Wireless charging is nothing new, but it was with the release of the iPhone 8 and X that it became more popular. But how does it work?
Contents
Wireless charging?
Qi technology, pronounced “Tchi”, is a wireless technology created in 2008 by the Wireless Power Consortium. It is one of the most popular solutions when it comes to current mobile recharge. It is based on wireless power transmission with a maximum distance of 40 mm.
For this to work, you need a transmission medium and a compatible receiver that allow the charging to start thanks to the magnetic induction between the two devices. This power supply is the same as that of RFID chips.
You can now charge your smartphone without having cables getting tangled all over the place. The station can remain connected permanently (which is recommended) and when you want to charge your smartphone, you just have to put it on the holder.
Qi chargers
Let’s see together the different solutions of Qi charge. 😃 Yes, there are many different models and things you should know before you buy.
The different models
The most common are flat induction chargers. Rectangular, square or round, these wireless chargers are simply placed on a desk, bedside table or piece of furniture. The peculiarity is that we lay the phone on the support. They are the most discreet, because most often, when you put your smartphone on it, you no longer see the support.
Example with this Novodio Qi Charger
There are also variants of Qi chargers incorporating a tilting smartphone holder which then allows you to keep an optimal viewing angle to check emails, watch a video, etc.
The Zens ZESC06B charger opposite allows you to position your phone flat or tilted.
We spend a lot of time behind the wheel, and we therefore need a support to both charge and maintain our smartphone. There are supports that allow this:
The advantage of these solutions is that you no longer have to plug in your phone, the support remains permanently fixed. There will therefore no longer be any manipulation to plug it in when entering or leaving the vehicle.
To recharge your mobile wherever you are, there are even even more innovative solutions:
The TableLight desk lamp is an elegant LED desk lamp that incorporates an induction charging module. You will then have a source of lighting AND charging in a single product, allowing you to keep a tidy and uncluttered workspace.
What there is to know …
When buying an induction charger (Qi), two important criteria must be taken into account: the electric power (Watts) of the charger and whether this charger has a power supply supplied or not.
The charging power varies from one charger to another and this data is essential to be able to gauge in advance the speed of the charge. This power is expressed in watts (W) and may be higher or lower depending on the model of wireless charger you have chosen. As a general rule (with some exceptions), we find 5W, 7.5W and 10W induction chargers on the market.
Due to the energy loss inherent in wireless technology, this is referred to as “maximum” power. The wireless charging will therefore be more convenient but the classic cable charge will keep the advantage of charging speed (ex: with a Qi charger and an iPhone 8 Plus, we took a little more than 3h30 to obtain a full charge of an iPhone 8 Plus, where the original Apple charger only took 2h10).
5 W and 10 W are the powers that you will find most often but you will also find some chargers such as the Mophie Wireless Charging Base and the Belkin BOOST UP QI which offer 7.5 W and which, by the way, are currently the only chargers Qi to be officially put forward in the Apple catalog.
It should be known that the maximum power managed by an iPhone 8 (Plus) or X is 7.5 W (many rumors speak of a software clamping). Obviously, as the famous adage goes: “who can do more can do less”, and your 10 W charger will therefore be able to charge your iPhone at maximum speed without any worries.
For Qi chargers sold with a power supply like the models Belkin and Mophie discussed just above, your research ends here. They will be immediately usable when unpacking, all you have to do is connect it to an electrical outlet and place your smartphone on it.
For chargers sold without a power supply, you will then need to use a USB mains charger to which you will connect your Qi charger.
Technically speaking, any USB charger works without any problems.
🖐 But pay attention to a very important point: to take full advantage of your iPhone’s fast wireless charging function, a USB wall charger (not supplied) compatible with Quick Charge 2.0 or Quick Charge 3.0 is necessary (you can then opt for an ultra-complete model like the Novodio C -Charge Pro).
Clearly, let’s take the example of the original charger on your iPhone or iPad: it will work perfectly, you will simply be limited in the charging speed.
Find your model on Macway.com
Share the post “The Qi charger can be heard everywhere, but do you know it?”
