With technology becoming so convenient, it’s only a matter of time that wireless charging becomes the only way to keep devices powered.
As the name suggests, wireless charging means you get to charge a device without plugging it into a power source. Simply put your phone or tablet on a charging pad, and it automatically starts powering the device. No wires, no messes, and no more fighting over who gets to charge their phone first.
You’ll be surprised to know that wireless charging has been around for over 100 years. Nikola Tesla first pioneered the technology when he discovered magnetic resonant coupling.
Without getting too technical, it basically means that he was able to transfer electricity through the air by creating a magnetic field between two circuits. (Ever watched The Prestige? Nikola Tesla was actually depicted in the movie by David Bowie and is shown to use magnetic coupling to transport Hugh Jackman for his illusion trick!).
Today, there are a growing number of wireless charging technologies in use. All are aimed at cutting cables for almost everything — from smartphones and tablets to kitchen appliances and cars.
Because wireless charging offers increased mobility, it has recently picked up a lot of attention from manufacturing industries — especially the smartphone industry. With Apple finally introducing wireless charging in its new iPhone series, the technology is set to gain attention and soon be widely accepted by both consumers and corporations.
Here’s how wireless charging works, and why it could be the right fit for your device powering needs:
How does wireless charging actually work?
We briefly touched on the basics of wireless charging technology in our previous blog. However, we’d like to dig a little deeper to understand how it actually works.
It’s pretty obvious that the true purpose of wireless charging is to eliminate the need for wires and cables. The main objective behind wireless tech is to offer greater mobility and convenience. By simply placing a smartphone on a special mat or tabletop, consumers can enjoy simple and effective charging without any hassle.
Wireless charging is also known as inductive charging. It basically allows you to power any compatible device by placing it on a charging spot. It works with electromagnetic fields that allow transferring energy between two devices.
A transmitter is connected to a power source, and through an induction coil generates an electromagnetic field. When a receiver is put within the range of the transmitter, it receives the energy that is transformed in electric current.
It’s like when you use your stove to boil a pot of water. You’re simply pulling electrical energy from the metallic coil at the bottom of the put to heat up the pot, and ultimately the water inside. Wireless charging technology uses the same principle and uses the induction coil in the charger pad to generate energy, and feed it to the smartphone battery.
Qi Wireless Charging
There are many different types of wireless charging standards and the industry is full of competing forms. However, one of the most popular and widely used standards is Qi wireless charging.
Most smartphones support both Qi and PMA/AirFuel Alliance standards, meaning they will work on most available charges in the market. However, Qi is rapidly becoming the most in-demand wireless charging technology (and the one used by Apple for its new iPhone 8 and iPhone X series).
Qi chargers come in various price ranges and are easily available for purchase online. The great thing about Qi chargers is that they look sleek and are aesthetically appealing. Most of them look like a small pad that can be left on top of a desktop. Other chargers come in small round compact designs that can be built into furniture and can be used for offices and corporations.
Is wireless charging faster?
The simple answer is no. In most cases, wireless charging is slower than plugging in your smartphone or tablet through a cable to power it.
However, there are some wireless chargers on the market that are designed to provide faster charging time. They are equipped with modern higher-powered induction technology that is capable of completely charging a smartphone battery in about two hours.
They’re normally graded by wattage, with 5W and 10W chargers as being the most common. They can also be rated by output amperage, with 1A at 5V wireless chargers that are equal to a standard 1A USB cable charger (as most commonly found with iPhone 7).
How do I know if wireless charging is right for me?
The first thing you need to do is check to see if your smartphone is compatible with wireless charging.
If you like to keep up with the latest gadgets, and have recently purchased a new phone, chances are your smartphone is already natively equipped with wireless charging.
Here’s a handy list of new phones on the market that offers wireless charging option that you may have recently purchased.
You should also consider using a wireless charger if you hate keeping track of cables and need to move around your home or office a lot. Many companies are starting to equip their offices with built-in wireless chargers in common work areas, conference rooms, and even workstations. If it’s hard to keep yourself powered during office hours, maybe ask your boss to invest in one?
What do you need for wireless charging?
To charge your phone wirelessly, you need two things: a wireless charger and a compatible smartphone.
Wireless chargers come in various shapes and sizes, from larger mouse mat-like things to small discs built into furniture. You can browse through our shop to see the different types of Qi wireless chargers we have to offer.
Is wireless charging going to be a big thing?
Yes!
Consumer demand will spike in the upcoming year for wireless chargers. That’s because more and more phones on the market are becoming compatible with wireless charging technology, or have built-in native capabilities for powering up without wires.
Also, wireless charging in office and public spaces is also set to bring in more adoption of the technology. We can also expect to see a variety of other gadgets becoming more natively compatible with wireless charging, and smartphone providers adding this feature as a must-have in future phone series.
