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Why is wireless charging called wireless charging?

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IsaacM

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 8, 2011
479
1,406
It's not truly wireless. When I think of wireless charging, I think of a wi-fi like system with over the air electrical power transfer.

This is more like "plug-free" charging. OK, you don't need to insert a plug, but there is still a wire on your wireless charging station and the station needs to be in physical contact with the phone.

Do you think Apple could come up with a technology that is truly wireless charging? Imagine roaming around your home or workplace and your phone automatically charges over the air. Is that even scientifically possible?
 
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I

IsaacM

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 8, 2011
479
1,406
Pseudo-Fed said:
Would that even be wireless charging? The doohickie would have to be plugged in.
Click to expand...

In my opinion, same thing as wifi. If you just walked around a certain perimeter and your phone charged.

This is more like having to press your laptop on a wifi router in order for internet to work : )
 
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PanAm-L1011

PanAm-L1011

macrumors 6502a
May 29, 2010
635
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Republic of California
I agree. I thought it was a gimmick when Samsung first came out with it, and I still kinda do. However, I do like that I have a wireless charging stand at home and work, so my phone just sits on it and it gets charged. However, when I travel I will be bring the standard plug in charger. Much smaller and easier to carry than a wireless charger.
 
A

andyw715

macrumors 68000
Oct 25, 2013
1,753
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What I don't understand, because I'm not an EE or physicist, is if the "wireless" charging we have today is just induction - a magnetic field inducing a current in a wire loop.

Why can't the base just be a regular magnet? Set the phone on it and it charges?

Again....way past my pay grade.

ETA: Ahh I see it has to do with magnetic flux, a moving magnetic field vs stationary one. A spinning magnet would work, but then power is needed to spin the magnet.

Maybe the wireless chargers will get better and be able to be run off of batteries.
 
A

andyw715

macrumors 68000
Oct 25, 2013
1,753
1,357
PanAm-L1011 said:
I agree. I thought it was a gimmick when Samsung first came out with it, and I still kinda do. However, I do like that I have a wireless charging stand at home and work, so my phone just sits on it and it gets charged. However, when I travel I will be bring the standard plug in charger. Much smaller and easier to carry than a wireless charger.
Click to expand...

I thought so to (the gimmicky part). But I to have a wireless charging stand at my desk and it sits at the correct angle that I can glance at it when I see a notification come in and have FaceID unlock to read the notification.

Also it is convenient, not having to plug it in, also it saves stress on the lightning connector.
 
Myzhi

Myzhi

macrumors 6502a
Dec 15, 2009
973
64
I can start and keep charging the iPhone X 1cm above the charging station. So, technically, it is wireless charging. Obviously, it’s more convenient to rest the phone on the station then keep on holding it 1cm above. What needs is to increase the wireless range.
 
fischersd

fischersd

macrumors 603
Oct 23, 2014
5,350
1,928
Port Moody, BC, Canada
You're thinking of what Energous is trying to do (and there's a few different research teams at the universities working out the particulars for similar methods).

The induction charging that we have today is temporary. Pretty sure one of these will make it to market in the next several years.
 
L

LiemTa

macrumors 6502
Jun 2, 2014
441
234
I can't wait to see what marketing term they come up with when real wireless, ala Wifi, charging is inventing. Since they already used up the term "wireless charging" on this dumbass contact charging.
 
S

Shadowbech

macrumors G3
Oct 18, 2011
9,038
5,892
IsaacM said:
It's not truly wireless. When I think of wireless charging, I think of a wi-fi like system with over the air electrical power transfer.

This is more like "plug-free" charging. OK, you don't need to insert a plug, but there is still a wire on your wireless charging station and the station needs to be in physical contact with the phone.

Do you think Apple could come up with a technology that is truly wireless charging? Imagine roaming around your home or workplace and your phone automatically charges over the air. Is that even scientifically possible?
Click to expand...
More of inductive charging.
 
Recognition

Recognition

macrumors 6502a
Jun 27, 2013
596
673
We already have people who are sensitive to WiFi radio waves, people concerned over Bluetooth and cellular data for their Apple Watch on their wrist all day, IR lasers blasting their corneas every time they unlock their iPhone X, flickering phone screens giving them instant migraines.

If (when) they bring out ‘at a distance’ wireless charging, some people’s heads will explode!
There will be some amazing threads on here though!

(I can’t wait! lol!)
 
4

44267547

Cancelled
Jul 12, 2016
37,643
42,522
andyw715 said:
The standardization of Qi is also nice...
Click to expand...

Because it's becoming more ubiquitous. If someone was not interested in Apples Airpower to take advantage of charging three devices at once, there are other affordable options to wirelessly charge just the iPhone X. Not to mention, Apples Airpower will likely be priced somewhere between $130-$200.00.
 
Archer1440

Archer1440

Suspended
Mar 10, 2012
730
302
USA
Recognition said:
We already have people who are sensitive to WiFi radio waves, people concerned over Bluetooth and cellular data for their Apple Watch on their wrist all day, IR lasers blasting their corneas every time they unlock their iPhone X, flickering phone screens giving them instant migraines.
Click to expand...


WiFi "sensitivity" is a sham. BT and data on your watch also a non-issue, indistinguishable from placebo. IR lasers not an issue at the duration and power levels involved. Flickering phone screens- haven't heard of any so far.
 
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movieator

movieator

Contributor
Sep 17, 2009
1,379
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LA, CA
I know we're all wondering about the future of wireless charging here, but I wonder if we would be wondering if someone could make a battery that lasts a week on one charge.
 
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fischersd

fischersd

macrumors 603
Oct 23, 2014
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Port Moody, BC, Canada
pullfocus said:
I know we're all wondering about the future of wireless charging here, but I wonder if we would be wondering if someone could make a battery that lasts a week on one charge.
Click to expand...
You'll have "truly wireless" before battery tech gets to the point of giving us a week on a charge. Advancements have been very slow in battery tech.

Then the driver to have it will be gone...as we will need minimal battery capacity, as we're always in charging zones.

...so the phone OEM's will fill the space with other features....and (knowing Apple) make the phones even thinner.
 
Recognition

Recognition

macrumors 6502a
Jun 27, 2013
596
673
Archer1440 said:
WiFi "sensitivity" is a sham. BT and data on your watch also a non-issue, indistinguishable from placebo. IR lasers not an issue at the duration and power levels involved. Flickering phone screens- haven't heard of any so far.
Click to expand...
Check out the eye strain thread, apparently its due to the way the iPhone X dims the display by strobing the screen at different frequencies.

I know most of them are shams and non-issues (the eye strain one I do believe though), just saying that people will freak out if they believe there's more 'dangerous' electromagnetic waves in the air!
 
M

mobiletech

macrumors regular
Nov 17, 2010
109
17
there are two ways of true wireless charging
1. broadcasting charging frequency that has terrible range of efficiency. while it does work for an iPhone (and take overnight)it would not work for much else and apple had intentions on doing it on all devices.... would really like to walk in a store and say "Damn I'm out of charging reception and only have 1%"?

2. perpetual magnetic motor which I have made and produces a max of 4 watts before the laws of magnets start to work against it and produce less charge when you try to up the output.

We use open source inductive charging system called Qi. The benefits of this form of charging will be seen now that it is main stream. The benefit is that if you see a Qi charger in public you only need your device to be put on the circle/pad/ magnet to start charging. no wires or cube in your pocket and when they are everywhere every stop you make is a small charge leading to you almost never running out of battery. Not only that Qi pads are nicer looking and easier to mount in a table and due to the standard 7.5watts venues can use much less wiring to power these chargers.

In NYC restaurants, coffee shops, bars and even book stores have feverously been trying to put enough outlets and usb bays to appease the growing needs of customers needing to charge their devices. This is very expensive with tables costing several thousand more than their normal counterparts. Then the venue has to spend thousands more running wires from the circuit breaker to the outlets with enough size to compensate 6 people using every outlet at its max at a time. With floor outlets your looking at sometimes $10,000.00 a piece. not to mention the electricity bill.
 
haruhiko

haruhiko

macrumors 604
Sep 29, 2009
6,503
5,749
IsaacM said:
It's not truly wireless. When I think of wireless charging, I think of a wi-fi like system with over the air electrical power transfer.

This is more like "plug-free" charging. OK, you don't need to insert a plug, but there is still a wire on your wireless charging station and the station needs to be in physical contact with the phone.

Do you think Apple could come up with a technology that is truly wireless charging? Imagine roaming around your home or workplace and your phone automatically charges over the air. Is that even scientifically possible?
Click to expand...
Then your internal organs will be fried.
 
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