Despite what many users think, wireless charging has been with us for many years, although its availability on the market is relatively recent. Thanks to this technology, we can charge any compatible electronic device without using a cable, just by placing it on a compatible charger.
This technology is not only found in mobile phones and smart watches. It is increasingly common to see computer peripheral manufacturers launching products compatible with this charging system, especially gaming mice and wireless headphones that include a stand.
This type of charging is only available in small devices since they are the ones that need to be charged practically every day because, due to their size, they incorporate a smaller battery. In addition, its low charging power, which we will talk about later, is not the best option for charging high-capacity batteries like those found in laptops or tablets.
How wireless charging works
The first thing is to clarify the term. It is not really a charging system that works through the air like Wi-Fi networks. It is a system of electromagnetic chargewhere it is necessary that both the device and the base are in physical contact to carry out the process.
Wireless charging requires two parts. On the one hand, the device we want to charge must have a receiving copper coil that is responsible for receiving the signal. A transmitter coil is also necessary to send the signal found in the charging base.
When the charging base that incorporates the transmitter coil is connected to the power, when it detects that we place a device compatible with wireless charging, a electromagnetic field which in turn generates current within the coil of the device we want to charge.
The coil of the device to be charged is located in a specific part of the device, so it does not cover the entire area. This requires placing the device on the charging base in a specific way so that an electromagnetic field is created.
Advantages and disadvantages of wireless charging
The first and main advantage of this wireless technology is the convenience offered by leaving the device on a charging base so that it automatically charges, thus reducing tangled cables and lying on the floor.
Wireless charging is based on the standard Qi which was introduced in 2010 and received a major update in 2023 with the Qe2 standard. Both charging protocols are compatible with each other and it is the most used by all electronic devices of consumption.
Wireless charging is limited to a maximum of 15W by default, although some manufacturers can unlock this limit and offer a higher level of power as long as the device to be charged is also compatible.
This is an advantage since, by charging more slowly, we prevent the battery heats up excessively, thus extending its useful life. But, it is also a disadvantage since it takes much more time to fully charge the device, which can be a problem if we run out of battery mid-day.
