Wireless charging has been around now for quite a while, if you own a premium smartphone released within the past couple of years, the chances are that it supports wireless charging.

In recent times companies like Oppo, Oneplus and Apple are providing wireless charging features on some mid-range devices. That’s not all, wireless charging is also used to charge some wearable devices and a few true wireless earphones as well.

About a half-dozen wireless charging technologies are in operation today, all aimed at cutting cables to everything from smartphones and laptops to kitchen appliances and cars.

The wireless power market is expected to grow to one billion charging units by 2020, according to IHS, a market research firm in London. So, let me explain what wireless charging is, how it works, and everything else you need to know.

How Does Wireless Charging Work?

History of wireless charging

Wireless charging is not a new concept, frankly. It’s even older than the Ford Cars.

In 1831, the English physicist Michael Faraday first discovered the fundamental magnetic and electrical theories that led to induction charging, which transfers energy wirelessly between two receivers.

In the late 19th century, when electricity pioneer Nikola Tesla demonstrated magnetic resonant coupling – the ability to transmit electricity through the air by creating a magnetic field between two circuits, a transmitter, and a receiver.

But for about 100 years it was a technology without many practical applications, Prior to smartphones, smartwatches, and electric vehicles, most applications for wireless charging came down to…electric toothbrushes.

So…How Does Wireless Charging Work?

Wireless charging uses two inductive resonant couplings to transmit low-power signals between two units.

They are designed primarily to relay electricity without
touching each other as a typical wired contact does.

The charging device has a transmitter wire, and the smartphone has a receiver coil, the device is wired into the wall with its power source. The base station sends out a pulse periodically, and when a receiver coil gets close enough, the frequency switches the signal,

The waveform of the signal is then modulated and inductive charging begins.

Inductive charging requires the two electric coils specifically built to create a magnetic field between two devices. There is an complex mechanism involved, which enables a magnetic field to generate energy through the potential and oscillation difference.

Oscillation is a timed, repeated change and you can think of it as vibration in the case of an electromagnetic coil.

Best Smartwatches in India

The coil in your Android smartphone is also attached to the battery charging chain, and the electricity generated by the magnetic field charges the phone.

Electromagnetic induction is pretty good, and the fundamentals are that if you move an electrically conductive material, like a coil or winding, in the presence of a magnetic field you make electrons flow.

Things like a gas-powered generator also “create” electricity by creating EMF (electromotive force) using mechanical energy. Electromagnetic induction is also used in transformers and current measuring devices.

Excess heat is still generated and this is part of why wireless charging is not the most effective method of transmitting electricity from the wall to the phone. This is also why charging your handset on a Qi pad takes longer than plugging it in the wall.

While new methods and materials employ higher frequencies and thinner coils than previous iterations, wireless charging is still less efficient and more expensive than standard wire charging. It will stay this way for the foreseeable future.

What are the standards for Wireless Charging?

Wireless charging is relatively popular and has become even more streamlined. Yet Apple did not produce its own wireless interface, for once. Instead, it decided to follow the current Qi protocol which is now adopted by several other users.

Yet Qi isn’t the only standard around. The Qi standard, which is owned by the Wireless Power Consortium, Second is the Powermat, or PMA, standard from the Power Matters Alliance. Like Qi, it uses magnetic induction.

Unable to charge an iPhone with a PMA wireless charger.
Many systems are nevertheless compatible with both. Modern Samsung devices such as Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8, and Galaxy S7 actually support the Qi and PMA standards and can charge with either of them.

The Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP)’s Rezence uses magnetic resonance instead, a feature later introduced by Qi. That makes for greater positioning flexibility.

On a single charger, you can have multiple devices. You can charge your Smartphone, Smartwatch, and Ear podes at the same time. Rezence requires Bluetooth to communicate with the device.

The Power Matters Alliance and Alliance for Wireless Power have rebranded themselves the AirFuel Alliance, and are partnering to take on Qi.

Why do I want wireless charging in my next phone?

Now that we have a generally recognized standard — we are thinking about the Qi standard here — we need to note that any Qi adapter can operate with any Qi-certified unit.

Whether it’s a 500rs Chinese unbranded model from Amazon or a name-brand like Samsung or Zens, that means the charger you’re buying will fit with the system you’ve got now and any devices you’re buying in the future.

Bunch that with the usability factor — so you don’t realize how easy it is until you have bought a couple of Qi chargers so installed them in the positions you ‘re likely to set your phone.

You could have a Qi charger at your office, at the dining room table, one in your car and one at your nightstand. Rarely will your Galaxy S8 be charged less than 50 per cent.

Not because the battery life on the Galaxy S8 is great, or because Qi chargers work “better”, but because whenever it’s not in hand it’s charging.

There’s the initial cost of buying the charging bases, of course, but they’re quite cheap — about the same cost as a good wall wart and USB cable. As more and more handheld devices and smartphones move towards the Qi standard, more and more devices will be able to take advantage of the chargers.

Wireless charging versus cabled charging

Is wireless power just as fast as power through wires? Well, it’s all about power. A 5W wireless charging system can deliver up to 5W of power to your phone battery.

This is like a 5V/1A USB outlet and therefore it’s just as fast as wired charging (some amount of energy is lost during the transmission).

The latest developments in wireless charging enable us to charge even faster: up to 15W of power can be delivered to your phone. This will significantly reduce charging time and “battery anxiety”. Also, fast wireless charging is getting increasingly popular as the demand for faster chargers is growing in the market.

Best Fitness Bands and Activity Trackers

Is wireless charging safe?

Magnetism or magnetic fields are often viewed as a bit of a puzzle because you can’t see them, you can’t hear them and you can’t smell them.

To build an efficient wireless charging system, you need to limit the magnetic field closely around the copper wire loops.

This is done through special materials, called ferrites, which conduct the magnetic field very well, much better than air.

Therefore the magnetic field tends to pass through the ferrite rather than through the surface. Because of this, hardly any field emerges from the wireless charging system and is thus inherently safe.

What are the advantages of wireless charging?

• Safer way to power your smartphone.
• Simply drop your phone on the charging pad.
• Put less pressure on your phone’s charging port.
• Qi wireless charging pads are built in various places around the world, you can always charge your phone if you run out of power and don’t have a cable.

What are the disadvantages of wireless charging?

Wireless charging is slower particularly for telephones with Quick Charge technology-it would be much, much easier for such users to tap into a wall socket.

If you’ve got your phone charging via a cable, you can still hold it and use it as normal. If you take your phone off a wireless charging pad to use it, it stops charging.

Not all phones have it.

Speed up your Windows 10 in 10 minutes

The best wireless chargers for iPhone and Android in 2020

These are the best wireless chargers available to

power the iPhone or Android phone .

Traditional wireless chargers

Input type: Type-C
Input: 5V-12V/2A
Output (max):15W
What’s in the box: Type-C to Type-A cable and wireless charger
What we liked: Fast charging speeds
What we didn’t like: The base is a bit too small
MOP: Rs. 3,999
Warranty: 6 months

Input type: Micro-USB
Input: 5V/2A, 9V/1.67A
Output (max):10W
What’s in the box: Micro-USB cable, wireless charger
What we liked: Excellent performance; good build quality; unmatched value; extended warranty
What we didn’t like: Nothing, really
MOP: Arc 200 – Rs. 1,199 and Arc 500 – Rs. 1,499
Warranty: 2+1 years

Input type: Type-C
Input: 5V/2A, 9V/2A
Output (max):10W
What’s in the box: Type-C to Type-C cable, wireless charger
What we liked: Vertical stand makes it easier to use the smartphone while it’s being charged; fast charging speeds
What we didn’t like: Nothing, really
MOP: Rs. 2,999
Warranty: 6 months

Input type: Type-C
Input: QC 2.0
Output (max): 5W
What’s in the box: Nothing other than the charger
What we liked: Well designed
What we didn’t like: Type-C cable not included
MOP: Rs. 2,499
Warranty: 6 months

Input type: Micro-USB
Input: 5V/1A, 9V/2A
Output: 5V/1A (5W), 9V/1.1A (10W)
What’s in the box: Micro-USB cable and wireless charger
What we liked: Unique design
What we didn’t like: Design may not be to everyone’s taste
MOP: Rs. 1,599
Warranty: 1 year

Input type: Micro-USB
Input: 5V/2A, 9V/1.8A
Output: 5V-9V/1.5A (5W/7.5W/10W)
What’s in the box: Micro-USB cable and wireless charger
What we liked: Affordable
What we didn’t like: Slippery body
MOP: Rs. 999
Warranty: 1 year

Input type: Proprietary
Input: 15V/1.5A
Output (max): 7.5W
What’s in the box: Charger with charging cable and adapter
What we liked: Well-built; large base that allows the device to rest on the charger without any problems; extended warranty with equipment covered
What we didn’t like: Relatively slow speeds; expensive
MOP: Rs. 4,499
Warranty: 2+1 years.

Input type: Type-C
Input: 5V/2A, 9V/1.67A, 12/1.25A
Output (max): 5V/2A, 9V/1.67A, 12/1.25A (wired)
Capacity: 10000mAh
What’s in the box: Type-A to Type-C cable and power bank
What we liked: The convenience
What we didn’t like: The finish, and slow charging speeds with some devices
MOP: Rs. 3,699
Warranty: 1 year

Conclusion

This concludes our insights on wireless charger technology, I hope you will be able to make a better decision on purchasing a wireless charger after reading this article.

If you have any doubts or suggestions about this article, please let us know in the comment section below.

Thank you for reading and will catch you soon with the articles on Best wireless charger in india, Wireless charger under Rs.1000 and Wireless charger uder Rs.5000.

Note: The price mentioned in the article might vary based on the promotional offers run by the given E-commerce sites. Honest Reviews is supported by its readers. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.