Inductive charging - why and when a wireless charger makes sense

Inductive charging - We bring you a little closer to the topic of wireless chargers and show the features as well as the advantages and disadvantages

For some years now, it has been almost common practice to have the option of supplying your device with power using a wireless charger. But how exactly does it work and what are the advantages and disadvantages when compared with conventional charging via cable?

How exactly does wireless charging work?

From a mechanical point of view, the whole thing works by means of a coil that is built into the charging station. If this is now connected to the socket or a USB port via a cable, the alternating current flows through it. This current flow in connection with the coil now creates a magnetic field around the pad.

The smartphone (depending on the generation) also has such a coil. If you now bring your device close to the magnetic field of the charging station, current also flows through it, which is passed on directly to the battery.

What are the advantages of inductive charging?

A clear advantage compared to charging with a cable is the tangle of cables that is eliminated. Most wireless chargers recognise when your battery is full, so this charging option is extremely gentle on your battery, which in turn leads to a longer device life.

Thanks to the uniform Qi standard, you no longer need the right connection for your device, as with the cable, but you can simply charge all devices that can be charged in this way. This means you need far fewer cables, which also looks better.

Meanwhile, there are also wireless charging stations that allow you to charge several devices at the same time.

There are some advantages, but what about the disadvantages?

It is important that your device is compatible with such a charging station or supports inductive charging. Most devices of the newer generations have this technology, but still not all.

In contrast to classic charging with a cable, with inductive charging you can hardly use the device at all. If the mobile phone is lifted, the power supply is directly interrupted. With the current technology, it is only possible to lift the mobile phone a few centimetres and then the connection to the charging station disappears.

In terms of price, there is also a noticeable difference. Wireless chargers currently still cost a little more than the conventional cable chargers. Another disadvantage is the charging time, which can be up to twice as long with wireless charging.

What is important to bear in mind when charging inductively?

Do not use a case that is too thick or made of metal. This will impair the charging process or prevent the device from establishing the connection in the first place. Charging can be impaired as soon as magnetic strips or RFID chips are in the vicinity, e.g. in the form of credit cards or passports. In the worst case, these can even be damaged.

The device should be removed from the charging station when it is full. If you leave it on the charging station for a long time, the charging process will start again as soon as the battery drops to 99%. In the long run, this can weaken the battery.

Depending on the inclination of the charging station, the vibration mode should be turned off. Otherwise, in the worst case, the device could fall off the charging station and suffer damage.