What is wireless charging? Is it faster or slower than wired charging? List of Android smartphones that support wireless charging

Apple just made wireless charging hotter with the launch of the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. But what do you know about wireless charging, things like how fast it charges, is it slower or faster than wired charging?

 

Of course, talking about fast or slow is a matter of perspective, as charging speed depends on many factors like the wireless charger you're using, the phone you're charging, and the standard you're comparing it to. Let's talk about them in more detail.

What is wireless charging?

Wireless charging is a type of charging where you don't need to plug a cable into your smartphone to charge it. Simply place it on a special pad or stand to start the charging process.

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What do you need for wireless charging?

First, you need a phone that supports wireless charging, or a case that supports wireless charging if your phone doesn't. Second, you need a wireless charger. These small charging pads or mats come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from the size of a mouse to a small plate made into furniture, and are available for a few hundred dollars.

Is wireless charging faster?

Most wireless chargers will be slower than charging via a fast-charging cable on a smartphone, like the Galaxy S8. Some wireless chargers are faster than others, with modern chargers offering more power, charging a big battery in as little as 2 hours. They are usually rated by wattage, usually 5W and 10W, or by a measure of output, around 1A at 5V compared to a standard 1A USB cable on the iPhone 7.

 

Samsung Galaxy S8 charging with Samsung wireless charger. Photo: Samsung

What is Qi wireless charging?

Qi is a standard for wireless charging on smartphones. There are several competing standards in the industry, including Qi from the Wireless Power Consortium, PMA, and AirFuel Alliance. Most smartphones support these standards, meaning they can be charged on most standard chargers. Of these, Qi is quickly becoming the most popular wireless charging standard, and is used by Apple on the iPhone 8 and iPhone X.

How does wireless charging work?

Wireless charging works by transferring energy from the charger to a receiver on the back of the phone through electromagnetic induction. The charger uses an induction coil to create an alternating electromagnetic field, which the receiver in the phone converts back into electricity to charge the battery.

Ikea's wireless charging desk. Photo: Ikea

 

Wireless charging usually comes with a charging pad or charging plate, the phone and charging pad usually need to be close together and placed in the correct position on the pad or charging plate.

Does the phone get hot when charging wirelessly?

Yes, most phones and chargers will get warm at the charging contacts. When charging via cable, the phone will get a little warm too, so it's not a big deal or anything to worry about. However, if it gets too hot, there may be something wrong with the battery, like it did on the Galaxy Note 7.

Is wireless charging a big change?

Wireless charging standards have been around for years, and now most devices support multiple standards, or at least Qi. It's likely that wireless charging will become the standard for smartphones in the future. Apple's support for Qi could help it become the primary wireless charging standard in the future.

Are there any disadvantages to wireless charging?

The biggest downside to wireless charging is that it can't charge through metal (with current technology). This means that most smartphones that want to charge wirelessly must have a glass or plastic back. It also won't work if the case is plastic, or if the plastic back is too thick (though thin plastic is fine).

Also, when charging wirelessly, you cannot charge and use your phone at the same time like with wired charging. As soon as you pick up your phone, the charging process stops.

You should also avoid wireless charging if you use a credit card case or RFID tag holder on the back of your device, as wireless charging can permanently damage the magnetic strip on your card.

And don't forget that wireless charging is still quite a bit slower than wired charging. Charging speeds will vary between manufacturers, but in general, charging a phone from empty to 100% with a standard 5W wireless charger will take around 3 to 3.5 hours.

List of Android smartphones that support wireless charging

In most cases, the glass back of today's high-end smartphone models can be considered a sign that helps us easily know whether the phone supports wireless charging or not. Of course, not all phones with glass backs support wireless charging, but it is almost a necessary condition to ensure the aesthetics of the device and help the charging process take place with maximum stability.

Some cheaper smartphones are equipped with plastic backs as a cost-saving measure, but note that wireless charging technology does not work through aluminum or other metals, at least not yet.

 

Below is a list of Android smartphone models from the world's leading manufacturers that currently support wireless charging technology for your reference. (This list will be continuously updated).

GOOGLE

1. Pixel Fold
2. Pixel 7a
3. Pixel 7 / 7 Pro
4. Pixel 6 / 6 Pro
5. Pixel 5
6. Pixel 4 / 4 XL
7. Pixel 3 / 3 XL

HUAWEI

1. Mate X3
2. P60 / P60 Pro
3. Mate 50 / Mate 50 Pro
4. P50 Pro
5. Mate 40 / Mate 40 Pro / Mate 40 Pro+
6. P40 / P40 Pro / P40 Pro+
7. P30 / P30 Pro
8. P20 Pro
9. Mate 20 / Mate 20 Pro / Mate 20 RS Porsche Design
10. Mate 30 / Mate 30 Pro / Mate 30 RS
11. Honor 30 Pro / Pro+
12. Honor V30 Pro

IQOO

1. iQOO 11 Pro
2. iQOO 10 Pro
3. iQOO 9 Pro
4. iQOO 8 Pro

LG

1. LG Wing
2. LG Velvet
3. LG G8 / G8s / G8X
4. LG G7
5. LG G6 (US Versions)
6. LG V60
7. LG V50
8. LG V40
9. LG V35
10. LG V30

MOTOROLA

1. Motorola Razr (2023) or Razr 40 / Razr+ or Razr 40 Ultra
2. Motorola Edge+ (2023)
3. Motorola Edge 40 Pro
4. Motorola ThinkPhone
5. Motorola Edge 30 / Edge 30 Neo / Edge 30 Pro
6. Motorola Edge (2022)
7. Motorola Edge+ (2022)
8. Motorola Edge+

NOKIA

1. Nokia XR20
2. Nokia 9.3 PureView
3. Nokia 9 PureView
4. Nokia 8 Sirocco
5. Nokia 6 (2018)

ONEPLUS

1. OnePlus 10 Pro
2. OnePlus 9 Pro
3. OnePlus 9
4. OnePlus 8 Pro

OPPO

1. OPPO Find X6 Pro
2. OPPO Find X5 / Find X5 Pro
3. OPPO Find N
4. OPPO Find X3 / Find X3 Pro
5. OPPO Ace 2

SAMSUNG

1. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 / Z Flip 5
2. Samsung Galaxy S23 / S23+ / S23 Ultra
3. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 / Z Flip 4
4. Samsung Galaxy S22 / S22+ / S22 Ultra
5. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 / Z Flip 3
6. Samsung Galaxy S21 / S21+ / S21 Ultra
7. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 / Note 20 Ultra / S21 FE
8. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip / Z Flip 5G
9. Samsung Galaxy Fold / Z Fold 2
10. Samsung Galaxy S20 / S20 Plus / S20 Ultra / S20 FE
11. Samsung Galaxy Note 10 / Note 10 Plus
12. Samsung Galaxy S10 / S10+ / S10e
13. Samsung Galaxy Note 9
14. Samsung Galaxy S9 / S9+
15. Samsung Galaxy Note 8
16. Samsung Galaxy Note 5
17. Samsung Galaxy S8 / S8+ / S8 Active
18. Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 Edge / S7 Active

SONY

1. Xperia 1 V
2. Xperia 5 IV
3. Xperia 1 IV
4. Xperia 1 III
5. Xperia 1 II
6. Xperia 10 II
7. Xperia XZ3
8. Xperia XZ2 / XZ2 Premium

ULEFONE

1. Ulefone Power Armor 19 / Power Armor 19T
2. Ulefone Power Armor 18 / Power Armor 18T
3. Ulefone Armor 17 Pro
4. Ulefone Power Armor 14 / Power Armor 14 Pro
5. Ulefone Power Armor 13
6. Ulefone Armor 12 5G
7. Ulefone Armor 11 5G / Armor 11T 5G
8. Ulefone Armor 10 5G
9. Ulefone Armor 7 / Armor 7E
10. Ulefone Armor 6S / Armor 6E
11. Ulefone T2
12. Ulefone Armor 5S

VIVO

1. Vivo X Fold 2
2. Vivo X90 Pro / X90 Pro+
3. Vivo X80 Pro
4. Vivo X Fold
5. Vivo X Note

XIAOMI

1. POCO F5 Pro
2. Mi 13 / Mi 13 Pro / Mi 13 Ultra
3. Mi 12S / Mi 12S Pro / Mi 12S Ultra
4. Mi 12 / Mi 12 Pro
5. Mi Mix 4
6. Mi 11 / Mi 11 Pro / Mi 11 Ultra
7. Mi 10T Pro
8. Mi 10 / Mi 10 Pro / Mi 10 Lite / Mi 10 Ultra / Mi 10S
9. Mi 9 / Mi 9 Pro
10. Mi Mix 3
11. Mi Mix 2S

ZTE

1. ZTE nubia Z40 Pro
2. ZTE Blade 11 Prime
3. ZTE Axon 10 Pro / 10 Pro 5G
4. ZTE Axon 9 Pro

Some other Android phones that support wireless charging

1. TCL 20 Pro
2. Razer Phone 2
3. Meizu 18 Pro

Read more: Why does my phone's battery run out quickly even when fully charged?