Just Like the Notch, Apple Could Start the Wireless Charging Era

Apple launched wireless charging support with iPhone 8 last year, now expect others to follow.

Apple started supporting wireless charging with iPhone 8 last year. 

(Photo: The Quint)

When Apple showcased the notch design on the iPhone X last year, most of the brands and even people ridiculed the idea behind it. Fast-forward to 2018, and the notch has become a standard feature that can be seen on mid-range phones now.

Apple was also the first to take the bold move of ditching the headphone jack with the iPhone 7 a few years back. While Samsung continues to offer it, most high-end brands have decided to drop this feature following Apple’s lead.

This clearly shows the impact Apple has on the industry. Keeping that in mind, Apple may set a trend yet again according to an industry veteran.

Remember the Apple charging pad that was supposed to charge three Apple devices wirelessly at the same time? That product is yet to hit the market, but more than anything else, Apple has made the right moves in the wireless charging segment.

The Cupertino-based giant is likely to inspire other brands in the segment to consider offering wireless charging as a feature. Apple after all these years has finally decided to join the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC).

Apple didn’t feel like joining the standard earlier, but that’s changed now. Apple accepting WPC and its technology standards is a big endorsement.

Pavan Pudipeddi, Founder, PowerSquare 

“The market is going to explode, Apple is part of the consortium since last year,” Pavan added.

Pudipeddi has previously worked with industry giants like Texas Instruments and holds a degree in computer science for wireless power and battery management. He believes that Apple’s acceptance of joining the universal charging standards was the reason behind the iPhone 8 series getting support for wireless charging.

Wireless charging option for laptops is here, almost. (Photo Courtesy: Dell)

Apple has never felt comfortable opening up its connectivity standards with all devices, but that’s gradually changing. 

Now with Apple adopting Qi charging (WPC’s recommended standard), Android phone makers could join the wagon and take wireless charging to other price segments and even devices.

Speaking of devices, Apple is unlikely to stick with wireless charging for just iPhones. To show its ambition to go beyond phones, Apple brought PowerbyProxi, a New Zealand-based startup that apparently works on wireless power modules to charge bigger devices like robots, drones and other stuff.

Acquiring the company could be the difference between Apple MacBooks getting wirelessly charged, or not. We’ve already seen wireless tech for laptops with Dell being the first brand to showcase the feature, but it’ll be long before we see them being made affordable.

Going Beyond Mobiles

Pudipeddi also believes wireless charging for mobile is just scratching the surface of the potential of this technology. He says that working in this space is complex, but Apple’s warming up to the industry standard bodes well for everyone.

Best thing for Android OEMs is that Apple uses the Qi tech. After all, they have a penchant for copying whatever Apple does. Be it the notch, or the fingerprint scanner.  

Pavan Pudipeddi, Founder, PowerSquare 

But that’s not what he’s excited about. He believes that wireless charging can be the go-to mode for appliances like kitchen tops or even hand blenders, probably even before laptops. He’s got an interesting insight into justifying that.

Mobile charging takes 10W of power, appliances will ask for 100W.

Blender or cooker can be easily put on a spot and it can charge. With a laptop, it has to be kept at a specific spot (where the battery is placed), making it more challenging to design.

Pavan Pudipeddi, Founder, PowerSquare 

According to him appliance giants like Philips and Haier among others are already working on wireless tech with WPC to bring wireless charging to the kitchens of the future. But don’t appliances need more power for charging? Quashing the concern, Pudipeddi says: “The higher you go, the more efficient it gets.”

“It will be like induction cooking - where the coil interacts from one unit to another and passes on the power for charging,” he says highlighting how it works.

Wireless Charging - It’s Going to Explode

Before you start running for cover, we’re talking about the demand and trend of the technology exploding very soon. Back in 2016, the wireless charging market in the United States was pegged at $3 billion, according to a Global Market Insights report. But it’s forecast to grow 13 percent every year till 2024 and probably more after that.

For India, Pudipeddi is counting on the feature rolling out in cafes like Starbucks, which will help spread the word. And for that again Apple’s role will be pivotal in giving people access to the feature.

Even though offering wireless charging technology on a mobile costs just a couple of dollars, according to Pudipeddi, the market has waited for an industry giant to take the plunge. Now that it has happened, expect more phone makers to start rolling out this feature.

Everybody waited for Apple to get on board. The likes of Xiaomi already has, we’ll see more brands joining the ranks very soon.

Pavan Pudipeddi, Founder, PowerSquare 

PowerSquare is going to play a part in the growth of wireless charging in India.

India is behind, but in the next couple of months we’ll hear a lot about devices and a developing ecosystem as well. It’s coming.

Pavan Pudipeddi, Founder, PowerSquare 

PowerSquare will also launch its 10W single-device wireless charger in India soon, which is likely to be priced under Rs 2,000. The company will be setting up wireless chargers across the country in the coming months.