The importance of wireless charging to everyday life

Daily charging of the technology devices you use has become as much a part of life as brushing your teeth or washing the dishes. Many people get into the habit of charging their phones, tablets, or smartwatches to the point where forgetting to charge them at the end of the day can severely impact their daily routines. To forget to charge some people will carry a portable mobile power source with them, but wireless charging can solve the problem of forgetting to charge. Traditional charging requires plugging in a cable to charge. Still, wireless charging allows you to charge your device directly by simply placing it on the charging station, so you never have to forget to charge again.

Keep reading. This article lets you learn about newer and easier ways to charge.

Induction charging

If the word 'induction' is refreshing, you may think of induction stoves, where you can place a pan or pot on a ceramic hot plate instead of on a gas flame. The electricity that powers the hot plate is transferred through the ceramic to the pan's metal, heating it so you can cook.

The process of wireless charging is very similar, as you place your smartphone, smartwatch, tablet, or another device on a wireless charger, usually in the form of a disc or small pad, and wait for the electricity to transfer from the charger without plugging in a cable to plug the charging pad into your device's battery. But don't worry, no one's device will be cooked! Wireless chargers produce far less heat than stoves. You may notice that your phone is hot to the touch after wireless charging, but it shouldn't be any hotter than when it's in regular use (e.g., making a phone call).

How does wireless charging work?

Wireless charging does not happen by itself, and not all devices can wireless charging. The wireless charger and the device being charged must contain an induction coil and a wireless charging module that is a flat, wide coil around a small magnet. As current passes through the coil, it creates an electromagnetic field around the magnet, allowing it to transfer charge to a nearby object, such as a battery.

It may surprise you that the concept of wireless charging or transferring energy between two objects via electromagnetic fields has been around for over a hundred years, initially discovered by Nikola Tesla. However, it took scientists a long time to figure out how to make wireless charging efficient enough to transfer energy to work. Today, it is possible to produce small and affordable electronics to be used in everyday applications. Still, devices also need to determine when to stop and start charging.

Getting the correct wireless charging standard

Different standards or types of wireless charging have been developed, as with most things in the technology world. These standards operate slightly differently from each other, so they offer different levels of performance and compatibility. The standards also determine how each device communicates with the other, so wireless chargers are more than just 24/7 power supplies. When wireless chargers come into contact with wireless charging devices that use the same standard, They can communicate with each other, verify that it is a valid charge request, and start charging. This communication also determines when to stop charging since the battery is fully charged.

Naturally, the general public will choose the one they like best, a judgment usually based on price, quality, performance, and accessibility. After several years of wireless charging technology, the standard known as "Qi" seems to have emerged as a slight winner over another popular standard, PMA. Today, if you have a wireless charging pad or a device that is compatible with wireless charging, it is likely to be compatible with Qi. It's best to do your research before making any purchases to ensure you're getting a wireless charging station and a compatible device.

How to determine if your device can charge wirelessly

So, how do you determine which devices support wireless charging (and check their standards)? When you buy a new device, the fact that it can be charged wirelessly may be a featured selling point. For existing devices, you should do some digging. There's an excellent guide to wireless charging devices on Finder. Still, if you can't find your device there, you'll need to look up the technical specs on the manufacturer's website or run a Google search: Can the [device name ] charge wirelessly?

Stay satisfied if your phone, tablet, or smartwatch charges wirelessly! You can purchase exceptional wireless charging cases or receiver cards that can be used to enable wireless charging on your device.