Most phone makers offer Qi, but what makes this standard so special?
Qi is a wireless charging standard, and the only one currently adopted by most major phone manufacturers.
Qi is pronounced “chee.”
What Is Wireless Charging?
Wireless charging allows you to charge a equipment, like your smartphone, without use of a charging cable.
The receiver gathers current through a special antenna, which can then be stored in the equipment’s battery.
How Does Qi Wireless Charging Work?
While theinner workings of wireless charging technologyare quite complex, the basic concept is simple.
to make it charge something wirelessly, you oughta have two components calledinduction coils.
These coils are loops of copper wire that are built into wireless charging stations and compatible phones.
That current flows into the battery, charging it just like a cable charger.
If you have an electric toothbrush, theres a good chance youve already used wireless charging.
Some rechargeable toothbrushes will actually charge when placed on a Qi wireless charging pad.
What Is the Qi Standard?
While all wireless charging technologies work according to the same principle, there are two competing types.
They are referred to as magnetic inductive and magnetic resonance charging.
The Qi standard was first published in 2010, and it described an inductive method for wirelessly charging devices.
Why Do Phone Makers Prefer Qi?
Phone makers embraced Qi over alternative standards for a handful of different reasons.
The first, and probably most important, is that Qi had a major head start.
Qi’s inductive charging tech is also more energy-efficient than resonant charging, and it usually involves smaller components.
That means inductive Qi chargers can be more compact than competing devices.
Resonant charging specifications were added to the Qi 1.2 standard in 2014.
However, that implementation was tweaked enough toprevent the Apple Watch from working with Qi charging stations.
That decision allowed both Apple and Android users to take advantage of the same charging hardware.
Some charging station manufacturers get around this by including multiple charging coils in a single station.
However, your phone still has to be lined up properly with one of them or it wont charge.
Aside from that, using Qi to wirelessly charge a phone is simple.
As long as the phone remains in place, it will charge.
Where Can You Charge a Phone With Qi?
Theres even anapp that will show you where to find a public charging stationin your area.
If your phone doesnt have Qi technology built-in, you canadd wireless charging with a case.
Alternatively, you might even get a thin charging unit that fits between your phone and your existing case.
FAQ
To find out if your smartphone is Qi enabled, look up its hardware specifications.
you could check the gadget’s users manual, if you have it.
you’re free to also find tech specs on the manufacturer’s website.
An appropriate name for something that gives “life” to your electronic devices.
While Qi wireless charging is certainly convenient, it’s more of a luxury than a necessity.
you’re able to get by just fine charging your phone via a cable.
Qi charging is also slower than wired charging.
So if time’s a factor, you may prefer sticking with the old fashioned way.
