The biggest problem with wireless charging for me is significant power efficiency losses, additional heating up and hence reduced lifetime of smartphone batteries which can't be replaced, thicker phones and (not completely sure) slower charging. It's simply not worth the 2 seconds it takes to remove/insert the cord from the phone.
With Micro USB Type-C it will be. Short distance wireless charging is worthless to me. I'd rather have the extra space be spent on putting larger batteries.
I think Spoogie meant that it's not only about "connecting" your charging cable (regardless of type). Taking out your charger and looking for a free socket can prove to be hassle.
That said, I agree with you. I'd "prefer" simplifying the internal design of the device (making repairs easier) and installing a beefier battery instead of wireless charging. But having both does have its benefits.
My real problem with wireless charging on the go is that your device needs to be stationary, ie: you don't have the convenience of using your device semi-freely like you would when its tethered with a fairly long cable. It's only charging when you're generally not using the device, unless you have a bluetooth or wired headset. You "solve" an inconvenience just to be faced with others.
We use wireless chargers mostly because the USB ports are failing (wear and tear). $20 Qi chargers are cheaper than new phones. I'll be happier once we get whole-home wireless power transmission.
I can't wait to see the ridiculous SAR/(or it's wireless power equivalent) values wreak havoc on your nervous system when you switch to whole home wireless power.
Spoilers: Those magnetic fields wireless power connectors use? The ones induced by alternating current flow through a wire? They're ALREADY being generated by every electrified wire in your home. If wireless power was going to fry your brains, we'd already be dead. (Tangentally, electromagnetic fields and RF radiation are fundamentally different beasts and not really comparable like that. Yes, I did look up SAR to figure out what the hey you were talking about.)
Fortunately, aside from it not actually being an issue, magnetic fields fall off rapidly with distance. That's why inductive power connections require very short distances. You may remember Apple used to use inductive power connectors on their laptops, and you still had to run a cable from the charger to the computer anyways. Coincidentally, that falloff is ALSO why whole-house wireless power isn't likely to go anywhere. Since you have to run cords from your devices to your power outlets ANYWAYS, you may as well keep using the same dead-simple, cheap to manufacture "legacy" power connector you always have. It was a problem in Nikola Tesla's time, and it's a problem in our's as well. Physics is a real drag sometimes.
Not only are we polluting ourselves with radiation, but other creatures such as bees are supposedly being interfered with as well. Cancer is at an all time high, despite the lowering of chemical pollutants in industry and fewer smokers.
try using logic here for a sec. People die, right? I mean nobody can live forever. There is a bunch of things you can die off. Starting with war and murder, then bacterial, virus and parasitic infections. What happens if you eliminate most of that? The next in line becomes the most killing. Cancer. but in places with war and bad health care, there is still 'no Denver's because the other stuff kills people. despite them having mobile phones and electricity.
As usual, conspiracy theories require actually more fantastic things to be true than reality... I'm sure there is a theory you have that explains all I said - but it will be nonsense.
jospoortvliet is spot on. now that we're not dying from polio and the flu, we can die from heart disease and cancer. here's some actual data, excerpted from the NEJM. http://www.businessinsider.com/leading-causes-of-d...
if you have access, the original article has a good interactive chart that might be more intuitive.
" Taking out your charger and looking for a free socket can prove to be hassle." That problem applies to wireless charging too.
The main problem we face is the lack of 'standardized charging' and NOT 'standardized wireless charging'. But that will hopefully be fixed by USB Type C. It can be used to charge anything from smart watches to laptops.
You almost got it right, just the wrong way around. I'm all with Samsung on this. Wireless charging IS what will charge everything from laptops to watches in a few years. USB type C is the wrong solution, especially for watches which are supposed to be a lot more water resistant than things like phones.
"Looking for a free outlet for the charger" is a red herring.
If the wireless charging mat is always plugged in and sitting in one spot waiting for a phone... then why can't you just leave the wired charter plugged in all the time in the same spot, waiting for a phone?
If you never leave the wired charger plugged in, why would you leave the wireless mat plugged in?
Anything you can do with over can be done with the other. The only difference is the maybe 2 second to connect the cable. For devices where the charging port is failing, this is a bonus. For devices where the charging port isn't failing, this is a wash.
If you put a red sticker on one side of the cable connector to easily indicated which side goes where, then yes it usually does take two seconds. Sometimes it only takes one second.
You still have to pick the cable up, connect it to the device, then set the device down. Wireless charging is literally just "set device down". I don't really think all those power cables are a huge issue, or that the effort of plugging in a cable is killing baby seals or anything. It's a minor aesthetic problem at worst. The biggest problem(if you can call it that) is that USB cables only go in one way. I miss ye olde barrel connectors. I SUPPOSE this means I'm saying Apple did something right, though I consider Lightning to be a great idea implemented (exceptionally) poorly. That the cable has four ICs in it(yes, really!) and a couple of fuses is partially proof that the iPhone 5 connector has serious flaws(and partially an attempt at securing cash flow by forcing accessories AND CABLES to be licensed, but that's neither here nor there).
It is if you have an iPhone. The lightning connector is just awesome. It can go in either direction, and slides in very easily. WAY better than micro-USB.
With the only condition which is ... all of your devices are iOS and equipped with Lightning. If you happens to use multiple chargers with multiple device mixed with those microUSB you'd ended up with having hassle with cables and adapters.
I'd love to see USB-C in the next iPhone, though those Lightning-device owner would cry a lot....
USB chargers are more common than Qi mats. So, I have one at my desk, one at my bed, one in my car, and it does take 2 seconds, and I can charge my phone while using it, much faster (Qualcomm quick charge).
Qi means buying a mat for each of these locations, note that I still need the USB charger to power the mat. It charges slower, it takes up desk space, and if I pick my phone up, it stops charging.
Plugging a USB cable in isn't that much hassle. This is a solution in search of a problem.
Sony has been releasing phones without usb exposed for quite sometime. It's hidden inside a flap. And if you're using cradle to charge I'd say it's almost 0 needs for using USB. Besides putting phone on the cradle takes almost the same time as using wireless charger (although it can charge only one device at time).
I haven't touch the flap on my Z1 for months now (last time I do is to install a custom firmware).
It's not just about laziness. My Sony Xperia Z is water proof, and getting access to the USB port for chargning is not only a hassle, but repeated opening/closing of the plastc flaps actually reduce the water proof capability to a point the water seal no longer works. A wireless chargning standard enable true water proof phones.
This is why they all have the magnetic charger poets. A $5 adapter on your USB cable and you never have to open the flap. Further, it's easy to use. I'd rather have all phones have magnetic connectors rather then wireless.
This is what I have been thinking since the first wireless charger. I don't know where I got the idea, maybe from an article that you could get power from Wi-Fi albeit very low power. Anyway, I'd prefer this method as the smartphone is always being charged and could get the power in real time from the wireless signal. It wouldn't need compete with wired charging or any other wireless charging for serious charging as this only lengthens the independence of a device from a charger throughout the day. Yet, a lower power device might not even need the serious chargers except in emergencies.
Absolutely agree with blanarahul. I never really thought about this issue until I accidentally stumbled upon it. I got a Nexus 4 for myself and my wife at the same time. 2 months in, my wife gave me a Qi charger for my phone, but not for hers. Since then, I've charged my phone everyday with the Qi charger while she charged over USB.
At the end of the phones' lives (2 years from purchase), my screen time on my Nexus 4 was an incredibly bad 50 minutes - 1 hour before my battery died. My wife's phone was much closer to 2. (Nexus 4 had pretty mediocre battery life even when it was brand new). My phone was consistently warmer during charging than my wife's phone because of the inefficiency of wireless charging. Those few degrees make a big difference if you value longevity in your batteries.
Firstly your sample size is 2 phones, also the phones may have been the same, but the usage of each phone (how much you drain the battery each day) was not controlled. I have a nexus 4 over 2 years and 4 months old and the battery is still good. Also the Qi charger itself has an effect on the efficiency and heat produced.
Qi works best for certain usage scenarios while USB is better for others. Wireless is best for keeping your battery topped up during the day while sitting at a desk or while being on the road - you need to put the phone in a dock anyway. USB is best for when you drain your battery over your daily usage and then just plug it in on the night-stand to give it a full days charge.
Meant to say that I have been charging my nexus 4 using Qi for over 2 years now, with no battery problems. But I tend to keep my battery pretty topped up during the day so it doesn't really undergo many long hot charging cycles.
You seem not to care about efficiency, i was hoping for a lot more numbers on that here. It wouldn't be nothing if in not too many years 2 billion people waste 1-2W (don't actually have a clue how much would be wasted so tried to keep it low) every day because they are using wireless chargers. It's not that much per charger but the install base could be huge.
I know about the MT3188 but not about the chips from others that are supporting all 3 standards, any clue about timing for those?
My cheap-ass puck uses adds 0.3W to the wall power of my 60W multi-port USB charger when not in use. How much it adds in use I've not yet calculated as the power output is limited so the only way to measure is by integrating over the drawn power per time; maybe if I'm bored some weekend I will measure that on the USB port.
Guess that's an additional problem, wireless charges stayed plugged in ,they wouldn't make sense otherwise and if they consume power at idle the waste goes up by a lot. And to be clear it's not that i don't like the tech or that i think it won't sell, just bothered by the waste and hope the industry and regulators don't ignore the efficiency problem.
The no load power is still there but yeah it can be reduced to very little if there is the will. Remains to be seen how cheap and popular units will do when sales reach huge volumes.
All the wall-wart chargers out there that are left plugged in 24/7/52 also "waste" power. So one would need to no only calculate the "waste" power usage of the wireless mats, but compare that to the existing wall-warts to see if they're actually more wasteful or not (while idle).
This article is rather strange to read and seems to start off with a lot of personal bias although the author mentions no first or even second hand experience with real devices. What gives?
Qi is currently very common and also easy and cheap to get as a retrofit for quite a few devices with changeable batteries; I do own several Qi chargers, one of them a 3€ puck sold on Ebay and shipped from China so a little hands-on experience seems to be very little to ask for.
NB: The Lumia 820 doesn't have Qi built-in but requires an optional shell to offer that feature.
I charge my phone in no less than 4 unique locations. It makes no sense to spend so much money to make one of those 4 places into a wireless charging stand, when there are still 3 other spots that wouldnt have that feature. In no way, in no world, does it make sense. I'm not going to pay money just to avoid the "hassle" of plugging in a cord. Jesus how lazy do you have to be to even consider this crap?
We got to smartphones little by little. First games, then E-Mail, then IM then something else and so on. So a need was slowly created. But with wireless charging, there is no need. It's just for a minor convenience.
There was never a need or a problem. It was simply companies creating something and pushing it onto the market, to try and differentiate themselves from everyone else. Get you to buy their product instead of someone else's product.
The same with all these random features we get now on phones. NFC, wireless charging, etc.
As someone who used Qi charging with my Lumia 920 then had to give it up when I got the 1520... wireless charging is much more convenient than using the mUSB, no question. It's not a deal breaking thing, but I definitely prefer having the option. It's particularly nice when trying to get into bed without disturbing the significant other, rather than fumbling with a cord in the dark.
You'll be able to charge multiple devices with one charger. You could put a giant magnetic resonance coil in your monitor and charge everything by just placing it on the same table as your monitor.
His 'puck' arrived with his Lumia 925? I had to buy the wireless S-View Case to enable my GS5, and also a seperate Qi charger, which is actually a dual charger / alarm clock.
When either of us arrive home, instead of putting oru phones down on the table, we rest them on their chargers. No messing around, just put it there. (for me it also means I don't have to open the waterproof usb door, and remember to close it too).
Thus; whenever either of us leave the house, our cellphones are ALWAYS at 100% charge capacity. Again, making us more 'mobile'.
I do think about the power transfer and associated losses, but then my house is littered with low-energy bulbs, AND I buy 100% of my energy from renewable sources (it costs a little more), so I don't think I'm killing polar bears, so to speak.
For me, it's a big hassle to plug in the cord. I have the Xperia Z2, so I have to open up the waterproof door to be able to plug in. Repeated opening/closing of the door messes up the seal. I've had to clean out the door multiple times now to allow it to properly close and seal.
Luckily, Sony built a magnetic charging plug location. So I just bought the charging dock. Dock the phone, watch it charge. No need to open the door, except when I want to transfer files to the phone.
Now if wireless charging took off and was standardized, I could see being useful. Like airports, airports, coffee shops, etc having charging locations build into tables and such. You just swing by, plop your phone down, grab a charge without getting into your bag to find your charger.
Use at home? I'd like it. My phone stops charging anyways, if I grab the phone off the dock. So wouldn't be much change for me.
Obviously, not everyone wants or needs it, but having the option is nice.
Maybe I'm one of the few, but I love having wireless charging for my N5 and N7. Not having to fumble with plugs on my nightstand is great, and I have rigged a Nexus charger to a Mountek NGroove mount in my car so that my N5 affixes magnetically to the charger. Thus I have one-touch mounting and charging in my car. Very convenient.
I get that it's not for everyone, but I quite like it.
i didn't have the chance to try it out myself yet, but i would consider wireless charging a big plus in a mobile phone. you don't have to use it, but it doesn't take up much space, it doesn't add much cost, so why not make it a standard?
i'd love to simply lay my phone down on a mat or put it on a wireless charging stand and being able to just pick it up without fiddling around with any cables or physical connectors. charging might be slower and less efficient, but i don't really care about fast charging when the phone sits on the mat half of the day anyways. efficiency is a better point imho, but with the miniscule amount of power a phone needs, that doesn't amount to anything substantial, on a personal basis. turn down the AC just 0.1°C and you're saving tons more than a wireless charger could ever cost you.
I thought the same as you when I got a wireless charger for my Nexus 4. But as I found out the hard way, the bigger issue is how quickly the inefficiency (extra heat) from wireless charging saps the battery's capacity. Wireless charging is probably OK if you're fine with replacing your battery somewhat regularly, but then that's another thing that goes to waste.
Not to totally rehash an earlier post, but I ended up in a situation where I had 1 N4 charged wirelessly and my wife and another N4 charged via USB. My N4 had half the battery life as my wife's at the end of 2 years.
can you elaborate on your Mountek adaption? I would like to do something similar but unsure what needs to be done. do you have a "How-to" published - perhaps through the Mountek site?
I emailed them asking if they have any plans and they said none at this time
I got a wireless charger for a couple bucks as a test to see how I liked it. I surprisingly don't really like it at all.
1. The device gets MUCH hotter. 2. I can't pick the device up to respond to a text, look at the time, etc without it stopping the charge... this is something I can easily do with the traditional cable method. 3. I have to make sure I place it just right on the charger or it doesn't always charge, so I don't really save much if any time which is often touted as the main benefit. 4. It charges slower.
#2 and #4 swap back and forth as my largest annoyances with the tech... the other two issues are minor in comparison.
your prioritization is interesting. i wouldn't care much about slower charging, because wireless charging would mean i just place it on the pad whenever i'm not using it, so it's mostly charged anyways when i take it off the charger.
and why would i care if it stops charging when i take it off the charger for a couple seconds/minutes? i'll place it right back anyways when i'm done.
i on the other hand wouldn't want my phone to get hot on a regular basis, just because it's charging because that means two things: wasted energy and the battery degrades faster in warm climates.
and having to place it just right on the charger is a downer too, because it's a slight hassle when using it and setting it down again.
You're out all day long and your phone is at 10% and fading fast but you're in the middle of a conversation or need to continue using your phone to look up information, text, etc.
Wireless charging fails you totally. With a wire you just plug it in and keep working, with wireless you have to set it down and basically stop using it or lean all over the top of it to use it still.
And slow charging is an issue for the same reason. You come home at 10%, need as much of a charge as possible before heading back out in 30 minutes... every last % matters. If phones had batteries that lasted days then you're right, this wouldn't be much of an issue... but they don't, most batteries last 5-10 hours, especially after a year or two of use.
The other two issues are annoyances, those two can be total deal breakers that leave the phone unable to be used.
"2. I can't pick the device up to respond to a text, look at the time, etc without it stopping the charge... this is something I can easily do with the traditional cable method."
So? Pick it up for a second, then put it back down. There's no problem with doing that.
"4. It charges slower."
Most tests I've seen online say it's only about another 15 minutes over plugging it in. Big deal.
I had a wireless charger that came with my Nexus 5 and was pleasantly surprised to receive it. I had only asked for the phone as a gift and not the charger. I had always dismissed wireless charging so here was a free (to me) chance to try it.
Not worth the money. In fact, not worth it period.
I can't use my phone while it sits on the puck. I can use my phone while it's plugged into a cord. That distinction is huge. And it always charged slower. WAY slower. The cord is the better way to go until we get wireless charging at distance.
When wireless at a distance is out, I'd be the first in line for it. Maybe "right now" it has huge losses, etc, but I wouldn't think it would be released generally unless they could mitigate a lot of that.
And I'm highly skeptical of any "health" related issues. We're surrounded by wireless signals, and have been for years. I heard all about how cell phones would give everyone cancer. I'm not ready to label a new kind of wireless power charging bad for us, when it's all theoretical at this point.
My dream would be simple. Walk into your house, your phone, laptop, etc immediately start charging, just like my phone connects to my Wi-Fi. As long as the power inefficiency isn't orders of magnitude worse (aka my power bill quadruples) the convenience would be worth it to me.
Maybe you'd like to refresh your physics a bit by looking up the difference between a static magnetic field and an electro magnetic field. After that feel free to go ahead and invent the electric generator without moving parts which you've basically just implied. ;)
It's a distance thing. If you're really really close to it, yes, it'll have a far more powerful effect than the earth's magnetic pull. The earth's magnetics are far more prevalent, though, because it's so massive.
It's like gravity. If you go up or down a few hundred metres, you won't notice much. If the earth were a lot smaller (with the same mass but condensed, like a dwarf star), you'd notice a huge amount of gravity at your feet and less near your head.
The problem is that data wireless signals don't add up to more than 2-3 watts. With wireless power that figure can go anywhere from 20-70Watts. That's a lot.
> It's a distance thing. If you're really really close to it, yes, it'll have a far more powerful effect than the earth's magnetic pull. The earth's magnetics are far more prevalent, though, because it's so massive.
True but totally missing the point. A permanent magnet is something completely different than a wireless transmitter is what I was trying to say.
I currently use wireless charging with my Nexus7. I had a 1st generation device, and either the usb port or the charging electronics became intermittent and died, probably through repeated connect/disconnects of the cable. Wireless charging on the 2nd generation device should work around it. I agree with the article, getting proper placement of the device is hard, but I got used to it and it's "there" 90% of the time. So a charging standard that is less efficient but allows for much easier placement will be a complete win for me. Yes, I wish I wouldn't be wasting power, but imagine this will continue to improve with future generations...
You forgot to mention Witricity, which while a part of the Rezence standard, also offers "highly resonant" magnetic coupling that allows for charging over multiple feet rather than inches.
Also timeline-wise they announced the WiT-5000C3 development kit in November last year so companies could start creating devices compliant with the Rezence standard. Intel has adopted the Rezence standard, so you'll be seeing wireless charging in laptops next year.
If you were wondering (like I was) why it's taken so long for Witricity (which demoed at TED in 2009) to come to market, there's a good engadget video explaining it (starting at 8:30): http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/07/witricity-ceo-e...
I use the Qi-Infinity portable wireless power bank to charge my phone on the go. It's nice not having to carry around a USB cable and a power bank. It can be tricky but I'm also able to place my phone and the charger in my front pocket in order to charge my phone while walking around. The power bank also has the option of charging via USB so I can always charge via cable in the front pocket option isn't available.
Please tell me how can you answer a phone and still charging it in the same time? What about answering the phone with it's battery almost dead and egaging in a conversation. You still need a wall socket for the wireless adaptor. And if you find it hard to plug in the usb cable in your phone, sorry, but, your smartphone is smarter than you :)
The secret to wireless charging is to NOT wait until you have no charge left. That's the selling point. Don't wait until you absolutely need a charge. Just set it down when you're not otherwise using it and it'll stay topped off.
Yes, you could also follow this practice with a USB cord, too. But the nuissance of futzing with a cord keeps folks from bothering.
Exactly, after getting a couple wireless chargers I find I charge more often... Never liked using the phone plugged in anyway, cord either gets in the way or I feel like I'm about to damage the port.
As far as I know, the Lumia 830 was the first device to ship with combination Qi/PMA charging (AT&T version only, I think). Came out long before the Galaxy S6.
Also, wireless charging is great. I love it. When my girlfriend and I stumble in to our bedroom in the dark, I plop my phone on my nightstand, she spends 20 sleepy seconds in the dark trying to plug micro-USB in to hers.
Sounds like most of the people complaining are using the cheap one coil chargers. Pay a little more and get the three coil chargers, they charge much faster and do not cause your phone to heat up. also they are picky where you place your phone.
Great Article! I'm a huge fan of Qi as I had a Lumia 920 when it came out, and was quite disappointed when ATT (PMA) screwed Microsoft out of offering it on their other phones. On my Lumia 1020 Wireless charging cases are being sold for $150+!!!! What a rip. In terms of usage, it's night and day having several charging pads located around my home. I even have a really cool Panasonic one that auto aligns the coils for precise transmission and it charges faster than the current MicroUSB Nokia charger. There are quite a few products out there that hack Qi into your microUSB but I'm glad that Samsung is taking a stance with the Galaxy 6, and I'm hopeful that Microsoft will do the same with it's upcoming flagship device. I find it quite funny that Apple is far behind in this context, but of course there are some cable revenue streams that they may be clutching on to.
I would not want to lose the fast charging capability on phones specially since sometimes its necessary to use while charging (calls,chats). Wireless charging is definitely slower .. keeping the phone on the mat rather than near you with a cable attached of course seems a problem .
For tablets , it might make more sense .but if restaurants , coffee shops all start adopting wireless charging stations , then yes i would want that capability in my next phone.
I think folks are being a bit short sighted. If wireless charging can become ubiquitous, it would be a great change. Running low? Top off at Starbucks or local cafe while drinking coffee. Top off at an airport. Never need to carry your cable or worry about adapters when travelling internationally. Have it built into cars.
Wireless charging is stupid as it stands. Slower than wire and you cannot transfer file at the same time. It will come one day but that requires multiple integrations.
very good article, let me know more about the differences and characteristics of the three main charging standards. I think the wireless charging ecosystem may change again in the next few years. <a href="https://www.jotrin.com">electronic distributors</a>
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blanarahul - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
The biggest problem with wireless charging for me is significant power efficiency losses, additional heating up and hence reduced lifetime of smartphone batteries which can't be replaced, thicker phones and (not completely sure) slower charging. It's simply not worth the 2 seconds it takes to remove/insert the cord from the phone.Spoogie - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
But it's never really 2 seconds, is it.blanarahul - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
With Micro USB Type-C it will be. Short distance wireless charging is worthless to me. I'd rather have the extra space be spent on putting larger batteries.lilmoe - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
I think Spoogie meant that it's not only about "connecting" your charging cable (regardless of type). Taking out your charger and looking for a free socket can prove to be hassle.That said, I agree with you. I'd "prefer" simplifying the internal design of the device (making repairs easier) and installing a beefier battery instead of wireless charging. But having both does have its benefits.
My real problem with wireless charging on the go is that your device needs to be stationary, ie: you don't have the convenience of using your device semi-freely like you would when its tethered with a fairly long cable. It's only charging when you're generally not using the device, unless you have a bluetooth or wired headset. You "solve" an inconvenience just to be faced with others.
nathanddrews - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
We use wireless chargers mostly because the USB ports are failing (wear and tear). $20 Qi chargers are cheaper than new phones. I'll be happier once we get whole-home wireless power transmission.blanarahul - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
I can't wait to see the ridiculous SAR/(or it's wireless power equivalent) values wreak havoc on your nervous system when you switch to whole home wireless power.Lord of the Bored - Friday, April 3, 2015 - link
Spoilers: Those magnetic fields wireless power connectors use? The ones induced by alternating current flow through a wire? They're ALREADY being generated by every electrified wire in your home. If wireless power was going to fry your brains, we'd already be dead.(Tangentally, electromagnetic fields and RF radiation are fundamentally different beasts and not really comparable like that. Yes, I did look up SAR to figure out what the hey you were talking about.)
Fortunately, aside from it not actually being an issue, magnetic fields fall off rapidly with distance. That's why inductive power connections require very short distances. You may remember Apple used to use inductive power connectors on their laptops, and you still had to run a cable from the charger to the computer anyways.
Coincidentally, that falloff is ALSO why whole-house wireless power isn't likely to go anywhere. Since you have to run cords from your devices to your power outlets ANYWAYS, you may as well keep using the same dead-simple, cheap to manufacture "legacy" power connector you always have. It was a problem in Nikola Tesla's time, and it's a problem in our's as well. Physics is a real drag sometimes.
JonnyDough - Saturday, April 4, 2015 - link
Not only are we polluting ourselves with radiation, but other creatures such as bees are supposedly being interfered with as well. Cancer is at an all time high, despite the lowering of chemical pollutants in industry and fewer smokers.jospoortvliet - Sunday, April 5, 2015 - link
try using logic here for a sec. People die, right? I mean nobody can live forever. There is a bunch of things you can die off. Starting with war and murder, then bacterial, virus and parasitic infections. What happens if you eliminate most of that? The next in line becomes the most killing. Cancer. but in places with war and bad health care, there is still 'no Denver's because the other stuff kills people. despite them having mobile phones and electricity.As usual, conspiracy theories require actually more fantastic things to be true than reality... I'm sure there is a theory you have that explains all I said - but it will be nonsense.
omems - Saturday, April 11, 2015 - link
jospoortvliet is spot on. now that we're not dying from polio and the flu, we can die from heart disease and cancer. here's some actual data, excerpted from the NEJM.http://www.businessinsider.com/leading-causes-of-d...
if you have access, the original article has a good interactive chart that might be more intuitive.
Samus - Monday, April 6, 2015 - link
...calmly folds tinfoil hat. places on head.theduckofdeath - Sunday, April 12, 2015 - link
"I slept through physics in school, so I think all radiation causes cancer"....-blanarahul
blanarahul - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
" Taking out your charger and looking for a free socket can prove to be hassle."That problem applies to wireless charging too.
The main problem we face is the lack of 'standardized charging' and NOT 'standardized wireless charging'. But that will hopefully be fixed by USB Type C. It can be used to charge anything from smart watches to laptops.
theduckofdeath - Sunday, April 12, 2015 - link
You almost got it right, just the wrong way around. I'm all with Samsung on this. Wireless charging IS what will charge everything from laptops to watches in a few years. USB type C is the wrong solution, especially for watches which are supposed to be a lot more water resistant than things like phones.phoenix_rizzen - Sunday, April 5, 2015 - link
"Looking for a free outlet for the charger" is a red herring.If the wireless charging mat is always plugged in and sitting in one spot waiting for a phone... then why can't you just leave the wired charter plugged in all the time in the same spot, waiting for a phone?
If you never leave the wired charger plugged in, why would you leave the wireless mat plugged in?
Anything you can do with over can be done with the other. The only difference is the maybe 2 second to connect the cable. For devices where the charging port is failing, this is a bonus. For devices where the charging port isn't failing, this is a wash.
Shadowmaster625 - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
If you put a red sticker on one side of the cable connector to easily indicated which side goes where, then yes it usually does take two seconds. Sometimes it only takes one second.Lord of the Bored - Friday, April 3, 2015 - link
You still have to pick the cable up, connect it to the device, then set the device down. Wireless charging is literally just "set device down".I don't really think all those power cables are a huge issue, or that the effort of plugging in a cable is killing baby seals or anything. It's a minor aesthetic problem at worst.
The biggest problem(if you can call it that) is that USB cables only go in one way. I miss ye olde barrel connectors. I SUPPOSE this means I'm saying Apple did something right, though I consider Lightning to be a great idea implemented (exceptionally) poorly. That the cable has four ICs in it(yes, really!) and a couple of fuses is partially proof that the iPhone 5 connector has serious flaws(and partially an attempt at securing cash flow by forcing accessories AND CABLES to be licensed, but that's neither here nor there).
JonnyDough - Saturday, April 4, 2015 - link
Just goes to show how lazy we've really become.Stuka87 - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
It is if you have an iPhone. The lightning connector is just awesome. It can go in either direction, and slides in very easily. WAY better than micro-USB.mr_tawan - Friday, April 3, 2015 - link
With the only condition which is ... all of your devices are iOS and equipped with Lightning. If you happens to use multiple chargers with multiple device mixed with those microUSB you'd ended up with having hassle with cables and adapters.I'd love to see USB-C in the next iPhone, though those Lightning-device owner would cry a lot....
retroneo - Friday, April 3, 2015 - link
The 6 and 6 Plus are big enough that they could include both Type-C and lightning. Hopefully they do that at least for a year or two.rtho782 - Friday, April 3, 2015 - link
USB chargers are more common than Qi mats. So, I have one at my desk, one at my bed, one in my car, and it does take 2 seconds, and I can charge my phone while using it, much faster (Qualcomm quick charge).Qi means buying a mat for each of these locations, note that I still need the USB charger to power the mat. It charges slower, it takes up desk space, and if I pick my phone up, it stops charging.
Plugging a USB cable in isn't that much hassle. This is a solution in search of a problem.
uop - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
Agree with you about plugging in being a non-issue.However imagine how much sleeker your phone would be without a USB port at all!
mr_tawan - Friday, April 3, 2015 - link
Sony has been releasing phones without usb exposed for quite sometime. It's hidden inside a flap. And if you're using cradle to charge I'd say it's almost 0 needs for using USB. Besides putting phone on the cradle takes almost the same time as using wireless charger (although it can charge only one device at time).I haven't touch the flap on my Z1 for months now (last time I do is to install a custom firmware).
MobiusPizza - Tuesday, April 7, 2015 - link
It's not just about laziness. My Sony Xperia Z is water proof, and getting access to the USB port for chargning is not only a hassle, but repeated opening/closing of the plastc flaps actually reduce the water proof capability to a point the water seal no longer works. A wireless chargning standard enable true water proof phones.mchart - Friday, April 10, 2015 - link
This is why they all have the magnetic charger poets. A $5 adapter on your USB cable and you never have to open the flap. Further, it's easy to use. I'd rather have all phones have magnetic connectors rather then wireless.nandnandnand - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/ossia-cota-wirele...zodiacfml - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
This is what I have been thinking since the first wireless charger. I don't know where I got the idea, maybe from an article that you could get power from Wi-Fi albeit very low power.Anyway, I'd prefer this method as the smartphone is always being charged and could get the power in real time from the wireless signal. It wouldn't need compete with wired charging or any other wireless charging for serious charging as this only lengthens the independence of a device from a charger throughout the day.
Yet, a lower power device might not even need the serious chargers except in emergencies.
Cinnabuns - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
Absolutely agree with blanarahul. I never really thought about this issue until I accidentally stumbled upon it. I got a Nexus 4 for myself and my wife at the same time. 2 months in, my wife gave me a Qi charger for my phone, but not for hers. Since then, I've charged my phone everyday with the Qi charger while she charged over USB.At the end of the phones' lives (2 years from purchase), my screen time on my Nexus 4 was an incredibly bad 50 minutes - 1 hour before my battery died. My wife's phone was much closer to 2. (Nexus 4 had pretty mediocre battery life even when it was brand new). My phone was consistently warmer during charging than my wife's phone because of the inefficiency of wireless charging. Those few degrees make a big difference if you value longevity in your batteries.
iamezza - Friday, April 3, 2015 - link
Firstly your sample size is 2 phones, also the phones may have been the same, but the usage of each phone (how much you drain the battery each day) was not controlled.I have a nexus 4 over 2 years and 4 months old and the battery is still good.
Also the Qi charger itself has an effect on the efficiency and heat produced.
Qi works best for certain usage scenarios while USB is better for others.
Wireless is best for keeping your battery topped up during the day while sitting at a desk or while being on the road - you need to put the phone in a dock anyway.
USB is best for when you drain your battery over your daily usage and then just plug it in on the night-stand to give it a full days charge.
iamezza - Friday, April 3, 2015 - link
Meant to say that I have been charging my nexus 4 using Qi for over 2 years now, with no battery problems. But I tend to keep my battery pretty topped up during the day so it doesn't really undergo many long hot charging cycles.jjj - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
You seem not to care about efficiency, i was hoping for a lot more numbers on that here.It wouldn't be nothing if in not too many years 2 billion people waste 1-2W (don't actually have a clue how much would be wasted so tried to keep it low) every day because they are using wireless chargers. It's not that much per charger but the install base could be huge.
I know about the MT3188 but not about the chips from others that are supporting all 3 standards, any clue about timing for those?
Daniel Egger - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
My cheap-ass puck uses adds 0.3W to the wall power of my 60W multi-port USB charger when not in use. How much it adds in use I've not yet calculated as the power output is limited so the only way to measure is by integrating over the drawn power per time; maybe if I'm bored some weekend I will measure that on the USB port.jjj - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
Guess that's an additional problem, wireless charges stayed plugged in ,they wouldn't make sense otherwise and if they consume power at idle the waste goes up by a lot.And to be clear it's not that i don't like the tech or that i think it won't sell, just bothered by the waste and hope the industry and regulators don't ignore the efficiency problem.
sonicmerlin - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
I think the Bluetooth handshake mentioned in the article is used to avoid wasting power at idle.jjj - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
The no load power is still there but yeah it can be reduced to very little if there is the will. Remains to be seen how cheap and popular units will do when sales reach huge volumes.phoenix_rizzen - Sunday, April 5, 2015 - link
All the wall-wart chargers out there that are left plugged in 24/7/52 also "waste" power. So one would need to no only calculate the "waste" power usage of the wireless mats, but compare that to the existing wall-warts to see if they're actually more wasteful or not (while idle).Daniel Egger - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
This article is rather strange to read and seems to start off with a lot of personal bias although the author mentions no first or even second hand experience with real devices. What gives?Qi is currently very common and also easy and cheap to get as a retrofit for quite a few devices with changeable batteries; I do own several Qi chargers, one of them a 3€ puck sold on Ebay and shipped from China so a little hands-on experience seems to be very little to ask for.
NB: The Lumia 820 doesn't have Qi built-in but requires an optional shell to offer that feature.
Gemuk - Friday, April 3, 2015 - link
AnandTech actually BUYING something to test it? April Fools, yesterday, etc.Shadowmaster625 - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
I charge my phone in no less than 4 unique locations. It makes no sense to spend so much money to make one of those 4 places into a wireless charging stand, when there are still 3 other spots that wouldnt have that feature. In no way, in no world, does it make sense. I'm not going to pay money just to avoid the "hassle" of plugging in a cord. Jesus how lazy do you have to be to even consider this crap?blanarahul - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
Exactly. They are trying to solve a problem that doesn't even exist.khanikun - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
We had regular mobile phones before. There was no problem to solve, but we still ended up getting smartphones.blanarahul - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
We got to smartphones little by little. First games, then E-Mail, then IM then something else and so on. So a need was slowly created. But with wireless charging, there is no need. It's just for a minor convenience.khanikun - Friday, April 3, 2015 - link
There was never a need or a problem. It was simply companies creating something and pushing it onto the market, to try and differentiate themselves from everyone else. Get you to buy their product instead of someone else's product.The same with all these random features we get now on phones. NFC, wireless charging, etc.
Murloc - Tuesday, April 7, 2015 - link
smartphones solve the same problem personal computers from the 90s solve, they just do it better.sonicmerlin - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
You seriously don't see how convenient it would be to just plunk down your laptop and phone onto a table and have them automatically charge?blanarahul - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
No. Because it takes only 2-3 more seconds to put the damn cord it. Plus I can move it around a little if I need to.kyuu - Friday, April 3, 2015 - link
As someone who used Qi charging with my Lumia 920 then had to give it up when I got the 1520... wireless charging is much more convenient than using the mUSB, no question. It's not a deal breaking thing, but I definitely prefer having the option. It's particularly nice when trying to get into bed without disturbing the significant other, rather than fumbling with a cord in the dark.sonicmerlin - Friday, April 3, 2015 - link
You'll be able to charge multiple devices with one charger. You could put a giant magnetic resonance coil in your monitor and charge everything by just placing it on the same table as your monitor.Notmyusualid - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
My brother and I both use Qi charging.His 'puck' arrived with his Lumia 925? I had to buy the wireless S-View Case to enable my GS5, and also a seperate Qi charger, which is actually a dual charger / alarm clock.
When either of us arrive home, instead of putting oru phones down on the table, we rest them on their chargers. No messing around, just put it there. (for me it also means I don't have to open the waterproof usb door, and remember to close it too).
Thus; whenever either of us leave the house, our cellphones are ALWAYS at 100% charge capacity. Again, making us more 'mobile'.
I do think about the power transfer and associated losses, but then my house is littered with low-energy bulbs, AND I buy 100% of my energy from renewable sources (it costs a little more), so I don't think I'm killing polar bears, so to speak.
Try it, you might like it.
fokka - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
you can get wireless chargers for 10 bucks, it's not really a big investment, if you like that convenience.khanikun - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
For me, it's a big hassle to plug in the cord. I have the Xperia Z2, so I have to open up the waterproof door to be able to plug in. Repeated opening/closing of the door messes up the seal. I've had to clean out the door multiple times now to allow it to properly close and seal.Luckily, Sony built a magnetic charging plug location. So I just bought the charging dock. Dock the phone, watch it charge. No need to open the door, except when I want to transfer files to the phone.
Now if wireless charging took off and was standardized, I could see being useful. Like airports, airports, coffee shops, etc having charging locations build into tables and such. You just swing by, plop your phone down, grab a charge without getting into your bag to find your charger.
Use at home? I'd like it. My phone stops charging anyways, if I grab the phone off the dock. So wouldn't be much change for me.
Obviously, not everyone wants or needs it, but having the option is nice.
Dorek - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
"I charge my phone in no less than 4 unique locations."Maybe your money would have been better-spent on a phone with a battery that lasts more than 2 hours?
bznotins - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
Maybe I'm one of the few, but I love having wireless charging for my N5 and N7. Not having to fumble with plugs on my nightstand is great, and I have rigged a Nexus charger to a Mountek NGroove mount in my car so that my N5 affixes magnetically to the charger. Thus I have one-touch mounting and charging in my car. Very convenient.I get that it's not for everyone, but I quite like it.
fokka - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
i didn't have the chance to try it out myself yet, but i would consider wireless charging a big plus in a mobile phone. you don't have to use it, but it doesn't take up much space, it doesn't add much cost, so why not make it a standard?i'd love to simply lay my phone down on a mat or put it on a wireless charging stand and being able to just pick it up without fiddling around with any cables or physical connectors. charging might be slower and less efficient, but i don't really care about fast charging when the phone sits on the mat half of the day anyways.
efficiency is a better point imho, but with the miniscule amount of power a phone needs, that doesn't amount to anything substantial, on a personal basis. turn down the AC just 0.1°C and you're saving tons more than a wireless charger could ever cost you.
Cinnabuns - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
I thought the same as you when I got a wireless charger for my Nexus 4. But as I found out the hard way, the bigger issue is how quickly the inefficiency (extra heat) from wireless charging saps the battery's capacity. Wireless charging is probably OK if you're fine with replacing your battery somewhat regularly, but then that's another thing that goes to waste.Not to totally rehash an earlier post, but I ended up in a situation where I had 1 N4 charged wirelessly and my wife and another N4 charged via USB. My N4 had half the battery life as my wife's at the end of 2 years.
simard57 - Monday, April 6, 2015 - link
can you elaborate on your Mountek adaption?I would like to do something similar but unsure what needs to be done. do you have a "How-to" published - perhaps through the Mountek site?
I emailed them asking if they have any plans and they said none at this time
shadarlo - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
I got a wireless charger for a couple bucks as a test to see how I liked it. I surprisingly don't really like it at all.1. The device gets MUCH hotter.
2. I can't pick the device up to respond to a text, look at the time, etc without it stopping the charge... this is something I can easily do with the traditional cable method.
3. I have to make sure I place it just right on the charger or it doesn't always charge, so I don't really save much if any time which is often touted as the main benefit.
4. It charges slower.
#2 and #4 swap back and forth as my largest annoyances with the tech... the other two issues are minor in comparison.
fokka - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
your prioritization is interesting. i wouldn't care much about slower charging, because wireless charging would mean i just place it on the pad whenever i'm not using it, so it's mostly charged anyways when i take it off the charger.and why would i care if it stops charging when i take it off the charger for a couple seconds/minutes? i'll place it right back anyways when i'm done.
i on the other hand wouldn't want my phone to get hot on a regular basis, just because it's charging because that means two things: wasted energy and the battery degrades faster in warm climates.
and having to place it just right on the charger is a downer too, because it's a slight hassle when using it and setting it down again.
shadarlo - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
Ok, so here's a situation.You're out all day long and your phone is at 10% and fading fast but you're in the middle of a conversation or need to continue using your phone to look up information, text, etc.
Wireless charging fails you totally. With a wire you just plug it in and keep working, with wireless you have to set it down and basically stop using it or lean all over the top of it to use it still.
And slow charging is an issue for the same reason. You come home at 10%, need as much of a charge as possible before heading back out in 30 minutes... every last % matters. If phones had batteries that lasted days then you're right, this wouldn't be much of an issue... but they don't, most batteries last 5-10 hours, especially after a year or two of use.
The other two issues are annoyances, those two can be total deal breakers that leave the phone unable to be used.
sonicmerlin - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
Witricity tech should allow charging up to a distance of multiple feet.Notmyusualid - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
Having the option to charge wirelessly does not prevent you from charging wired, if you need to.I have the option, but if time is short you can bet I'll plug my phone right into the wall...
Dorek - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
"2. I can't pick the device up to respond to a text, look at the time, etc without it stopping the charge... this is something I can easily do with the traditional cable method."So? Pick it up for a second, then put it back down. There's no problem with doing that.
"4. It charges slower."
Most tests I've seen online say it's only about another 15 minutes over plugging it in. Big deal.
Gray05 - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
I had a wireless charger that came with my Nexus 5 and was pleasantly surprised to receive it. I had only asked for the phone as a gift and not the charger. I had always dismissed wireless charging so here was a free (to me) chance to try it.Not worth the money. In fact, not worth it period.
I can't use my phone while it sits on the puck. I can use my phone while it's plugged into a cord. That distinction is huge. And it always charged slower. WAY slower. The cord is the better way to go until we get wireless charging at distance.
Daniel Egger - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
> The cord is the better way to go until we get wireless charging at distance.Wireless charging at distance would be a complete no-go for me: Much higher losses and EM pollution.
blanarahul - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
Not mention the tremendous health benefits of wireless charging at distance.Geofram - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
When wireless at a distance is out, I'd be the first in line for it. Maybe "right now" it has huge losses, etc, but I wouldn't think it would be released generally unless they could mitigate a lot of that.And I'm highly skeptical of any "health" related issues. We're surrounded by wireless signals, and have been for years. I heard all about how cell phones would give everyone cancer. I'm not ready to label a new kind of wireless power charging bad for us, when it's all theoretical at this point.
My dream would be simple. Walk into your house, your phone, laptop, etc immediately start charging, just like my phone connects to my Wi-Fi. As long as the power inefficiency isn't orders of magnitude worse (aka my power bill quadruples) the convenience would be worth it to me.
sonicmerlin - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
It uses magnetic fields to charge electronics. The earth has a far more powerful magnetic field that has no effect on your body.Daniel Egger - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
Maybe you'd like to refresh your physics a bit by looking up the difference between a static magnetic field and an electro magnetic field. After that feel free to go ahead and invent the electric generator without moving parts which you've basically just implied. ;)mkozakewich - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
It's a distance thing. If you're really really close to it, yes, it'll have a far more powerful effect than the earth's magnetic pull. The earth's magnetics are far more prevalent, though, because it's so massive.It's like gravity. If you go up or down a few hundred metres, you won't notice much. If the earth were a lot smaller (with the same mass but condensed, like a dwarf star), you'd notice a huge amount of gravity at your feet and less near your head.
blanarahul - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
The problem is that data wireless signals don't add up to more than 2-3 watts. With wireless power that figure can go anywhere from 20-70Watts. That's a lot.Daniel Egger - Friday, April 3, 2015 - link
> It's a distance thing. If you're really really close to it, yes, it'll have a far more powerful effect than the earth's magnetic pull. The earth's magnetics are far more prevalent, though, because it's so massive.True but totally missing the point. A permanent magnet is something completely different than a wireless transmitter is what I was trying to say.
robl - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
I currently use wireless charging with my Nexus7. I had a 1st generation device, and either the usb port or the charging electronics became intermittent and died, probably through repeated connect/disconnects of the cable. Wireless charging on the 2nd generation device should work around it. I agree with the article, getting proper placement of the device is hard, but I got used to it and it's "there" 90% of the time. So a charging standard that is less efficient but allows for much easier placement will be a complete win for me. Yes, I wish I wouldn't be wasting power, but imagine this will continue to improve with future generations...sonicmerlin - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
You forgot to mention Witricity, which while a part of the Rezence standard, also offers "highly resonant" magnetic coupling that allows for charging over multiple feet rather than inches.Also timeline-wise they announced the WiT-5000C3 development kit in November last year so companies could start creating devices compliant with the Rezence standard. Intel has adopted the Rezence standard, so you'll be seeing wireless charging in laptops next year.
If you were wondering (like I was) why it's taken so long for Witricity (which demoed at TED in 2009) to come to market, there's a good engadget video explaining it (starting at 8:30): http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/07/witricity-ceo-e...
hobostu3000 - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
I use the Qi-Infinity portable wireless power bank to charge my phone on the go. It's nice not having to carry around a USB cable and a power bank. It can be tricky but I'm also able to place my phone and the charger in my front pocket in order to charge my phone while walking around. The power bank also has the option of charging via USB so I can always charge via cable in the front pocket option isn't available.alin - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
Please tell me how can you answer a phone and still charging it in the same time?What about answering the phone with it's battery almost dead and egaging in a conversation.
You still need a wall socket for the wireless adaptor.
And if you find it hard to plug in the usb cable in your phone, sorry, but, your smartphone is smarter than you :)
Houdani - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
The secret to wireless charging is to NOT wait until you have no charge left. That's the selling point. Don't wait until you absolutely need a charge. Just set it down when you're not otherwise using it and it'll stay topped off.Yes, you could also follow this practice with a USB cord, too. But the nuissance of futzing with a cord keeps folks from bothering.
Impulses - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
Exactly, after getting a couple wireless chargers I find I charge more often... Never liked using the phone plugged in anyway, cord either gets in the way or I feel like I'm about to damage the port.mkozakewich - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
You can use an external battery. Ideally, that battery could charge wirelessly.Dorek - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
"Please tell me how can you answer a phone and still charging it in the same time?"...the speakerphone?
Dorek - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
As far as I know, the Lumia 830 was the first device to ship with combination Qi/PMA charging (AT&T version only, I think). Came out long before the Galaxy S6.Also, wireless charging is great. I love it. When my girlfriend and I stumble in to our bedroom in the dark, I plop my phone on my nightstand, she spends 20 sleepy seconds in the dark trying to plug micro-USB in to hers.
phantmz - Friday, April 3, 2015 - link
Sounds like most of the people complaining are using the cheap one coil chargers. Pay a little more and get the three coil chargers, they charge much faster and do not cause your phone to heat up. also they are picky where you place your phone.Thermalzeal - Friday, April 3, 2015 - link
Great Article! I'm a huge fan of Qi as I had a Lumia 920 when it came out, and was quite disappointed when ATT (PMA) screwed Microsoft out of offering it on their other phones. On my Lumia 1020 Wireless charging cases are being sold for $150+!!!! What a rip. In terms of usage, it's night and day having several charging pads located around my home. I even have a really cool Panasonic one that auto aligns the coils for precise transmission and it charges faster than the current MicroUSB Nokia charger. There are quite a few products out there that hack Qi into your microUSB but I'm glad that Samsung is taking a stance with the Galaxy 6, and I'm hopeful that Microsoft will do the same with it's upcoming flagship device. I find it quite funny that Apple is far behind in this context, but of course there are some cable revenue streams that they may be clutching on to.sandy105 - Friday, April 3, 2015 - link
I would not want to lose the fast charging capability on phones specially since sometimes its necessary to use while charging (calls,chats). Wireless charging is definitely slower .. keeping the phone on the mat rather than near you with a cable attached of course seems a problem .For tablets , it might make more sense .but if restaurants , coffee shops all start adopting wireless charging stations , then yes i would want that capability in my next phone.
dawheat - Sunday, April 5, 2015 - link
I think folks are being a bit short sighted. If wireless charging can become ubiquitous, it would be a great change. Running low? Top off at Starbucks or local cafe while drinking coffee. Top off at an airport. Never need to carry your cable or worry about adapters when travelling internationally. Have it built into cars.Peichen - Monday, April 6, 2015 - link
Wireless charging is stupid as it stands. Slower than wire and you cannot transfer file at the same time. It will come one day but that requires multiple integrations.Valis - Tuesday, April 14, 2015 - link
Doesn't matter, I'll never get a mobile without removable battery, anyway. I'm not into throw away products that costs $500 or more.Domac30 - Sunday, May 24, 2015 - link
I don't know much about harmfulness or minuses of wireless chargers, but I am very happy to use one of it. The price makes it accessible to all.For example, this one:
http://www.chargersmarket.co.uk/wireless-chargers/...
vaibhav24 - Thursday, April 11, 2019 - link
Wireless Phone Chargers Market Analysis - http://bit.ly/2Z1SW9ODreamann - Friday, May 24, 2019 - link
very good article, let me know more about the differences and characteristics of the three main charging standards. I think the wireless charging ecosystem may change again in the next few years.<a href="https://www.jotrin.com">electronic distributors</a>