How Do Wireless Chargers Work
One of the most useful pieces of technology nowadays is a wireless charging pad. A wireless charger can make charging your electronic devices, especially your iPhone or Android, quite convenient, whether you put it on your desk at work or on your nightstand at home.
Wireless charging enables you to recharge your device’s battery without plugging it in. Typically, a wireless charger has the form of a pad or surface on which you can place your device to start charging. At first, the process of placing your phone on a wireless charger, moving away, and coming back to a fully charged device may feel like magic. There’s, however, nothing magical about wireless charging. And in this guide, we’ll explain in an easy-to-understand way how wireless charging works.
In addition, our collection of top-tier wireless charging accessories and gadgets can help you make the most of this fantastic and convenient technological feature.
What Is Wireless Charging?
Many different kinds of phone accessories now have a wireless charging feature. A wireless charger typically consists of a charging pad or station containing a transmitter coil that produces an alternating electromagnetic field, allowing the device to charge without being plugged in.
This charging method has become increasingly popular due to its simplicity and efficiency, allowing users to power up the battery by placing their devices on charging pads. Many iOS and Android devices now come equipped with built-in support for wireless charging. However, how do wireless chargers work?
How Does A Wireless Charger Work
These electromagnetic coils in the charging base function like an induction coil in a standard charger, that is producing a magnetic field that acts like an antenna, and transfers power to your device.
However, how does your device absorb this electromagnetic energy? They do so via a receiver. The energy released by the induction coil is picked up by a smaller electromagnetic coil inside your phone, tablet, or any other compatible device and then stored in the battery. This is what happens when we put our devices down on a wireless charger.
Some Of The Main Benefits Of Wireless Charging
While wireless charging is primarily associated with smartphones, the technology is also found in other types of gadgets. This includes tablets since they are pretty much identical to smartphones. Additionally, many smartwatches and other wearables can be charged wirelessly as well.
Convenient Charging
One of the benefits of wireless charging is the convenience of not having to use a cable to charge your device. Have you ever tried charging your phone only to find it still uncharged hours later because the cable connection wasn’t set right? Thanks to wireless charging this is no longer an issue. You can start the charging process by just putting your phone down on the pad. As a result, you will have less strain on your device’s charging port as you will not have to plug and unplug the cable all the time.
Less Clutter
The name of wireless charging itself reflects one of its significant advantages. The elimination of charging cables is a key benefit that comes with wireless charging. Instead of multiple cables, all you need is a power cord for the charging pad. With high-quality products like NYTSTND's multi-device wireless chargers, you can now enjoy a truly clutter-free lifestyle.
It Eliminates Compatibility Issues
Another benefit of ditching the charging cable is not having to worry about mismatched connectors, which is a constant concern among tech enthusiasts. The absence of a Lightning, Micro USB, or USB-C cord will no longer be a cause for concern.
Any Qi-enabled gadget can be charged from any Qi-enabled charger pad. You also don’t have to go through the stress of purchasing different wireless chargers for multiple devices. For instance, the 4-in-1 multi-device wireless charging station offered by NYTSTND fulfills all the requirements. Providing you with a sleek and convenient way to keep multiple devices charged at the same time.
How Do I Know If My Device Can Charge Wirelessly?
Check if your phone model specifically lists wireless charging as an option. Most new flagship phones, like the latest iPhones and Samsung models, offer wireless charging built-in or as an add-on. You can also search for a wireless charging coil or module listed in the phone specifications. As a last resort, simply place your phone on a universal QI-compatible wireless charging pad. If it starts charging, you’ll know that wireless charging is supported!
Does Wireless Charging Affect Your Smartphone Battery?
While wireless charging is usually slower than plugging your phone in, putting less stress on the battery during each charge, modern batteries are designed to handle both charging methods safely. So, there is no definitive evidence that it will cause long-term damage or substantially shorten the lifespan of a typical smartphone battery.
Does Wireless Charging Produce More Heat Than Wired Charging?
Since wireless charging uses electromagnetic waves to transfer energy, some energy gets lost as heat during the process. For this reason, wireless charging generally produces more waste heat than simply plugging your phone in. However, wireless charging standards have built-in protections to prevent overheating that could harm components. Modern devices also have temperature control systems to monitor heat levels and limit any excess temperatures that may pose a risk.
What is QI?
QI is a wireless charging technology standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium. It ensures different manufacturers’ chargers and devices work together seamlessly. The QI standard maintains consistent dimensions, power levels, and coil alignments for a hassle-free charging experience. QI has also rapidly become one of the most widely used wireless charging standards, supporting charging speeds up to 15W.
Inductive Vs Resonant Charging
Inductive charging is faster and can charge your phone even if it’s not lined up perfectly with the charger. It uses electromagnetic fields to transfer energy over a short distance, charging at speeds up to 15W. On the other hand, resonant charging is more efficient, but it’s slower and works best when your phone is closer to the charger. It can charge at speeds up to 5W.
How To Choose A Wireless Charger
First, confirm the charger supports your device model and wireless standard used. Then consider the charging speed since the higher the wattage, the faster a charger will replenish power. Check for extra features like foreign object detection and multi-device capacity. Finally, examine build quality as flimsy chargers may overheat or damage more delicate devices due to poor heat dissipation.
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