How Wireless Charging Works

Wireless charging is one of many new features appearing in the latest smartphones, from Google’s Nexus 4 and Samsung’s Galaxy S4 to Nokia’s Lumia 920. There are even cases that add wireless charging capabilities to Apple’s iPhone 5.

Wireless chargers use magnetic induction. They offer the promise of being able to place a device on a surface and have it charge automatically — no fiddling with cables required.

Just place the smartphone on a wireless charger and it will start charging. Of course, the wireless charger itself must still be plugged into the wall. Wireless charging is more accurately described as “inductive charging” because it uses magnetic induction. The short explanation is that it uses magnetism to transmit energy. The current coming from the wall power outlet moves through the wire in the wireless charger, creating a magnetic field. The magnetic field creates a current in the coil inside the device. This coil is connected to the battery and the current charges the battery. Devices must have the appropriate hardware in them to support wireless charging — a device without the appropriate coil can’t charge wirelessly.

Wireless charging is becoming more and more common. There’s one problem: The companies involved haven’t settled on a single standard for wireless charging. There are three standards: Qi, PMA (Power Matter Alliance) Powermat, and A4WP (Alliance for Wireless Power). Things are very much in flux at the moment. For example, Google currently backs Powermat’s PMA technology. However, Google’s own Nexus 4 and its wireless charger use the Qi standard because it’s manufactured by LG. However, LG has also now joined the PMA.
While current devices overwhelmingly use the Qi standard, it looks like the PMA standard may be the most popular one in the future — which means that current devices may be incompatible with most wireless chargers in the future. It’s also possible that another standard may take over.

At Chinavasion we have Wireless Charging Back Cover for Samsung Galaxy S3. With this handy gadget you can upgrade your SGS3 with inductive charging function on the cheap. When the back cover is clipped on, just place the phone on any Qi compatible charging pad and your phone will start charging. No wires to connect!

The Qi Inductive Wireless Charging Pad is compatible with Qi standard phones and also with the above mentioned back cover. Enter the world of wireless charging today!