More and more (more expensive) smartphones can wireless be charged. That sounds – and is – cool, but there are also some hooks and eyes. Android Planet answers the five most frequently asked questions about smartphone wireless charging.
Smartphone wireless charging: you need to know
Wireless charging is not new on smartphones: the Nexus 4 from 2012 supported the technique, for example. The past few years is wireless charging, of course, be improved, and that is for more and more phone manufacturers a reason to make their phones suitable. Among others, Samsung, Sony, Huawei and LG to sell wireless rechargeable smartphones. Apple is two years ago also tack gone. All the iPhone’s since the iPhone 8 will support wireless charging, what the fame and popularity of the method of charging a hefty boost.
Incidentally, charging not only smartphones wirelessly. The method of charging is also popular among electric toothbrushes, smartphones, and other (compact) gadgets.
1. How does it work?
Almost all smartphones that have wireless charging, using the Qi standard. Also the iPhone, for those who think that Apple is a different standard used. Qi (pronounced ‘chi’) works through induction, whereby electric power is generated through magnetism. You have a Qi charger is required, you up with a usb cable and a plug with a socket connects. So is the charger of power.
The wireless charger contains a so-called coil that creates an electromagnetic field issues. The smartphone has a similar coil that is designed to be the energy from the electromagnetic field to absorb. The absorbed energy is used to recharge the battery of your phone to charge.
2. Can each smartphone wireless charging?
No, certainly not. There are two requirements. A manufacturer must have phone for wireless charging, among other things, by the necessary coil in the smartphone. Because these parts cost money, you see that particularly expensive equipment with Qi charging support. On cheaper and mid-range smartphones is missing wireless charging usually.
The second requirement is that the phone has a back needs to have that wireless charging is possible. Because metal the wireless transfer blocks, have full metal phone is not Qi-support. Devices that charge wirelessly via the Qi-standard, feature a back cover made of glass or, in some cases, ceramics.
3. How to quickly charge a battery wirelessly?Is wireless charging just as fast as charging via the usb cable, it is a frequently asked question. No, is the answer. This is a difficult point, because how fast a phone is charging, depends on the size of the battery and the speed of the charger. Many budget and mid – range smartphones load wired in with about 10W, while more expensive devices with Quick Charge 3.0 support with up to 18W charge. Flagships like the Huawei Mate 20 Pro (4oW) and Oppo Find X (50W) load even faster – but only with thread.
The speed of wireless charging differs per smartphone, but generally runs between 5 and 15W. The Degree 20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S9 support, for example, 15W, while the older Galaxy S8 with 7.5 W charging. Also the iPhone 8 and newer 7.5 W, maximum wireless upload speed.
Manufacturers can also decide for wireless charging to limit non-official chargers. You want to make your phone wireless charging, with the maximum speed, then you need an official (expensive) charger to buy. To load Google’s own wireless charger the Pixel 3 (XL) with 10W, but external 10W chargers are the smartphone is limited to 5W. Google has announced this change as soon as external chargers are certified – although it is unclear when that will happen. When buying a wireless charger so well or he interacts optimally with your smartphone.
4. What improvements can we expect in the future?
The great improvement to which anyone smart is waiting for, is a higher upload speed, so the battery faster. At this moment your smartphone wireless charging with up to 15W, but it is likely that tech know this to stretch.
Another innovation where hard work is, is the increase of the range of the wireless energy transfer. Now you should have your phone on the charger, but it is much more convenient if the battery will also charge when your device is in a radius of one meter from the charger. There, bend handsome buttons their heads over, even though this innovation probably have to wait.
The third improvement which in our opinion is not fast enough, are more smartphones with support for wireless charging. Now, the technique is still reserved for more expensive phones because Qi charging is relatively expensive and is under. If the price goes down, manufacturers may choose to also cheaper devices equipped with the Qi technology. And the more people who have a phone have wireless charging can charge, the more attention will go to the sale of good Qi accessories and to the development of the Qi standard.
5. What are the best wireless chargers?
Do you have a smartphone that has wireless charging support? A wireless charger is a handy accessory, but which one should you have? Look at the compare what the maximum power of the charger is (5, 7.5, 10 or 15 W), or that is at least as high as what your smartphone supports. It is sin to a 5W charger to buy if you device with 10W can charge, because charging takes longer than necessary.
Also note that most wireless chargers only flat working, so when you smartphone on its back. There are also chargers with a slant back where your phone against it to the battery to charge. With such a charger can get your device easier to use while charging, although it is not everyone that is just as important.
If your smartphone wireless charging with a maximum of 10W, do you have a good purchase with this Xtorm-charger or similar charger of Trust. A phone that is up to 15W-loading supports, for example, can this 15W charger Zens. Do you want two smartphones at full brightness charging? Choose a wireless charger with a capacity of 20 or 30W, for example, this 30W model of Zens.