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The new iPhone XS and Samsung Galaxy S9 both support wireless charging. But what is it, how does it work, and why should I use it? 

Apart from getting larger in size, smartphones also keep getting – with no better way to put it – glassier. Each side of the latest smartphones, both front and back, are made of glass.

Believe it or not, this isn’t to make it easier to smash or scratch the surfaces, but instead, it gives your phone the ability to pass through energy, which then allows your phone to be charged wirelessly.

The technology behind wireless charging relies solely on magnetic induction. This process uses an electrical current to produce a magnetic field, which then generates a voltage which powers your smartphone’s battery.

A number of individuals are enthusiastic about charging their phone without the need for cables, especially since the much-anticipated feature is available in Apple’s latest batch of iPhones. However, countless people still struggle with the idea of adopting cord-free charging over their trusty charging cable. Perhaps this could do with the lack of information provided, which causes individuals to not understand how wireless charging works? Or most importantly, why they should use it?

Within this article, we will be discussing what wireless charging is and how it operates. Carry on reading to uncover answers to commonly asked questions surrounding this technology.

What is wireless charging?

Wireless charging is the method of electrically charging battery-powered devices without the requirement for a wired electrical power connection. It allows the wireless transfer of electrical charge from a charging device to the receiving device (your smartphone). Wireless charging can also be identified as inductive charging.

What is ‘Qi’ wireless charging?

There are a number of charging standards currently competing in the wireless charging market for portable devices.

However, Qi (pronounced ‘chee’)- is the global standard to wirelessly charge the batteries on your smartphone. Tech giants such as Apple and Samsung have manufactured their latest batch of phones with Qi-enabled charging built in.

Similar to how Wi-Fi has grown to be the global standard for wireless internet connections, Qi has become the global standard for wireless charging.

How does it work?

Simply, this technology operates by conveying energy from a receiver in the back of the smartphone to a charger. An electromagnetic field passes energy between these two different objects by inductive coupling.

Wireless Charging - Induction coil generating an electromagnetic field.

Wireless Charging – Induction coil generating an electromagnetic field.

The advantages of wireless charging are that it is ultimately quicker and easier. Each time you are needing to charge your device, there is no need to have to plug and unplug it to do so.

How do I charge my phone wirelessly?

As suggested within the name, wireless charging means that you don’t need to plug a cable into your phone to be able to charge it. To charge your phone wirelessly, simply place it face up in the centre of the wireless charging pad or matt and watch your phone gain juice.

How to activate wireless charging: 
  1. Connect the charging stand/pad wall charger into a wall socket.
  2. Then simply place your phone on the wireless charger with the screen facing up.
  3. Finally, connect the other end of the charger into the back of the charging stand’s base.

What do I need? 

To charge your phone wirelessly, you will need two things. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, you will need a smartphone that supports wireless charging.

The second item you will need is a wireless charger. Wireless chargers come in various shapes or sizes, from larger charging stands to compact charging pads, if you are unsure which one to purchase check out our article here to discover our top 3 recommended wireless chargers.

Which phones are compatible with wireless charging?

To be able to charge your phone wirelessly, you must make sure that you own a smartphone that supports wireless charging, and the number of smartphones that are compatible with wireless charging is increasing.

Devices and that support wireless charging include:

  • Apple: iPhone 8, iPhone 8+, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max
  • Samsung: Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, Galaxy Note 9 (Aswell as more devices)
  • Sony: Xperia XZ3, Xperia XZ2 Premium, Xperia XZ2 (Aswell as more devices)
  • LG: G7 ThinQ, V30, G6 (US version only), G4 (optional), G3 (optional) (Plus more devices)
  • Nokia: 8 Sirocco
  • Huawei: Mate series (Aswell as more devices)
  • Microsoft Lumia: 1520, 1020, 930, 929, 928, 920
  • Google Nexus: 4, 5, 6, 7 (2013) Pixel series
  • BlackBerry: Priv (Aswell as more devices)

Is wireless charging faster? 

For the most part, wireless charging isn’t any faster than a charging cable. However, if you have one of the latest models from Apple or Samsung, like the iPhone XS or Galaxy S9, then your phone will come with ‘fast-charging’ capabilities.

For instance, Apple’s iPhone XS supports both normal wireless charging, as well as fast wireless charging. In order to be able to charge this smartphone at a quicker rate, you will need a Wireless Charger with Fast Charge. Wireless chargers that have the element of fast charge also work with smartphones that do not support fast charge mode.

Although wireless chargers may not overtake traditional charging cables in terms of speed, as technologies develop this is sure to change within the near future.

Do I need to purchase an Apple wireless charger for an iPhone 8 or a Samsung wireless charger for a Galaxy S8?

To simply put it, no. It doesn’t matter what brand of charger you use to charge your smartphone. As a matter of fact, some of the best wireless chargers on the market aren’t from manufacturers of phones.

If you are looking to purchase the best wireless charger out there, we recommend the oneo 15W Qi Fast Wireless Charger. 

 

oneo 15W Qi Fast Wireless Charger

oneo 15W Qi Fast Wireless Charger

The oneo Qi Wireless Charging Pad offers the ability to charge with ultimate freedom – no cables and no delay. This Wireless Charging Pad is faster than many standard wired chargers on the market and is essentially future-proof.

As smartphones get updated and new models are released, the wattage for charging will also increase. As this hardware is updated, you will not need to replace your oneo wireless charger any time soon due to its 15-watt charging output. This Qi-Certified charger is compatible with any Qi-enabled device and has the ability to charge through phone cases under 3mm thick.

The oneo 15W Qi Fast Wireless Charger is charger easy to use, providing wireless power whenever you set your device on the pad.

Is wireless charging safe?

As you are not able to physically see or feel magnetic fields, they have always been recognised as being quite obscure. In order to create an efficient wireless charging operation, manufacturers need to limit the magnetic field to closely surround the copper wire. They do this via a group of special materials, known as ferrites, which essentially conduct the magnetism very well. As the magnetic field flows through the ferrites instead of the air, almost none of the fields come out of the wireless charger.

To answer the question, yes! Wireless charging is very safe to use.

So, there you have it. Quickly and simply charge your devices with wireless power. Do you use a wireless charger? Or are you sticking to your traditional charging cable? Let us know in the comments below.

If you are looking for the best wireless charger for your device, be sure to visit our website now to view our full range of wireless chargers. 
Anya Beuzeval

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  1. […] with Apples A14 Bionic chip and the support for 5G connectivity, along with improvements to wireless charging. By introducing a Ceramic Shield, Apple claim that the iPhone 12 has the toughest glass in a […]

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