iPhone 8 and iPhone X received the long-awaited support for wireless charging. However, not the fact that this will convince you to change your, say, iPhone 7 to a newer model. What to do if you have an old iPhone, and the wires are bored to the teeth of a rat?
If you plan to buy an iPhone 8, 8 Plus or X, then you will have wireless support for Qi-technology from the very beginning. But if you have an old iPhone (but with Lightning port it's important), you can still get all the benefits of this feature. And we will tell you how to do it.
But before we proceed, let's clarify what is considered a wireless charging. Many users regard the technology in Apple smartphones as skeptical, because it implies the use of wires for work. And here it is worth noting that the "wireless" part of the scheme is the connection directly between the charger and the smartphone. Modern technology so far does not allow charging equipment with electricity, which is contained in the air.
New iPhones support the charging of the Qi-standard - in the same way as the smart phones LG G, Samsung Galaxy S and Note and many others. Although, let's agree, this is not a "real" wireless charging, yet put the smartphone on a stand and go to bed knowing that in the morning the charge will be 100%, much more convenient than in the dark to look for charging (or even the wire and adapter separately ).
Qi is an inductive charging technology that uses two turns of a copper wire with a steel core: one in the device that you charge (or in a special case), the other in the rug or stand on which you put the device. If one turn is brought close enough to another, an electromagnetic field is created that allows electricity to be transferred between turns.
Although the devices (smartphone and charger) must touch or be very close to each other so that it works, the windings themselves are at a certain distance from each other.
How to add wireless charging to an old iPhone
As we have already mentioned, there is a possibility to add wireless charging to devices that initially do not support it. For this, there are special cases in which the induction coil and the Lightning connector are built in.
Of course, for everything to work, you will also need to purchase a Qi-compatible charging - a rug or stand. There are large mats that allow you to charge multiple devices from one outlet at a time.
Note that there is one important drawback of using such cases. Because they connect to the Lightning port, you can not use it for anything else. That is, the cover will have to be removed if you decide to charge the smartphone in the traditional way - say, at work or in a cafe. If we are talking about the iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, the use of wired headphones also becomes impossible, because in these and later models Apple has abandoned the 3.5 jack connector.
It is important to note that usually wireless charging is slower than wired: most smartphones support power up to 5 watts. The same was true for the iPhone at the time of the release of the new flagships, but now the Cupertin players have corrected the situation. With the release of iOS 11.2, the maximum power increased to 7.5 watts. There are chargers on the market that offer twice the power, but there is no sense in them, since your smartphone will still not be able to be charged faster due to internal limitations. Thus, it makes no sense to buy a cover or a charging stand that gives out more than 7.5 watts.
What are the standards for wireless charging?
Although we said that charging by Qi-standard prevails in the market, in fact the dominant groups are two - and both offer different standards.
The WPC (Wireless Power Consortium) Consortium offers just the same technology of induction charging Qi (read as "Chi"). It is used in the iPhone 8, iPhone X and the dominant number of Android flagships.
Another major market player, the AirFuel Alliance, offers both induction and resonance technologies. Note that not all devices support resonant charging.
In summary, most wireless chargers and compatible smartphones use Qi. This is also the standard that can be found, for example, in some Starbucks coffee houses, which offer guests the possibility of wireless charging instead of traditional outlets under the tables.
The best devices for wireless charging iPhone
Next come the most popular and convenient accessories that add wireless charging to the iPhone 7 and older. You can find them in different stores, including offline, but for your convenience, we attach links to product pages on Amazon. On how to order on this site, you can read in our article.
AirCharge
Now the market has no shortage of decent chargers, but one of the best recognized AirCharge. It consists of two parts: a cover for iPhone and a stand, which can be connected to an outlet or a computer. Then just put the smartphone on the stand and it will start charging. It is very easy to use, among the supported devices - iPhone SE, 6, 6s, 7 and Plus-modifications.
The case for the iPhone 6 / 6s costs $ 56.64 , and the Slimline stand is only $ 29.99 , so this set will not cost you dearly. Given the small cost of chargers, you can invest immediately in two - for home and office.
Also, more and more companies are now buying AirCharge (including the mentioned Starbucks, as well as McDonalds and Premier Inn), so that it will be possible to recharge immediately without wires in many public places. Already, there are about 4,600 such locations - and over time they will be many times larger. In Russia it is not yet common, but we hope that this will soon change.
Antye Qi Wireless Charger Kit
This kit includes a carrying case and a charging device. It is cheaper than the previous model: all together will cost you about $ 30.99 (in the case of the iPhone 7 Plus). It is worth noting that the Lightning port can be freed without removing the cover, which makes use of Antye much more convenient.
Mophie Charge Force & Juice Pack Air
This combination is notable for the fact that it's portable charging combined with wireless. The charging device Mophie Charge Force and the case with the Juice Pack allow you not only to increase the working time of your smartphone, but also to recharge the iPhone and power bank without any effort through one outlet. The case is compatible with Qi, so you can charge the device anywhere with a compatible half-time.
Just put the iPhone in the case on the stand, and it will simultaneously charge both the smartphone and the external battery. In the end, it can provide you with life without wires (if you do not use Lightning-headphones and do not synchronize with the computer).
The cost of the cases differs depending on the iPhone model, exactly the same as the volume of the additional battery. For example, the case and charging station for iPhone 7 Plus will cost you $ 82.98 ($ 32.99 for charging and $ 49.99 per case).
Supports with Qi
It is not necessary to buy a rug or stand for charging the same brand as the case (or covers if you have more than one smartphone or you want to provide wireless charging for the ayfons of family members). Choose this accessory, based on your requirements and wishes for design.
An interesting model is WoodPuck, which looks like a piece of wood. In fact, this is a high-tech device made with the use of bamboo). The device costs $ 24.99 .
Energizer, a well-known manufacturer of external batteries, also offers a large selection of mats for charging and adapters. In the lineup there are mats for simultaneous charging of two or more compatible smartphones. Remember that you still need a cover or a special adapter.
You can do without a cover if you do not need a cumbersome accessory or you just love the case that you already have. In this case, pay attention to one of the following models:
iQi Mobile
This receiver, just 0.5 mm thick, is placed between the iPhone and your regular case. It is universal and suitable for any iPhone with a Lightning connector. In addition to the receiver plate, there is an ultra thin cable that surrounds the device from the rear, and the Lightning connector itself. The device is compatible with any Qi-charging.
The advantage of iQi Mobile is that it can be used with its case (although it is recommended to use soft covers - for example, silicone ones). The device costs $ 14.99 on Amazon.
There are many analogues of such plates (for example, Elefull Charge). All of them are versatile and roughly the same in principle, so there is no point in discussing each model separately.
Also, there are cases that are compatible with both charging standards. For example, Bezalel Latitude.
Bezalel Latitude
This device can be called universal. Unlike previous receivers and cases designed to work with Qi, Latitude will work with any type of wireless charging - at least, it promises the manufacturer.
Unlike other popular cases, it differs in a more subtle and aesthetic design. And the price tag corresponds to this: $ 39 at the time of writing this article - and this is without a charger in the kit. At the same time, Latitude is not the fastest: it only gives out 5 watts. If you are looking for something quicker, pay attention to FLI Charge.
FLI Charge
One of the important disadvantages of wireless technology is a lower charging speed compared to traditional wired ones. This is especially noticeable on devices with large batteries - for example, iPhone 7 Plus. For users to want to drop wires, you need to speed up wireless charging. For this purpose FLI Charge was created.
This system is able to charge not only the iPhone, but also drones, tablets, smart watches, speakers and even GoPro - in short, everything that is charged via micro USB or USB. The line includes FLIway , a charging panel, FLIcase for smartphones, FLIcube for charging via USB and FLIcoin for charging via micro USB.
But what exactly does FLI do? Unlike Qi and similar, it uses not inductive charging technology, but conductive, which, as the manufacturer promises, "works as fast as charging from the network" and can charge up to 8 devices at the same time, while inductive technologies offer can only give out 60% of the speed of wire charging.
Even better is that thanks to the innovative design of the system, you do not have to think about which side to put a smartphone - this is one of the most common problems with existing devices. The system is also able to automatically detect if something has been spilled on the device (for example, water on the Apple Watch) and turn off the power so as not to harm the electronics.
After a successful campaign for IndieGoGo in 2016, the FLI Charge system became available for purchase on the official website of the creators. The cost of the basic kit (Essential Kit) is $ 149 for iPhone 6-7 and their Plus-modifications. Also available covers for the old flagships Samsung (S6, S7 and edge-version). The kit includes a panel for charging FLIway , a FLIcase cover for the selected smartphone, as well as FLIcube and FLIcoin connectors .
How to use wireless charging in Starbucks
As we have already mentioned, some Starbucks already now offer guests free wireless charging. Not bad, if you have an AirCharge case. But even if it does not exist, you can purchase from the barista Powermat Ring - a small device that is attached to micro USB or Lightning and allows you to recharge the device.
The panels for the charge are located directly on the coffee tables.
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