Tell me about qi wireless charging?

desura

Diamond Member
Mar 22, 2013
4,627
129
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So it's a wireless charging standard...

- I assume it's less efficient than a direct connection, for obvious reasons.

- what devices does it work with?

- do of those charging plates work with anything? Like, the palm pre wireless recharge thing is really cheap now, could I use it with a modern day phone to recharge?
 

vshah

Lifer
Sep 20, 2003
19,003
24
81
it is less efficient but since your phone can be charging constantly, you never really need to worry about having enough juice. I have one on my desk at work and i'm always full when I leave for the day.

anything with the Qi logo will charge on a Qi charger. Palm pre wireless charging is a different standard and won't work with Qi devices.
 

desura

Diamond Member
Mar 22, 2013
4,627
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101
Can it work with the nokia play 360 speaker? I don't think so...but would be awesome if so.
 

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
454
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Can it work with the nokia play 360 speaker? I don't think so...but would be awesome if so.

wireless charging isn't even on the feature list of that speaker... so that seems like a silly question that answers itself
 

ChronoReverse

Platinum Member
Mar 4, 2004
2,562
31
91
Slower and less efficient than a direct connection of course. Nice and convenient though.

I bought a cheap pad that fits inside the battery cover for my GS4 (instead of the official and expensive Samsung charging cover). My case (Spigen Neo Hybrid) is thin enough that I can charge right through it.

It's nice to not have to worry about damaging the micro-USB connector.
 
Feb 19, 2001
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It's slower, but not that much slower. It's faster than a 500 mA USB port for sure though.

I don't think my N5 charges at 2A on a 2A charger anyway, so it's not like Qi is super slow to me.
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
50,968
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I've read it's up to 25% slower, but who cares...keep a pad in your car, nightstand, work desk. They make cases for everything, including the iPhone, and also an ultra-slim version designed to fit in a case of your choice (they have bendable lighting adapters, MicroUSB adapters, etc. available). I'm getting it setup on my iPhone next week. This is a well-reviewed charger for $30:

http://www.amazon.com/UPGRADED-Wirel...dp/B00C40OG22/

Curious to see how it pans out. It'd be awfully convenient if it works!
 

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
454
126
Slower and less efficient than a direct connection of course. Nice and convenient though.

I bought a cheap pad that fits inside the battery cover for my GS4 (instead of the official and expensive Samsung charging cover). My case (Spigen Neo Hybrid) is thin enough that I can charge right through it.

It's nice to not have to worry about damaging the micro-USB connector.

It fits inside your battery cover?

Sweet... where can I get one?
 

Ravynmagi

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2007
3,102
24
81
I got my first Qi charger for my Nexus 5 last month.

I was expecting it to be quite a bit slower, but it charges surprisingly fast.

With my official Nexus charger it has magnets that help me stick my phone into the exact spot it needs to be to charge. I have to wiggle the phone a little bit until I feel the magnets firmly take hold.

Something I've wondered about cheaper third party Qi chargers is do they have magnets that do the same thing? I'm guessing no, so I wonder how easy it is to find that precise sweet spot to get the phone to start charging?
 

Red Storm

Lifer
Oct 2, 2005
14,233
234
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If you have to find a precise spot to get the phone charging, might as well save your money and stick with the cable no?
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
Something I've wondered about cheaper third party Qi chargers is do they have magnets that do the same thing? I'm guessing no, so I wonder how easy it is to find that precise sweet spot to get the phone to start charging?

No magnets, had to manually find sweet spot. Now I can put it down in the right place first time every time.
 

notposting

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2005
3,498
33
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I love it. Have a Lumia 928 and picked up the Nokia DT-910 for it (stand type) and it charges plenty fast. Bought two of the DT-900 versions (just the flat plate) for $12.25 ea and they work nicely as well.

Any Qi device should work on any Qi charger, thus far I have noticed there is some play in placement as well (on the Nokia's at least, a light comes on when it is charging).

Won't go back to plugging in every night.
 

The_Eclectic1

Junior Member
Oct 8, 2013
4
0
16
I got my first Qi charger for my Nexus 5 last month.

I was expecting it to be quite a bit slower, but it charges surprisingly fast.

With my official Nexus charger it has magnets that help me stick my phone into the exact spot it needs to be to charge. I have to wiggle the phone a little bit until I feel the magnets firmly take hold.

Something I've wondered about cheaper third party Qi chargers is do they have magnets that do the same thing? I'm guessing no, so I wonder how easy it is to find that precise sweet spot to get the phone to start charging?

If you are worried about exact placement. Get a 3 coil charger, eg TYLT Vu. No need to worry about magnets or sweet spots. You can even place it in landscape mode!

Obviously wireless charging is slower as it's not as efficient but the plus point is convenience. Leave it charging on your desk and pick it up anytime to answer calls, check messages without leaving to plug/unplug each time!
 

The_Eclectic1

Junior Member
Oct 8, 2013
4
0
16
I got my first Qi charger for my Nexus 5 last month.

I was expecting it to be quite a bit slower, but it charges surprisingly fast.

With my official Nexus charger it has magnets that help me stick my phone into the exact spot it needs to be to charge. I have to wiggle the phone a little bit until I feel the magnets firmly take hold.

Something I've wondered about cheaper third party Qi chargers is do they have magnets that do the same thing? I'm guessing no, so I wonder how easy it is to find that precise sweet spot to get the phone to start charging?

If you are worried about exact placement. Get a 3 coil charger, eg TYLT Vu. No need to worry about magnets or sweet spots. You can even place it in landscape mode!

Obviously wireless charging is slower as it's not as efficient but the plus point is convenience. Leave it charging on your desk and pick it up anytime to answer calls, check messages without leaving to plug/unplug each time!
 

paperwastage

Golden Member
May 25, 2010
1,848
2
76
If you are worried about exact placement. Get a 3 coil charger, eg TYLT Vu. No need to worry about magnets or sweet spots. You can even place it in landscape mode!

Obviously wireless charging is slower as it's not as efficient but the plus point is convenience. Leave it charging on your desk and pick it up anytime to answer calls, check messages without leaving to plug/unplug each time!

the 3 coil charger by TYLT Vu might be incompatible with nexus 5 (causes it to heat up a lot). the manufacturer may have a fix for it

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2522361

also, I believe Qi standard goes up to 1amp, which gives you maybe 700mah feeding to your phone

some Qi devices can only deliver/accept only 0.5 amp
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
50,968
6,899
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If you are worried about exact placement. Get a 3 coil charger, eg TYLT Vu. No need to worry about magnets or sweet spots. You can even place it in landscape mode!

Obviously wireless charging is slower as it's not as efficient but the plus point is convenience. Leave it charging on your desk and pick it up anytime to answer calls, check messages without leaving to plug/unplug each time!

NICE, thanks!!
 

vshah

Lifer
Sep 20, 2003
19,003
24
81
The N5 doesn't need exact placement on the N4 orb charger. there's at least 1/2" of margin in any direction.
 

ChronoReverse

Platinum Member
Mar 4, 2004
2,562
31
91
Yeah, there's enough margin of error that I wonder what people are talking about when they mention "precise placement". Or is this only with the Nexus Orb (that I'm not using)?
 

ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,688
2,811
126
Yeah, there's enough margin of error that I wonder what people are talking about when they mention "precise placement". Or is this only with the Nexus Orb (that I'm not using)?

I don't know. I don't really have problem with the Nokia charger I bought for like $13. There's a white LED light on the front. If it's on, it's placed correctly and charging.
 

Belegost

Golden Member
Feb 20, 2001
1,807
19
81
I don't know. I don't really have problem with the Nokia charger I bought for like $13. There's a white LED light on the front. If it's on, it's placed correctly and charging.

Yup, real easy. And I just got in the habit of putting down the phone so my fingers hang over the edge and feel the plate, if I feel it with both fingers I know I'm good.
 

kevinsbane

Senior member
Jun 16, 2010
694
0
71
the 3 coil charger by TYLT Vu might be incompatible with nexus 5 (causes it to heat up a lot). the manufacturer may have a fix for it

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2522361

also, I believe Qi standard goes up to 1amp, which gives you maybe 700mah feeding to your phone

some Qi devices can only deliver/accept only 0.5 amp
The incompatibility isn't a big issue actually. If you charge sideways, or bump the phone up a little bit, it shouldn't (and isn't) be an issue.