“The competition among wireless charging standards did not come to an end when Apple decided to choose Qi of the WPC (Wireless Power Consortium) for iPhone X and iPhone 8 devices in 2017,” Osiris Hu reports for Digitimes. “Instead, the move has pushed the member companies in the AFA (AirFuel Alliance) to exert efforts to develop magnetic resonance (MR) and other RF wireless charging solutions in order to win a new round of battle in the mid- and long-distance wireless charging segment, according to Digitimes Research.”
“Digitimes Research considers it a calculated move of Apple to usher in 7.5W wireless charging technology following the release of iOS 11.2,” Hu reports. “It is conservative as compared to the over 15W charging capacity of readily available wireless charging boards, but it is a rather bold step ahead compared to the mainstream 5W wireless charging technology used by most other smartphone models.”
“Although magnetic induction is currently the mainstream technology for the development of wireless charging, this technology still has a number of drawbacks,” Hu reports. “For this reason, makers in the field are still developing multiple technologies for wireless charging, including the use of magnetic resonance, ultrasound, infrared, electromagnetic waves, radio frequency, and solar energy, making the development of rapid charging technology a focus of attention.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Here’s to competition, innovation, and the arrival – someday – of true wireless charging!
SEE ALSO:
8 iPhone Qi wireless chargers tested. And the winner is… – April 24, 2018
Energous receives industry-first FCC certification for over-the-air, power-at-a-distance wireless charging – December 27, 2017
More evidence suggests Apple tie-up with true wireless charging firm Energous – December 21, 2016
Apple supplier Dialog partners with wireless charging company Energous – December 15, 2016
Ming-Chi Kuo: Apple’s next-gen iPhone to feature all-glass case for wireless charging – November 23, 2016
Two major ‘iPhone 8’ leaks reveal groundbreaking new features – November 23, 2016
Evidence suggests Apple is working on the biggest mobile game-changer since the original iPhone – November 8, 2016
Apple possibly working with Energous on extended range wireless charging for future iPhones – February 5, 2016
Apple developing cutting-edge long-range wirelessly-charged iPhones and iPads – January 29, 2016
iPhone 7 and the potential for wireless charging – January 19, 2016
Apple will drop headphone jack to make the iPhone 7 super slim, source confirms; wireless charging and waterproof, too – January 7, 2016
Apple looks to patent inductive charging system that could power an Apple Pencil or even a future kitchen appliance – January 7, 2016
Apple files 5th wireless inductive charging patent application since Late September – November 5, 2015\
Apple patent application reveals iPhone inductive charging sans extra hardware – October 8, 2015
Patent application reveals Apple working on wireless charging systems focused on rapid power delivery – August 27, 2015
Apple invents inductive charging interfaces for mobile devices – April 2, 2015
How about kinetic charging, similar to Seiko Kinetic watches for keeping your watch batteries charged throughout the day. Or airpods, or anything else you wear? Even augment your cell phone charging with like technology. That way I won’t need to plug my phone in multiple times every day. As long as I am moving around, my device is charging.
I can imagine contests for who can charge a battery most rapidly.
That’s enough to keep a simple watch running, but it’s not going to create enough power to have a meaningful impact on a phone’s charging requirements. You could put it in a paint mixer and shake it up all day and it probably wouldn’t stop you needing to plug it in.
No shit, Einstein!
Why do people want more and more unregulated and untested RF signals streaming through their electrically sensitive anatomy?
Did I read somewhere that if you’re using your phone whilst it’s qi charging it’s still running off the battery (as opposed to when you plug it in where it runs off the wired power directly). Personally, I find that with qi I’m more tethered than when I’m plugged in with a decent length cable.
Current wireless charging technologies (and, yes, MDN, they are “true” wireless charging systems) are intended to enable you to set down your phone and have it charge while you are doing something else. The objective is to make it easier and more convenient to keep it charged up so that you do not need to charge it while using it.