Analysts believe that wireless charging for smartphones is due to go mainstream soon.
The ability to charge a smartphone through an external source instead of plugging it into a power socket has been around for a while, with consumers passing it off as a gimmick thus far.
Jason dePreaux, an analyst for research firm IHS, believes that's set to change. "For sure, we are getting closer to mainstream, and only really recently."
"People should be able to get through the day without battery anxiety," Powermat CEO analyst Polaikine added. "If I'm able to create 1 million wireless charging spots within 18 months, that is mainstream."
Around five million devices were sold this year that featured wireless charging support. However, according to an IHS study, the number could grow to 100 million by 2015. The market for different accessories and wireless power chips is expected to be worth $4 billion by that year, the firm added.
"It's a new market," said Kamil Grajski, president of the A4WP. "The generational changes are going to be pretty fast. The differences are dramatic." Meanwhile, Menno Treffers, chairman of the Wireless Power Consortium said: "Once it's integrated without any penalty for usability and shape, then it will take off."
In addition to the recently released Nokia Lumia 920 and Google's Nexus 4, Verizon Wireless and HTC's Droid DNA will be the latest handset to have wireless charging integrated.
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Zak Islam is a freelance writer focusing on security, networking, and general computing. His work also appears at Digital Trends and Tom's Guide.
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rhangman Less efficient than a plug. Even if they can manage 99% efficiency, they sold something like 170 million smart phones last quarter. That's still a heap of wasted power.Reply -
mariusmotea This is not really a great future:Reply
The main advantage is that you don't need to spend 3 seconds more when you want to charge your phone.
But disadvantages are a lot:
Inconvenience - When a mobile device is connected to a cable, it can be freely moved around and operated while charging. In some implementations of inductive charging, the mobile device must be left on a pad, and thus can't be moved around or easily operated while charging.
Lower efficiency, waste heat - The main disadvantages of inductive charging are its lower efficiency and increased resistive heating in comparison to direct contact. Implementations using lower frequencies or older drive technologies charge more slowly and generate heat within most portable electronics.
More costly - Inductive charging also requires drive electronics and coils in both device and charger, increasing the complexity and cost of manufacturing.
Slower charging - due to the lower efficiency, devices can take longer to charge when supplied power is equal.
Healty - Wireless charging using hight frecvency gain the charging efficiency, but also emits electromagnetics waves around the device (SAR value is high) -
memadmax It really is a gimmick actually.Reply
And if ur too lazy to plug in your phone then you need to change ur lifestyle a bit
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assasin32 Great were making several things more fast and effecient and now were introducing a crappy charger which is very inefecient and slow compared to a cord & plug. Don't forget this will also cost more.Reply -
sylvez I think the only time I'll use it (if all the devices are wireless charging enabled) is if the charger is a large pail and I need to charge 20+ things at once. Just dump everything in and collect tomorrow morning.Reply
Military/security/event companies with a ton of walkies will find this very useful. -
aramisathei It's important to remember that most technologies start off inefficient.Reply
Takes years of R&D to work out the kinks and get products functioning how we'd like to see them.
Look at any cellphone from 10 years ago vs today, or an Atari 2600 to any modern console.
It's an interesting concept, but time will tell if it proves practical. -
Someone Somewhere rhangmanLess efficient than a plug. Even if they can manage 99% efficiency, they sold something like 170 million smart phones last quarter. That's still a heap of wasted power.Reply
Standard switchmode power supply (plugpack) is less than 85% usually. Then again, the wireless charger will need a plugpack too.
I still think it's a gimmick, but it could be more mainstream in a few years. If someone made one able to cover say a desk, then it would be more useful. EMF would be a bit strong for my liking by then though. -
nissanskylinen1 Apperntly wireless charging was hipster and now its going mainstream... Hipsters better find a new way to charge their stuff!Reply -
pixelpusher220 Remember how you hate having a separate charger for every device? Enjoy having a separate power mat for every device. If these companies haven't figured out that this cries out for standardization, then there's no guarantee these things will inter-operate nicely.Reply