I'm no expert, but my old Antex 16w 240v soldering iron seems to melt solder perfectly well for THT components etc.
Meanwhile, USB soldering irons seem very poular.
As far as I can tell, they heat up quickly, monitor their own temperature, shut down if not moved, have an OLEDs, can be used in the field via a USB-C-PD, cost about twice as much and usually ship without a PSU.
But once you're melting solder, are they actually any easier to use? Will it make my soldering better? (Serious question.)
I started with a simple on/off soldering iron, then moved to an Athen 936B (analog temperature control with an LED indicating heating/not heating), and later to a KSGER T12 (digital control, LCD display, tip calibration, sleep mode, boost, etc.).
I could use any of them for almost any soldering job, but the difference between each step up was huge. Every time I bought a better one, I practically stopped using the previous one.
Why not include a link to to this soldering iron or an image?
People are more likely to take an interest than spend time searching for it.
What made the process easier? What am I not realising is harder than it needs to be and would be solved by something else?
I briefly had a cheap solder station with variable temp and on/off light, but I never found it easier to solder with. If anything the extra bulk and cable got in the way. (It died before I got to like it.)
Can you actually get 16W from a USB iron?
Max current for USB2 is only 0.5A, so max watts = 2.5W
They are portable; my soldering station is not.
Who said anything about using USB2 ?
What is the max wattage available from USBC PD ?
Who said anything about USBC PD?
I did
You can use any USB device with a USBC power supply that implements PD including a 2.5W iron.
Enough of the who said she said. 
It's only a little off topic.
USB soldering irons are better/worse than mains powered - discuss. 
That is not the question posed in your original post. It was more like "a fast heating, portable, temperature controlled soldering iron with automatic standby mode and an OLED display screen is better than the Antex 16w 240v soldering iron that I currently use - discuss"
Answer: Yes, if the soldering that you do requires such sophistication and if you use the new iron properly.
My bad.
I have never used a USB iron, but I would imagine it would be fine to use on small repairs/mods to a circuit. But if you start out to solder dozens of components on an empty board, and your soldering skills are above beginner level, it might not keep up with you. If it has only 2.5W available input power, it could only solder a limited number of joints per minute, simply because it has to heat up all the component legs, pads and solder for each joint, each of which takes a certain amount of energy to do.
Depends, I would not buy one of the cheap ones that are only 2.5W
My USB charger can charge 30W. For soldering it should be enough 
I've been using a 15W Antex iron since 1968 and for most PCB work it's the one I pick up first. I use a Hakko station for higher wattage needs. I haven't used a USB C powered iron yet but one with an adequate PD source should be fine.
