Many new smartphones today are equipped with the option of wireless charging. But how do you know whether your own smartphone can do that too, and which charger brand fits and which doesn’t? And isn’t wireless charging bad for the battery? We answer the most frequently asked questions.
Which phones can do it?
Almost all brands now have models on the market that can charge wirelessly. Samsung, Huawei and LG, for example. Even the most recent iPhones can charge wirelessly very well.
Qi is the global standard (similar to Bluetooth, NFC, USB and Wi-Fi) for wireless charging. The name comes from Asian culture and means ‘vital energy’. All devices with the Qi logo work with all Qi certified chargers. Here you will find an overview of all smart phones that use Qi >>
How does it work then?
Qi involves inductive charging. This still requires a power cable, because the base station must be connected to the mains socket. So it’s not completely wireless yet. The fact that there is still talk about ‘wireless charging’ has to do with the fact that you no longer have to connect a cable to the smartphone itself.
The base station only comes into action when a suitable device is placed on it. The base station sends a test signal from time to time to check whether a Qi-enabled device is present. The smartphone returns a message to indicate what the signal strength is.
What’s in such a wireless charger?
Both the base station and the smartphone have a coil of metal wires. The system consists of a transmitter (the base station) and the receiver (the smartphone). The coil of the transmitter generates an electromagnetic field, which generates current in the coil of the receiver. The receiver then returns a signal to indicate what power is required and the base station adjusts the output accordingly. When the battery is almost full, the smartphone can send a signal that causes the base station to switch back to a lower power.
Isn’t wireless charging bad for the battery?
No, not at all! Because you can easily place the phone on the picture, the level of your battery will drop below 50% less often. This extends the battery life by up to 4x.
Benefits at a glance:
- Less hassle with cables.
- Qi standard works for all devices
- The cables can no longer break, and the charging port of your smartphone wears less quickly
Are there also disadvantages?
It is of course less convenient when you are traveling, such a charging plate takes up more space than a regular charger. And wireless charging can make the phone hot faster. It is also important to buy a ‘real’ wireless charger and not a cheap alternative. As with the cables, using uncertified chargers can damage your phone.
Source: Digitaltrends.com, Makezens.com
