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What went wrong with wireless charging?

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Recent rumors say that Apple will give the iPhone 8 wireless charging capability. Apple has even joined the Wireless Power Consortium. Is the age of wireless charging approaching? Doubts are justified.

For this year’s anniversary generation of the iPhone, Apple is planning – among other things – wireless charging. Analysts and experts in the supply chain have come to this conclusion (via Mac & i). However, the rumors also suggest that Apple does not see this feature as a free service: because the necessary charging station won't be provided, but must be bought separately as an accessory. Therefore, wireless charging is not a replacement for the Lightning interface.

Although Apple has often set new industry trends, in this case, history should not be repeated. Because the accessory will be expensive, as is typical for Apple, the wireless charging capability of the iPhone will not carry this feature into the world as a concept.

The parody account not Jony Ive raises this point on Twitter:

In the medium term, Apple could try to establish wireless charging as a standard, and thus abolish the last physical interface. However, this step requires more courage than simply killing off the USB Type-C port.

Wireless charging: in theory, it’s the top…

Wireless charging has a checkered history. On the one hand, it sounds tempting that the smartphone just kind of sits on a platform and is thereby charged. I confess: for a long time, I’ve preferred this form of charging over all others – both for my old LG G3 and for my current Galaxy S7. In the age of the Micro USB cable, the main advantage for me is that I don’t have to bother with the correct direction of the cable. Since I usually charge the phone overnight, the slow charging speed hardly plays a role.

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You can even retrofit for wireless charging. But for what purpose? / © NextPit

...in practice, it’s a flop.

For my Galaxy S7, I nevertheless renounced wireless charging and now annoy myself with the Micro USB cable. There are two main reasons for this: several times it happened that the smartphone lost its connection with the charging pad overnight, and so I started the next day with my smartphone at 5 percent, instead of with a 90 or 100 percent battery charge. And sometimes the charging power was apparently not high enough to hoist the S7 above 60 percent. Sure, my charging pad is not a Samsung original, but this should not ultimately make a big difference for an industry standard.

Finally, for me, the charging cable again proved to be the best option, because it was the most reliable, for charging my smartphone. Currently, the smartphone must lie precisely over the charging coil, which quite definitely limits the usefulness.

If Apple wants to bring wireless charging into the mainstream, the company will have to develop a less temperamental charging pad.

Some manufacturers have temporarily lost the Qi features, such as Google, starting with its Nexus 5X / 6P. With a USB Type-C, the cable plug is no longer scary, especially as this interface provides fast charging. In the high-end segment, the aluminum construction has become the standard for cases, and this material makes conventional wireless charging impossible. There are technical solutions for this, but they have not yet found a place in any smartphone. The 2017 smartphones will also, in many cases, appear without a wireless charging coil. Perhaps Samsung, however, will remain firm and stick with the technology for the Galaxy S8.

Is wireless charging important to you? If you haven't tried it yet, why not? Let us know in the comments.

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Hans-Georg Kluge

Hans-Georg Kluge
Editor

Hans-Georg writes about apps, hardware and other stuff that happens in the Android universe. He is a happy owner of the Galaxy S7 but enjoys time with an iPad as well.

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25 comments
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  • Alex Moroni 7
    Alex Moroni Mar 2, 2017 Link to comment

    Wireless charging will only be relevant to me if compatible with QuickCharge 3.0


  • Natanael Bodanese 16
    Natanael Bodanese Mar 2, 2017 Link to comment

    Caso alguem conhece uma carregador portátil ou bateria extra com saída 9v, poderia me mandar o link ?


  • Natanael Bodanese 16
    Natanael Bodanese Mar 2, 2017 Link to comment

    Prefiro um carregamento rápido do que sem fio.


  • Michal Horna 14
    Michal Horna Feb 24, 2017 Link to comment

    For me, the wireless charging on my S7 EDGE best choice.
    No problems here


  • 4
    remyj Feb 24, 2017 Link to comment

    The one area that wireless charging really shines is on the nightstand. Before I had wireless charging I would have to fumble around in the dark and use both hands, one to hold the phone and one to try to find the USB cable. Not easy when reclined in bed.

    The wireless charger requires only one hand to reconnect and the little blue LED on the charger guides me in for an accurate landing on the vertical charging pad, then turns green one charging has started.

    So much easier to charge under those circumstances and like others said, the slower charging is not a big deal when the phone is going to be on the charger for the next 7-8 hours.

    Same thing goes for work. Just drop the phone on the charger when I get in and the vertical stand turns the phone into a clock radio.

    My 2 cents


  • Shankar Prasad Nandi 18
    Shankar Prasad Nandi Feb 24, 2017 Link to comment

    Those who are commenting on the benefits of wireless charging don't get the point of this article. It is not meant to put down the whole concept of wireless charging, but to say that since manufacturers are no longer stressing wireless charging on their models, the whole idea seems to have suffered a dip in popularity amongst buyers and users. If you're enthusiastic about wireless charging go get yourself a phone that has it.


  • 3
    Pankaj Saini Feb 23, 2017 Link to comment

    You don't anything about fast charging dude. May be you are too poor to buy the original fast wireless charger of samsung. Its exactly as fast as wired charging. And i tried placing it wrong several time. It always works like a charm and looks great on my desk. Please for your company's sake do some R&D before writing articles. Nevertheless, buy the stuff i mentioned and you might write a new article about how goood wireless charging is !


    • 28
      itprolonden Feb 24, 2017 Link to comment

      What is the "original fast wireless charger"

      Shankar Prasad Nandi


    • Shankar Prasad Nandi 18
      Shankar Prasad Nandi Feb 24, 2017 Link to comment

      If you're such a big fan of wireless charging you must surely HATE wires. In that case you REALLY MUST get an iPhone. Not a poor Android thing entangled in earphone wires. Unless you don't listen to music or podcasts dear.


  • 12
    Deactivated Account Feb 23, 2017 Link to comment

    I've used wireless charging extensively with an S7edge, never had a problem, and enjoyed it's convenience a great deal. A pad placed in the living room, bedroom, and office was great.

    Before penning your definitive opinion piece, I would think that you would actually want to base it off of the use of OEM equipment, and not some shoddy, no name 3rd party goods.

    In 9 1/2 months of using the S7EDGE, I actually plugged it in to charge it less than 1/2 a dozen times. Wireless charging is one thing I really do miss about the phone, I just don't miss the false touches, limited native storage, slow updates, and moderate amount of jank that led me to move on from it.

    Pankaj Saini


  • Patrick Callaghan 11
    Patrick Callaghan Feb 23, 2017 Link to comment

    I have used wireless charging on my current S7 edge & my LGv10 with a receiver. Never had a problem. Used generic 3 coil stand & now the Samsung Fast Charge stand. Minimal heat, no need to be precise on placement, no cable wearing out the USB port. Love it.


  • 7
    Ralf Fensch Feb 23, 2017 Link to comment

    I have been using w.c.(generic stand ) since I got my s7 edge ( 10 month ago ) n never had a problem whith overheating or not fully charging. I don't know where ur problems come from. I even charge with case on( takes a bit longer ). And if the case is to thick, it simply wont charge.


  • Mark G. 28
    Mark G. Feb 23, 2017 Link to comment

    I have went through periods of flirting with wireless charging, mainly using a charging pad that allows me to use my phone (vertical pad). I've never encountered a problem with using a USB cable such as a damaged port, I also use a brand of chargers/cables that perform much better than the standard ones. Ultimately the decision comes to convenience, my wireless charging pad still needs needs to be connected to the same USB cable / charger, so it then comes to charging speed, granted my excellent S7 has a fairly fast wireless charging system when using a decent charging pad, but it's still slower than normal wired charging and considerably less than the fast charging system.

    I have no doubt that I will flirt more with wireless but it's as yet not able to totally replace a wired connection.

    Peace 🖖


  • 10
    David Turner Feb 23, 2017 Link to comment

    I prefer wireless charging over having to plug my phone in all the time. I had to replace the USB port on a Galaxy S4 twice, and had a Galaxy Tab A rendered totally inoperative due to a faulty, non-replaceable USB port coupled with a non-replaceable battery. I've never had a problem with a wireless charger not fully charging my phone, and all the wireless chargers I use have an indicator light which shows when the phone is charging. OTOH, I've had many devices which won't charge from the USB cable without fiddling with the connection. As for the necessity of having a conveniently located AC power source, I also have a couple of Qi-enabled power banks for charging on the go. I also have a Qi-enabled cradle in my car, which is by far easier to use than plugging in with a USB cable.


  • 2
    Maurice Feb 23, 2017 Link to comment

    I'am using a Note5 with an original samsung fast charging pad, it works like a charm, less than one hour for a full charge.
    The temperature goes up to 40 degrees, but after one year of intensive use I do not notice a degradation of battery capacity.
    Future developments of batteries and wireless charging technologies will make this must have feature.


  • 31
    Deactivated Account Feb 23, 2017 Link to comment

    tried it thought it was cool, my phone didn't...
    30mins of wireless charging had the battery temp going over 40°c
    tried a few different chargers but always the same, too much heat, not very healthy if you want a decent lifespan from your battery.


    • 2
      Biffstar1234 Feb 24, 2017 Link to comment

      Doesn't make a blind bit of difference to battery life. All the nay sayers think so, but it doesn't. You can wireless charge a phone for over 2 years which I have and you have no degradation over the norm which is next to none.
      Most people used to and still do charge with a cable while using their phones at the same time, even sat nav in the car on a hot day and the phones are blazing hot but the batteries hardly lose any time at all in real world use over 2 years.
      IF they do, get a battery replacement on warranty but I doubt you could prove any real world battery issues to do it.


  • 46
    Deactivated Account Feb 23, 2017 Link to comment

    The Problem it is not truly wireless. You still have a base that has to be plugged in near to where you are. It is also slower and it makes it difficult to use your phone. I use a different approach, I charge my batteries then swap them out. So in a sense I am wirelessly charging as mush as a wireless charger. I still have a device plugged in just not to my phone, and can go from 0% to 100% in a jiffy.

    itprolondenShankar Prasad Nandi


    • 12
      Paul Cirrus Feb 23, 2017 Link to comment

      haha nice trick you got


  • 12
    Paul Cirrus Feb 23, 2017 Link to comment

    What I imagine when I here/read about wireless charging is that no need for pad or anything, as long as the phone connects wirelessly from a device that is plug in a specific range only even if you are using it. I would still prefer fast charging capabilities

    itprolondenSheena F

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