With headways in technology, we see trends favoring the wireless charging. Come 2023, over 6 billion devices would be leveraging wireless technology to stay up and running. The technology adoption rates are unprecedented across devices, but smartphones are the prime adopters.

Apple, Samsung, and Huawei - all top Smartphone brands are more than willing to cut the cord and go wireless. Presently, the technology is restricted to high-end models only but it’s a matter of time for it to seep into less expensive models as cost dips and demand surges. In 2020, over 250 models on the market feature this capability, meaning 85% of smartphones sold would be charged wirelessly. That’s a quantum leap for a technology with a short evolution history.

With wireless charging technology going beyond the threshold of early adopters, we see the emergence of newer standards, notably MagSafe, Qi and USB-PD. What are they, and how do they matter, if at all to an everyday user like you? Let’s explore them all, one at a time.

MagSafe: An overview

MagSafe debuted in 2006 as Apple’s proprietary magnetic-powered connector for the MacBook lineup. Back then, MagSafe had nothing to do with wireless charging. Instead, it was all about user convenience and MacBook fall prevention. The connector quickly snapped on and off, enabling the user to connect the charger to the MacBook even in zero visibility. The technology would unplug the connector in wake of someone tripping over the charging cable and tugging the MacBook. The connector, power socket and the MacBook would, thus, stay safe.

Apple phased out MagSafe by 2016 only to re-launch it with a complete makeover in October 2020. The re-launch coincided with the launch of iPhone 12 lineup at the ‘Hi, Speed’ event. This time, MagSafe surfaced as an ecosystem of accessories premised on the wireless charging technology. With MagSafe wireless charger and MagSafe mounts, cases, wallets, and more, the accessory ecosystem is extensive and futuristic, capable of changing the way Apple gadgets are charged wirelessly. Expect future Apple devices to be wireless and MagSafe compliant.

MagSafe charger

It’s essentially a round disk with in-built rare magnets that attract the magnets in-built in iPhone 12. That translates into gadgets’ perfect alignment on the charger, automatically. Previously, the misalignment would lead to slower charge rates with the Qi wireless charger. MagSafe charger delivers up to 15W of power for rapid charging. In future, MagSafe would push Lightning ports out of the equation, allowing more space for a bigger iPhone battery and ensuring greater water resistance. The ports are a permanent fixture across iPhones until now.

MagSafe charges twice as fast but there’s a trade-off. The peak charging speeds are achievable only with either MagSafe chargers or those compatible with MagSafe. Independent testing suggests that many third-party chargers could offer up to 12W only. The technology is backward compatible as well, offering up to 7.5W power. MagSafe chargers come in 2 variants, MagSafe and MagSafe Duo. Duo adds on the former to accommodate Apple Watch charging as well. Neither of the MagSafe variant comes with iPhone 12. You’ll need to fetch it separately.

MagSafe Accessories

The MagSafe accessory ecosystem comes complete with cases, sleeves, and wallets. The clear and silicone cases are designed to snap on the gadget magnetically while allowing for wireless charging. The gadget reveals an animation once it recognizes the compatible case. The MagSafe enabled sleeve detects the gadget when inserted into it and turns on the clock automatically. You could view the color-matched clock through a window carved in the sleeve. The leather wallet sticks on the rear of the iPhone or the case to accommodate your cards and cash.

The future of MagSafe

MagSafe isn’t a passing fad but a technology here to stay. With Apple all set to incorporate the technology into all future gadgets, MagSafe is already hailed as the future of wireless charging. Enter the third-party manufacturers; the floodgates are opened for some innovative MagSafe-compatible accessories. A deluge of third-party manufactured accessories that would interact with MagSafe in different ways are on the cards. So, be ready to be spoilt for choices.

Qi wireless charging: An Overview

Qi (pronounced CHEE) is perhaps the only surviving open interface standard for wireless power transfer. The energy transfer happens over a distance of 1.6 inches (4 cm) or less. Just place a compatible gadget on a Qi-enabled charging pad to let the charging take place, wirelessly. On the last count, WPC has launched 5 versions of Qi – 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.2.3, and 1.2.3.4.

How does it work?

Qi leverages magnetic resonance and magnetic induction for power transmission. The compatible gadget features a coil to derive electric energy from the magnetic energy. Qi burst on to the scene in 2008, as the brainchild of Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). From Apple, Google, LG, Nokia, and Sony to Samsung, all top brands rely on Qi for wireless charging.

Qi Standardization

Qi’s overarching objective is to standardize wireless power transfer across gadgets, much like what USB did to data transfer protocols across devices. Standardization is required to bring uniformity across wireless charging protocols, keeping things convenient for users. Imagine the chaos if every manufacturer offered its own set of cables instead the universal USB ports.

Technically, non-standardized wireless chargers can work with non-standardized devices. But blending different power standards with unsupported gadgets can be inefficient and worst still, a safety hazard. Your Smartphone could end up facing overloading and overheating issues. Plus, the risk of fires and burns due to heat transfer to objects in the surroundings runs high.

Qi Certification

The universal Qi wireless charging standard helps you effectively ward off these issues. The Qi certification ensures the certified products comply with the compatibility, effectiveness and safety protocols put forth by WPC. It’s mandatory for Qi devices to transmit up to 30W power, and stay in line with Qi FOD standards. FOD stands for Foreign Object Detection, which helps the Qi-enabled charger to identify and direct energy to the gadget only, not to nearby objects.

Qi certified chargers are tested to high temperatures, eliminating the risk of gadget overheating during charging. Testing is done to make sure the devices and chargers work well together for a seamless compatibility. The products carrying a certification can be relied on for not interfering with electronic devices, including those in your cars. Also, count on Qi certified products to be intuitive and easy to use. The Qi logo is solely reserved for Qi certified products.

The future of Qi standard

With wireless charging being the future of charging, Qi is expected to stay significant far into the future. The third-party manufacturers have already taken the cues, offering innovative Qi-certified products that perform well, last long and cost less. Laser CO is at the forefront of this merging domain. A wireless car might be a distant dream as of now though, wirelessly charged kitchen appliances are on the cards. WPC is focusing on increasing energy transfer capabilities and devising integrated wireless adopters to cope up with the increased demand.

https://www.laserco.com.au/media/blog/magsafe-qi-usbpd-what-are-they-and-how-do-they-matter/USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. USB was birthed in early 1990s when proprietary and serial cables cluttered office spaces and made life difficult for the user. It simplified connectivity with a petite, cost-effective interface, USB-A. Gradually, the standard gained traction only to emerge as the most popular and the longest running wired interface standard for data communications and power transmission across computers, laptops, smartphones, tabs, and peripherals.

With introduction of newer, improved versions, USB’s charging capabilities upped drastically. USB-C Power Delivery (PD) is the latest protocol specification for speedier charging and data transfers, along with higher video resolutions. Built in parallel with USB-C, USB PD is reversible, and eliminates the requirement for a separate power jack and USB. Best of all, the standard ensures rapid charging, up to 100W, which is a significant upturn from USB-C’s 15W.

The USB PD standard is high on safety as well, ensuring protection from excessive overvoltage, current, and temperature. The power supply is restricted when the standard identifies such a condition and alerts you to it. The issue of overheating is also dealt with the Internal Thermal Balancing feature. USB PD fares well on the compatibility front too, juicing up all Android, iOS devices from across brands. The cables and adopters can be shared by all compatible devices.

How does it work?

When you plug two USB-PD enabled devices into each other, a handshake happens. Simply put, the devices parley a power contract to ensure quick, seamless power transmission. The devices factor in the source’s capability to support power and the recipient device’s capability to handle power. Once they arrive on an understanding about the compatible rate that both devices can support, the charging gets underway. Note that, all USB-C ports aren’t sympathetic to USB PD.

The future of USB PD

With a staggering 100W throughput, USB PD comes across as the most capable wired interface standard for power transmission. Despite their new found love for wireless charging, the top manufacturers incorporate USB PD standard in their flagships for rapid, safe, and reliable charging. The signs are encouraging for a standard that has reinvented itself repeatedly.