Qualcomm is set to bring a new trend in the smartphone space: wireless charging for handsets with metal casing.
The chipset maker has patented a new technology dubbed WiPower, which will make it possible to charge a device that has a metal rear cover. Qualcomm's WiPower technology has been designed in a manner that makes it compatible with the Rezence standard.
"Building a wireless charging solution into devices with metal exteriors is a significant step for moving the entire industry forward," noted Steve Pazol, GM of Wireless Charging at Qualcomm.
The WiPower technology may bring a new wave in the smartphone space as no current devices that have metal backs can be charged wirelessly owing to incompatibility. Moreover, the conveniences wireless charging offers will be welcomed by consumers.
The Rezence standard of WiPower ensures that it will be able to operate at a frequency that is also accepting of other metal objects that are in the field of charge and can sometimes cause interference. Until now, objects such as coins and keys that were in the field of charge invariably affected the charging process. However, with WiPower, it will be different.
WiPower operates on Near Field Magnetic Resonance technology, which basically enables a plethora of compatible electronic devices to be charged even if there is no perfect alignment or physical contact with the charger.
The WiPower technology will need nearly 22 watts of power to charge handsets that have a metal case. If you're wondering about the speed, it will be at par if not faster than current technology available for wireless charging.
Moreover, according to Qualcomm, WiPower will enable the charging of manifold devices that have varying power requirements simultaneously. It will also deploy Bluetooth Smart to reduce the requirement for hardware.
With more and more OEMs looking to metal alloys for smartphones, in a bid to make them robust, Qualcomm's futuristic WiPower technology will offer them support without compromising on aesthetics and this could find many takers.
