This study investigated the impact of charging cables on perceived usability and user performance during smartphone charging. Current smartphone designs typically feature a standardized charging port layout, and there is a lack of research on how this layout affects user experience. We invited 20 participants to perform a series of tasks on smartphones with charging ports positioned in three different locations. The results indicate that the placement of the smartphone charging port significantly influences perceived usability but does not affect task completion time. This finding highlights the importance of considering charging port placement in smartphone design to enhance the user experience. Designers should take into account users’ operational habits in order to optimize the placement of charging ports and improve device usability.