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No longer sci-fi – Use your smartphone as a wireless charger




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Charging phones for hours on end are a thing of the past. Things have evolved to a thing of science-fiction – wireless charging, a feature many premium phones these days support. That is right, we can today charge a phone by simply placing it on a charging pad. There is no need to carry multiple chargers and cables anymore. Popular phones such as the iPhone 8, iPhone X, iPhone XS, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and the Galaxy Note 9 support this wireless charging. Even this supposedly futuristic feature has seen some enhancements.

The latest is called wireless power sharing, in marketing speak. Samsung’s Galaxy S10, S10 Plus and the recently launched Galaxy Note 10 phones have this feature. What exactly is it though, and how does it work?

What is wireless power sharing?

Wireless power sharing is also sometimes referred to as reverse charging. It turns the back of the phone into a charging pad, which can in turn, charge other compatible phones, even smartwatches and wireless earphones, irrespective of the brand. It works on Qi (pronounced ‘chi’), a wireless charging standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) that lets you charge devices at distances of up to 4 cm.  Samsung called this device-to-device charging feature, Wireless PowerShare. Other brands use their own terminology.

Is it different from fast charging?

The wireless power sharing feature is different from fast charging, since it works across Qi certified devices. These devices have coils inside, which generate electromagnetic waves that are turned into electricity once you place the devices, back-to-back. Fast charging is the traditional charging method where you use a compatible charger connected using a cable to the phone.

What can it charge?

How do you enable it?

Some Qi-compatible devices support wireless power sharing, but there are few things to note. The primary device needs to be at least 30 per cent charged to charge another device. Power sharing may not work effectively if the phones are enclosed in cases.

To charge other devices using the Galaxy Note 10 for example, simply enable the “Wireless PowerShare” feature by scrolling the notification panel. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect devices to charge. In case of earbuds, insert the earbuds inside the charging case and just leave the case on the back of the Note 10. The efficiency of wireless charging depends on how you place the devices.

Devices supporting Qi-enabled power sharing

You can technically charge devices that support Qi compatible devices, irrespective of brands. For example, you can charge your Apple Watch or iPhone by placing it on the back of the Samsung Note 10. In most cases, the placement of the charging coil may differ from products to products, so you need to ensure they are placed correctly.

Every Qi compatible device have power specifications defined. The lowest power specified is up to 5W of power, typically for mobile charging. However, they may have slow charging speeds. The iPhone 8 and the iPhone X series of phones support 7.5W or even up to 10W of power.

Samsung Qi-enabled devices

Samsung Note 10 Series

Samsung Galaxy Buds

Samsung Galaxy Watches

Apple Qi-enabled devices

iPhone X Series 

Apple Watches

iPhone 8 / 8 Plus 

The Wireless PowerShare feature is quite exciting because it opens many possibilities, where we’ve avoided using products just because they need additional charging, adapters and cables. This feature gives us the freedom to charge devices on-the-go. Brands across the spectrum are seen showing interest by implementing this technology on their devices. Samsung even went as far as to design a portable wireless charging power bank. With phones being manufactured with large battery capacities and fast charging features, being able to wirelessly charge other devices by touch, bring the future to the present.