Wireless charging technology is now built into almost all current smartphone models. This allows you to charge your phone quickly and easily, and without any cables. But how exactly does the whole thing actually work? This is a question we get asked regularly. That's why we thought we'd put together all the important information about wireless charging in a practical format and hope to be able to answer your questions!
How does wireless charging work?
Wireless charging charges your smartphone without having to connect the device directly to the power supply. The technology behind it works via induction by transferring energy through heat. This technology can also be found in devices like induction stoves and electric toothbrushes.
Inductive charging is made possible by built-in coils in both the charging station and the device, through which the current is transmitted. As soon as two compatible coils are placed on top of each other, the inductive charging process starts and your phone is charged.
Although the wireless charger still needs to be connected to a power source, you will never have to rely on a suitable charging cable again and can use a wireless charger to charge various devices such as iPhones, Android smartphones and even your AirPods.
What is the Qi Standard?
Qi is one of the various wireless power transmission standards, i.e. a standard for implementing wireless charging. Under the Chinese word for life energy, many major vendors, including Apple, Samsung, and Sony, have joined together to form the Wireless Power Consortium, allowing one device to be used for a wide range of smartphones. Imagine having to buy a separate charger for each smartphone!
With a uniform standard, you can thus also use third-party products instead of the (usually more expensive) charging stations of the manufacturers and often in much more individual designs.
The Qi standard has been around since 2008 but was only adopted in Germany much later. There are now over 800 products that use and support the wireless charging standard, including lamps and tables with integrated wireless charging stations.
Are there any other wireless transmission standards?
Qi is far from the only wireless standard. The Power Matters Alliance's Powermat technology also uses inductive charging, and some Samsung smartphones also support the Alliance for Wireless Power's magnetic recency technology.
Will wireless charging hurt my phone battery?
Because inductive charging generates heat, many people worry about the impact on their phone battery. With a wireless charger, you often put your smartphone on much more to charge than if you had to plug it in first. As a result, there is much more frequent use and a corresponding reduction in battery life. However, the induction technology itself won't harm your smartphone. Many wireless chargers are also equipped with an integrated overheating protection and automatically turn off as soon as no smartphone is connected or it is fully charged.
Is the radiation during inductive charging dangerous?
At the word electromagnetic radiation, one is quickly alarmed. However, the magnetic field generated by inductive charging has a very short range that could definitely not harm you. Even more, foreign object detection and overcharge protection protect against prolonged activity of the charging station and automatically turn the device off. However, you should keep metal objects away from your wireless charger during use, as they can affect the charging process.
Can my phone wireless charging?
That depends on the manufacturer and model of your smartphone. In general, however, most new smartphones are Qi-enabled.
What requirements must be met?
To be able to use wireless charging, you first need a smartphone with Qi function, i.e. your phone has the inductive charging coils to be able to connect wirelessly to a charger. Next, of course, you also need a Qi-enabled wireless charger. These are available with different outputs such as 5W or 10W. For the right charger, take a look at our Inductive charging station made of wood at.
Can I retrofit older models?
Older models, such as the iPhone 7, are not equipped with the inductive charging function. However, you can help with supplementary products. For example, you can use a so-called Qi receiver that can easily be inserted into your smartphone case. This thin mat contains the necessary coil for receiving the inductive charge and easily connects to your phone via Lightning or USB-C port.
Which smartphones can charge wirelessly?
The following smartphone models are currently qi-capable and can be used for wireless charging without upgrading.
Apple
iPhone 8 (Plus), iPhone X(s), iPhone Xs Max, iPhone Xr, iPhone SE (2020), iPhone 11 (Pro/Pro Max), iPhone 12 (Mini/Pro/Pro Max), iPhone 13 (Mini/Pro/Pro Max), iPhone SE 3 (2022), iPhone 14 (Pro/Plus/Pro Max) & all Airpods.
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Fold 3, Z Flip 3, Galaxy Z Flip, Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy Fold
Samsung Galaxy S22 (Plus/Ultra), Galaxy S21 (Plus/Ultra), Galaxy S20 (Plus/Ultra/FE), Galaxy S10 (Plus/E), Galaxy S9 (Plus), Galaxy S8 (Plus), Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge (Plus)
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 (Ultra), Galaxy Note 10 (Plus), Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy Note 7, Galaxy Note 5
Huawei
Huawei P50 (Pocket/PE), Huawei P40 (Pro/Pro+), Huawei Mate 40 Pro, Huawei P30 Pro, Huawei Mate 30 (Pro/RS), Huawei Mate 20 (Pro/X/RS), Huawei Mate RS
Sony
Sony Xperia 1 IV, Sony Experia 1 III, Sony Xperia 1 II, Sony Xperia XZ3, Sony Xperia XZ2
Nexus 7, Nexus 6, Nexus 5, Nexus 4
Pixel 7 (Pro), Pixel 6 (Pro), Pixel 5, Pixel 4 (XL), Pixel 3 (XL)
Xiaomi
Xiaomi 12 (Pro), Mi 11 (Ultra), Mi 10 (Pro/Ultra), Mi 9 (Pro), Mi Note 10
Nokia
Nokia XR20, Nokia 9 PureView, Nokia 8 Sirocco
Nokia Lumia 1520, Lumia 930, Lumia 920, Lumia 830, Lumia 735
LG
LG V60 ThinQ 5G / LG Dual Screen, LG Wing, LG V50 ThinQ, LG V40 ThinQ, LG G8X ThinQ, LG G8s ThinQ, LG G7 ThinQ, LG Velvet 5G, LG V30
OnePlus
OnePlus 9 (Pro), OnePlus 8 (T/Pro)
as well as individual models from Gigaset, Oppo, Motorola, Blackview, etc.
You have a qi-enabled smartphone and are looking for the right wireless charger? Ideally, your wireless charger should be able to charge with at least 10 W and have several charging coils integrated. This way, you can be sure that your smartphone is charged with full charging power.Take a look at our store! With our wireless chargers, you can even use the fast charging mode of up to 15 W with up to 3 devices simultaneously!
