How Does Wireless Charging Work? Everything You Need To Know

Charging our devices is a normal part of life, but we can all avoid having ugly charging cords, rushing to find a charger, and getting mad when we forget to plug in our phones.

In the world we live in now, where technology is very advanced, wireless charging is something we do all the time. Wireless charging has changed how we power our phones, electric cars, and other gadgets. But have you ever thought about: How does wireless charging work?

This article will delve into the specifics of wireless charging and examine the fundamental concepts underlying this useful and cutting-edge technology.

What is Wireless Charging?

Wireless charging, or “inductive charging,” is a way to get electricity from a power source to a gadget without wires.

It uses electromagnetic fields to send power from the charging pad or base station to a device with a suitable wireless charging sensor in the range of the charging pad or base station.

There are a lot of cell phone devices that have wireless charging. Most of the time, a wireless charger is a mat or charging stand with no cords that we put a device that can charge wirelessly on.

iPhones and Android phones can be charged wirelessly because they have the parts and technology to make it possible. It comprises a power transfer plate, cradle, and receiver usually built into the phone. This straightforward and effective method of charging has become popular in recent years.

Types of Wireless Charging

Let’s discuss some charging methods before diving into how wireless charging works. There are primarily two types of wireless charging technologies available today:

Inductive Wireless Charging: This is the most common form of wireless charging. The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) created this wireless charging method. It is widely used for smartphones, smartwatches, and other portable electronic devices.

Resonant Wireless Charging: This technology uses resonant inductive coupling, which makes it possible to put the gadget farther away from the charging pad. It gives you more options for where to put your device, but it works less well than regular magnetic charging.

How Does Wireless Charging Work?

Nikola Tesla could send electricity through the air in the late 1800s. He used resonant inductive coupling, which powered light bulbs in a New York laboratory by making a magnetic field between an emitter (which sends electricity) and a receiver (which gets it).

A few years later, he was awarded a patent for the Tesla Coil, a tower with coils on top that emitted lightning. Tesla had grander visions of a radio network, but those dreams never materialized.

The same basic principles of inductive charging apply to wireless smartphone charging.

The solenoid (the induction coil in the charging dock) creates a magnetic field, essentially an antenna that transmits an energy field. A second, smaller coil in the phone receives and collects the energy, and its circuitry converts it back into energy available to the battery.

The charger and device coils must be as close together as possible for wireless charging to work effectively. Ideally, the device’s coil should be directly above the charger’s. In this case, power loss would be minimal.

But it rarely works like this, and we’ve seen devices placed haphazardly on charging pads and often packed in large boxes, complicating things further. These devices still charge, just slower.

This is possible because manufacturers embed multiple coils inside the charging mat. You can place various coils side by side and then some more in the gap at the top. The device will almost always sit on top of one of the coils and charge efficiently.

Which Smartphones Support Wireless Charging?

Not all smartphones support wireless charging. For now, it’s mostly the more expensive models. For example, iPhone models starting with the iPhone 8, Samsung’s S series beginning with the S6, and high-end models from OnePlus. You only need a wireless charger if you have the right smartphone.

Technology is universal. You don’t necessarily need a Samsung charger to charge your Samsung device. But some chargers are faster than others. These are the ones with fast wireless charging.

Tablets do not support wireless charging.

Benefits of Wireless Charging

There are benefits to wireless charging and using a wireless cell phone charger. This is why wireless charging may be a good option for you.

Just one cable

With wireless charging, you only need to plug one cable into the charging mat, eliminating the need for many lines for multiple devices. The universal standard—wireless chargers—is compatible with all devices. So, wireless charging for iPhones is the same for Android. You can charge all your gadgets on the same mat.

Convenient

Place your phone face up on the mat and start charging. That’s all you have to do!

Charge anywhere

Wireless charging mats have started to appear in hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops. They’re also safer than plugging your device into an unfamiliar charging cable.

Neat charging

Wireless charging means exactly that – no cords! You’ll get rid of cables on your desk, nightstand, and in your car (wireless charging is also available). Some furniture companies have built-in wireless charging, so you don’t have to put charge mats on desks or tables.

Auto shut-off

The portable charger turns off when the device is fully charged. This saves energy, makes charging safer, and gets rid of the worry that the battery will get too hot.

Reduced cable wear and tear

You can still use the cable to charge your phone when needed, but using it less frequently can make frayed cables a thing of the past.

Disadvantages of Wireless Charging

Wireless charging is a hassle-free way to charge your phone, but the technology currently has a few drawbacks. Here are some disadvantages to wireless charging.

Slow

Compared to wired charging, wireless charging typically takes 30-80% longer to charge a device than wired charging fully. Remember: placing your device on the mat affects how long it takes to charge.
Even in an ideal setup, 20% of the power your device is running on will be wasted, which is not great when saving energy.

You can’t use your phone

You cannot pick up your device and use it as usual while charging since you must leave it on the mat.

More expensive

Wireless chargers are a new technology, and compared to cords, they are very expensive. They can cost between $40 and $100 depending on the size.

Conclusion

Wireless charging has changed how we charge our devices, making it easier and more flexible. Wireless charging uses electromagnetic induction to charge our phones, smartwatches, and other gadgets without cords.

As technology improves, we expect wireless charging to get better and be used in more places of work. This will make it easier to get rid of wires in the future. But if we want this technology to be widely used and keep getting better over time, we need to deal with its problems and boundaries.