Don’t Buy Another Wireless Charger Until You Read This

In a marketplace flooded with cheap tech and copycat products, you really need to be careful and know what you’re buying. When it comes to wireless charging, there’s a reason why some wireless chargers are so cheap – they simply don't go through the rigorous safety testing that certified wireless charging products do.

?

Just like smartphones have their own certification requirements to ensure safety and performance—think CE marking in Europe or FCC approval in the United States—wireless chargers have Qi certification.

?

First Things First:? What is Qi?

?

Introduced in 2010, Qi (pronounced "chee") is the universal standard for wireless charging, created by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Qi uses inductive charging technology, which sounds fancy but is actually quite straightforward. Both your charger and device have coils of wire inside them. When you place your device on the charger, these coils create an electromagnetic field. Your device then captures this energy and converts it into electrical power to charge the battery.

?

Qi is a standard that’s constantly improving. A next generation version of Qi - Qi2 - was introduced in 2023 and features several improvements: faster charging speeds, better energy efficiency, and magnetic alignment.

?

Since its release in October 2023, Qi2 has taken off like a rocket. This year alone, 370 million Qi2 Certified smartphones and around 600 million Qi2 Certified chargers will be sold. Furthermore, over-the-air software updates on some models of existing phones will result in Qi2 being available on approximately 1 billion smartphones by the end of 2024.

?

Why is Qi Certification so Important?

So why should you care about using a Qi Certified charger? Think about it like this: You wouldn’t fuel your luxury car with cheap gas, would you? Qi Certified wireless charging products?deliver a safe and reliable wireless charging experience. Products marked as Qi Certified have passed rigorous, independent laboratory tests for safety, interoperability and energy efficiency. They won’t overheat, cause electrical surges, or damage your expensive gadgets like your smartphone. ?And Qi Certified chargers will work with any other Qi Certified smartphone. That compatibility is not a given with non-certified devices.

There’s a reason why all of the top technology smartphone manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, Google, Huawei and others agree on the Qi standard. It means improved safety and reliability for their customers. Nearly all of their smartphones and wireless earbuds are developed and manufactured with Qi in mind.

?

Same goes for the largest wireless charging device companies like Anker, Belkin, Mophie, Scosche and others.?Their wireless chargers are all Qi Certified, so you know they will be safe, energy-efficient, and compatible with your Qi Certified smartphones.

??

The Risks of Non-Certified Chargers

?You have to ask yourself: “Do I trust this $15 wireless charge to safely power my $1,000 smartphone?” You might think you’re saving money at first, but it can really come back to bite you in the long-run.

Non-certified wireless chargers can be a gamble. These chargers might not undergo the same rigorous testing as Qi Certified chargers, making them prone to issues like overheating, electrical surges, and even fires. The lack of standardization means these chargers can behave unpredictably, posing significant risks.

An example of the difference between a Qi Certified charger and a non-certified charger is foreign object detection (FOD). With a Qi Certified charger if an object like a coin, bank card or other metal object gets between the charger and the phone, the charger shuts off. A non-certified charger may not have FOD or it may not work properly. Independent testing has shown that non-certified chargers without FOD or poorly designed FOD can heat objects enough to create a 3rd degree burn.

Lastly, since non-certified chargers are not necessarily tested for interoperability, a non-certified charger may work with your current phone but when you buy a new phone or someone else in your household tries to charge their phone on your charger there’s no guarantee that it will work.? That’s not the case with a Qi Certified charger.

?

How to Identify Non-Certified Chargers in the Market

Legally, only Qi Certified products can carry a Qi logo on a product or the product’s marketing materials, however there are counterfeit products in the market that may use a Qi logo illegally.? Additionally, some products will use terms that can be purposefully confusing. Alternative claims like “Qi compliant,” “Qi compatible” or “Works with Qi,” suggest a product has not undergone proper Qi certification testing and is not Qi Certified.

?

How to Find Qi Certified Products

?

Check for the Qi Logo

One of the simplest ways to ensure you're buying a Qi Certified product is to look for the Qi logo on the packaging or the product itself. This logo indicates that the charger has passed the rigorous standards set by the WPC and is safe to use with your devices.

?

Check the WPC Database

The most reliable way to confirm that a product is Qi Certified is to check the WPC database, which lists all Qi Certified products. This database is the most reliable resource for verifying the authenticity and certification status of the charger you're considering.

?

Beware of copycat products that use the Qi or Qi2 logo to sell their products. Find the company name or model number and search for it in the WPC database to confirm.

?

Conclusion

?

In the end, you shouldn’t leave the fate of your phone to just any wireless charger. Qi Certification is your guarantee of safety, energy efficiency, and interoperability. ?By choosing a Qi Certified charger, you're not just investing in a charging accessory; you're investing in the future of safe and efficient wireless technology.