Qualcomm's WiPower wireless charging technology can now charge metal phones
By
Qualcomm's WiPower wireless charging technology can now charge metal phones
While metal has come to be synonymous with quality when it comes to smartphone design, it has long stood in the way of wireless charging. Owners of phones constructed of metal have had to turn to separate cases to enable compatibility. But according to Qualcomm, it has now put an end to that quandary by enabling phones with metal exteriors to be charged wirelessly.
Qualcomm didn’t offer specifics on exactly how the technology works, but it may have something to do with changes to the operating frequency to support greater tolerance of metal objects within the charging field. The Rezance resonance charging standard already allowed metal objects like keys and coins in the charge field, but the improved WiPower technology now allows the device itself to be made of metal.
According to Qualcomm, the new WiPower system continues to deliver up to 22 watts of power, which puts it on par with – or even above – that of the Wireless Power Consortium’s Qi standard. The latest version of the Qi specification is capable of pushing out up to 15 watts of power, similar to other wired fast-charging standards available.
Qualcomm’s WiPower is based on near-field magnetic resonance technology, which has a few advantages over inductive charging. For one, it doesn’t require any precise alignment or even for your device to have direct contact with the charging pad. It also allows charging of multiple devices from a single transmitter. On the other hand, Qi might still be more efficient than Rezance.
Qualcomm is part of the Alliance For Wireless Power (A4WP) consortium, which counts among its members illustrious backers like Intel and Samsung. A4WP merged with the Power Matters Alliance (PMA) in January, the latter of which uses inductive charging instead of A4WP’s resonance-based Rezence charging technology.
The new technology will be made available to manufacturers that want to use it. The wireless charging wars are still ongoing, and Qualcomm might’ve just scored an important point. Given the recent troubles at the company, it’s nice to see news of positive developments.
Source: Qualcomm
