Can I Use a Wireless Charger With Any Phone?

Think back ten years. Wherever you were, society was obsessed with technology and the latest trends that came as well as those trends that were to come.

We dreamed of cars that drove themselves, lights that turned on with the sound of your voice, and in-home virtual assistants. We even dared to dream of wireless chargers. It's crazy to think that those are all here today, and - most recently - wireless chargers have taken off as a daring trend.

Everyone is excited about the wireless charging trend, but not every phone is compatible with it. If you're wondering whether or not your phone compatible with wireless charging, keep reading. We're going to talk about wireless charging technology and how you can figure out if your phone works with it.

How Does Wireless Charging Technology Work?

Wireless charging is more intuitive than you may think. It's a complex process that involves making signals pass through your phone.

The energy from the charging pad is transferred through the phone to the phone's battery via electromagnetic waves. This process is known as induction and can be found all over the world of technology.

Here is the step-by-step process for how this induction technology works in your phone:

1. The manufacturer makes your smartphone with a receiver induction coil inside of it. This coil is made of copper.
2. The manufacturer makes the charging pad with a transmitter coil inside of it. This coil is also made of copper.
3. When your phone is placed on the charging pad, the transmitter coil inside of the charging pad makes an electromagnetic field.
4. The receiver induction coil inside of your smartphones takes the energy from the electromagnetic field and converts it into power for the phone. This process is called 'electromagnetic induction.'

You can find induction technology in your bathroom and your kitchen. You might find it at work or at the doctor's office.

Wireless charging is an old idea placed with a new device. The key to making wireless charging work is to make sure that the electromagnetic waves aren't harming the device. Making the energy travel over short distances may not seem like a big deal, but it's a truly marvelous feat of science and technology.

What Is Qi Wireless Charging?

If you've been interested in wireless charging for a while, you've likely seen the symbol 'Qi.' The Wireless Power Consortium created this symbol in 2008. It is actually a Chinese word that is pronounced "chee" and translates to "energy flow."

Qi currently serves as the universal standard for wireless charging. This means that all of those who are making wireless charging technology are using the Qi standards to do so.

You might be wondering why there has to be a standard for wireless charging. The truth is that there doesn't have to be. In fact, every company could go about making their devices in a different way if they wanted to.

However, companies respect Qi as the standard so that their customers can charge their devices with any Qi wireless charger. This means that their customers can use ten different Qi wireless chargers and get a consistent charge, whether they're made by the same manufacturer or not.

Having a standard is better for the consumers of these products. It also prevents monopolizing.

What Phones Work With Wireless Charging?

View our list below of all the major phones that have wireless charging capabilities or search the latest list of Qi compatible devices through the Qi Wireless Database. If your phone isn't on this list or you're not sure if it's capable of wireless charging, contact your wireless provider.

• Apple: iPhone 8 and newer
• Blackberry: Passport, Priv, CLassic, Z30 (and more)
• Google: Pixel 3 and newer
• LG: Optimus F5, Vu 3, Spectrum 2, Optimus G Pro, Optimus IT L-05E, Vu 2, G2, G3, G4, V10, V30, V35, G6 Plus, G7 ThinQ, V40 ThinQ, V50 ThinQ, G8 ThinQ, G8s ThinQ, Velvet (and more)
• Motorola: Moto Maxx, Moto 360, X Force, Froid Turbo 2, Edge+, Edge 30 Pro (and more)
• Nexus: Nexus 5 and newer
• Nokia: Lumia 735, Lumia 830, Lumia 920, Lumia 928, Lumia 930, Lumia Icon 929, Lumia 1520, 8 Sirocco, 9 PureView (and more)
• OnePlus: 8T, 8 Pro
• Samsung Galaxy: Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, Galaxy S22 Ultra, Galaxy S21 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G, Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G, Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy S20 FE, Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, Galaxy S20 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip 5G, Galaxy Z Flip, Galaxy Fold, Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10E, Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy S7 Active, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Active, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G, Galaxy Note 20 5G, Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Note 10+, Galaxy Note 10, Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy Buds+, Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Gear S3, Galaxy Gear S2, Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active (and more)
• Sony: BSP10, Xperia 1 II, Xperia XZ3, Xperia XZ2 (and more)

If you don't see your phone here, it's likely that it could not be compatible with wireless charging. Again, be sure to double-check with your mobile provider or your phone manufacturer. You may have a newer model that isn't updated on this list or you may have a lesser-known model.

Can I Wirelessly Charge My Phone Without Qi Compatibility?

While it's not suggested by phone manufacturers, there is a way to charge your phone without Qi compatibility. All you need is your phone, a wireless charging pad, and a wireless micro-usb, type-c or lightning receiver.

1. Take your phone out of its case (if it is in one).
2. Plug the wireless receiver into your phone.
3. Press the bulky part of the wireless receiver on the back of your phone. This is the part that holds the wiring that isn't placed into your phone. It's likely rectangular in shape.
4. Put your phone case back on, leaving the wireless receiver in the case.
5. Set up your wireless charger.
6. Place your phone on the wireless charger.

Tada! This should get your phone working for wireless charging. However, we should note that those of you with clear cases may find the wireless receiver to be a bit too revealing through the case.

You may look for a wireless charging case instead. These have wireless receivers built into them. In fact, there are Qi cases that are made for phones that aren't Qi compatible. 

Is Wireless Charging Bad for My Phone?

Over the years, there have been several claims that wireless charging may be bad for smartphones. However, according to the Wireless Power Consortium, wireless charging is equivalent to the factors of wired charging for battery damage.

All rechargeable batteries degrade over time. The more that you use the battery, the less capacity that the battery will be able to hold.

Your battery will degrade slowly with each charge cycle. A charge cycle is defined by the following:

• The battery is fully charged and then drained completely.
• The battery is charged starting at 50% and then is drained down to 50%.

Many people claim that wireless charging increases the rate of these cycles occurring, but the Wireless Power Consortium has rejected these and similar claims.

Some people also believe that wireless charging may overcharge their phones. This is also false. Your smartphone's battery cannot exceed 100%.

In fact, some wireless charging devices will stop once your phone's battery reaches 100%. However, this becomes questionable if your phone is left on the charging pad overnight.

The charging pad may stop when your phone hits 100%, but it will start back charging once your battery falls to 99% again. This means that your phone will go from 99% to 100% to 99% to 100% over and over and over again. This has been cited to cause issues with a phone's battery life.

We should also note that all of the components of your wireless charger matter in order to get a fast charging speed. For example, your block may be 3+ amps, your cord may be 3+ amps, and your charging pad may be 15W. Make sure that you're buying quality charging materials if you're looking for a quick, effective charge.

Will My Phone Case Affect Wireless Charging?

Some phone cases can prevent your phone from charging on a charging pad. This is because the electromagnetic waves are only built to travel short distances. If your phone case is too thick or has a nontransmissible material, you may have trouble charging your phone with it on.

Thin cases that are made of plastic, rubber, silicone, and leather usually work with wireless charging pads just fine.

If you find that your case doesn't work with wireless charging, you will have to remove the case before charging your device. You could also invest in a case that is compatible with wireless charging.

Is Wireless Charging Faster Than Wired Charging?

Unfortunately, wireless charging is not faster than wired charging yet. There are predictions that quicker, wireless charging is coming, but we haven't seen it on the market yet. However, some people are willing to trade convenience for speed since most people charge their devices overnight.

Wireless charging will naturally improve as phone companies look to improve speeds with each operating system update and new device. It seems like it may be a race to determine the fastest phone for wireless charging.

Although, you can't beat fast charging cables if you're looking for speed right now.

Where Can I Get a Wireless Charger?

We've got what you need if you're looking for wireless charging gear. Our wireless charging pad runs at 15W, letting it charge 50% faster than other wireless chargers.

If your phone is compatible (or you've invested in a wireless receiver), you need a wireless charging pad to get started. Get one today and reap the benefits of wireless charging.

If you'd prefer wired charging, we have wired chargers as well.