all about speed. As wireless charging is generally slower than wired charging, it's been seen as a novelty. But that's starting to change. The Moto X30 Pro has an impressive 50W wireless charging speed, which outstrips the Samsung S23 Ultra and iPhone 15. However, that's the exception that proves the rule. Most of Motorola's devices fall within the current standard speed range of 5W to 15W. But, a fast wireless charging device needs a charger that can deliver.

If your device doesn't have fast wireless charging, Motorola offers some of the fastest wired charging budget phones on the market. Most notably, the Moto G60s offers 50W charging on its 5,000mAh battery, claiming it can charge for only 12 minutes and provide up to 12 hours of usage.

Other Motorola devices are not as impressive, but that doesn't mean they aren't fast. The Moto Edge+ allows for 30W charging (faster than Google Pixel phones), the Moto G Power allows for 15W charging, and the Moto G Stylus 5G allows 10W charging.

Is Motorola lagging?

Despite a recent leap in the right direction, Motorola isn't exactly at the frontier of the wireless charging movement. As a company, it's more concerned with building reliable, budget smartphones, and the best way to cut costs on smartphones is to do away with the least essential features, like wireless charging.

But in the end, Motorola needed to play catch up. And there are signs that Motorola is looking to the future. They partnered with GuRu Wireless, which aims to perfect remote wireless charging capabilities. According to Guru Wireless, remote wireless charging is the ability to charge a device while not plugged in and also at a distance of 10 to 30 feet. The technology is ambitious. Still, if Motorola can get it to work on its phones before anyone else, the smartphone company could leapfrog standard wireless charging.