What is wireless charging and how to use it?

2020 - Sep - 11 Jason

Wireless charging can help you ditch your USB cable for good

More and more smart phones are now offering wireless charging alongside the standard wired charging we’re all used to. However, if you're looking to truly consign your USB cable to the back of a drawer somewhere, it’s a little more complicated than you might expect. This guide will make sure you’re up to speed on how wireless charging works, how to use it and what to look out for when buying a wireless charger yourself.

How does wireless charging work?

Wireless charging requires two specially designed coils of wire — one in the charger, and one in the device you want to charge. When you power up the charger, it sends a current through its coil, which, when placed in close proximity to a device, will induce an electric current its own internal coil. This powers up your phone.

How fast is wireless charging?

Qi-certified charging pads (see more on these below) have between a 5W and 15W output depending on the phone and pad combination you’re using. This is likely slower than wired charging blocks, which tend to vary between 20W to 30W on average, although some wireless chargers can produce higher wattages in certain circumstances. For example, Huawei’s Super Charge adapter can charge up to 25W, but only when used with certain Huawei phones.

Why should I use wireless charging?

Obviously convenience, for one. With a wireless charger, you no longer need to plug a cable into your phone to power it up. Many wireless chargers will need to be plugged in to operate, but it still means you don’t have to mess around finding the end of your charging cable to plug into your phone — you can simply place it on top of the pad until you're ready to to pick it up and use it again.

Compatible charging pads and mats are available in public spaces around the world too, which means you don’t have to worry so much about carrying your power adapter, particularly if you’re travelling abroad and don’t have a compatible connector.

Which smart phones use wireless charging?

There are hundreds of phones which can be wirelessly charged, and thousands of products that you can buy to charge them. The Wireless Power Consortium keeps a full list of both wireless chargers and chargeable devices, but below are some examples from some of the most popular smart phone brands around:

Samsung: iPhone 8, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max