Wireless charging What is Qi?
Qi is a standard of wireless charging on smartphones. In this area, there are several standards that are competing with each other like the Qi of the Wireless Power Consortium, PMA or AirFuel Alliance. Most smartphones support these standards, meaning they can charge on most standard chargers. Among them, Qi is quickly becoming the most popular wireless charging standard and used by Apple on iPhone 8 and iPhone X.
How does wireless charging work?
Wireless charging works by transferring energy from the charger to the receiver on the back of the phone via electromagnetic induction. The charger uses induction coils to create an alternating electromagnetic field, and the receiver in the phone converts them back into electricity to recharge the battery.
Ikea's wireless charging table. Photo: Ikea
Wireless charging usually has a charging dock or charging plate, the phone and the charging dock often have to be close to each other and placed in the correct position on the base or charging plate.
Is the phone warming when wireless charging?
Yes, most phones and chargers will warm up at the contact point for charging. When charging via cable, the phone is also slightly warmed up, so this is not a big problem or a concern. However, if it's too hot, there might be something wrong with the battery, just like on the Galaxy Note 7.
Is there any disadvantage to wireless charging?
The biggest drawback of wireless charging is that it cannot be charged via metal (with current technology). This means that most smartphones that want to charge wireless must have a glass or plastic back. It also does not work if the plastic paneling, or the plastic back is too thick (thin plastic is ok).
Is wireless charging a big change?
Wireless charging standards have been available for years, now most devices support multiple standards, otherwise at least support Qi. In the future, wireless charging will become the standard for smartphones. The fact that Apple supports Qi can help it become the primary wireless charging standard in the future.
Is it necessary to buy Apple wireless charger for iPhone, Samsung for Galaxy S8?
The short answer is no. As long as the charger fits the wireless charging standard supported by your smartphone, you can use any wireless charger.
Apple's new AirPower wireless charger. Photo: Josh Edelson / AFP / Getty Images
Apple's AirPower wireless charger can charge many Apple devices at the same time as iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods. If you have more than one iDevice, this is one reason to buy AirPower.
Hopefully the article has partly helped you get a glimpse of wireless charging. Please share with us your thoughts on this type of charger by commenting below the article.
Read more: Why is a fully charged phone still running out of battery?