Explained wireless charging: turn on your iPhone or Android phone wirelessly

Wireless charging has been around for a while, but it has only started to improve in the last few years. More and more manufacturers are adopting the ubiquitous Qi standard for wireless charging, and the technology is now in virtually every flagship phone.

What exactly is wireless charging, how does it work, and does your phone even support it? Let's answer all of these questions and more.

Samsung has been supporting wireless charging since the launch of the Galaxy S6 and Huawei with the excellent Mate 20 Pro.

Apple has taken over wireless charging with the iPhone X and iPhone 8, as well as the iPhone 8 Plus. Since then, it has been included in the iPhone XS and XS Max, as well as the new iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, and the new-generation iPhone XR and iPhone SE.

An increasing number of phones also support reverse wireless charging, which allows you to charge other devices through the phone. For more information, see What is reverse wireless charging, and what phones have it?

What is a magic circle charger?

magic circle charger transfers power from an electrical outlet to your device without the need for a connection cable.

It's a power transmission pad and receiver, sometimes in the form of a case that is attached to a mobile device or built into the phone itself. When we said it was wireless, it isn't quite because the pad has a cable that goes from the socket into the pad.

How does wireless charging work?

Wireless charging is based on inductive charging, where electricity is generated by passing an electrical current through two coils to create an electromagnetic field.

When the receiving magnetic disk of the mobile device comes into contact with the transmitter - or at least within the specified range - the magnetic field creates an electrical current within the device.

This current is then converted into direct current (DC), which in turn charges the built-in battery.

What is the standard for wireless charging?

The most important wireless standard is Qi (pronounced "chee"). Qi is a standard that was developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) for inductive charging over distances of up to 40 mm.

Wireless Qi charging has been adopted by many major smartphone manufacturers: Samsung, Apple, Sony, LG, HTC, Huawei, Nokia (HMD), Motorola, and Blackberry. It is now also being installed in numerous vehicles - see below.

Another standard for wireless charging was Powermat. It has been used by some retailers like Starbucks to allow customers to charge their phones. But if you will, it lost the format war, and Powermat said in 2018 that it would develop commercial wireless charging technology compatible with Qi.

Qi has three separate power specifications starting with the low power consumption that we're talking about here, mainly for charging mobile devices. At the moment, there are several wattages that can be applied to it. 5W is a minimum, while some handsets support 7.5W, 10W, and up to 15W, and 30W in a later version of the standard. However, individual companies can develop their own technologies to achieve faster wireless charging speeds.

Who Sells Wireless Charging Mats and Stands?

Many peripheral manufacturers now have their own wireless chargers, including Anker, Belkin, Logitech, Moshi, and Mophie. Some of them look like mats or pads, others like desk stands.

The best wireless chargers available today

Wireless charging is now offered in a variety of locations. The extraordinary Swedish flat-pack Ikea has a range of furniture, mainly side tables and lamps, with integrated Qi wireless charging. The furniture chain also sells standalone wireless charging pads, as well as a range of cases for various phones.

Apple's own wireless charging mat - called AirPower - was never launched, but there are many third-party versions that charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, and the latest AirPods with a wireless charging case. AirUnleashed is one of them, while Belkin has an AirPower mat.

What is the difference between medical masks, nursing masks, surgical masks, and non-surgical masks?

In recent days, with the epidemic of novel coronavirus pneumonia, there have been cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia infection in many places, and with the arrival of the Chinese New Year, the increased population movement has made it easier for the virus to spread.


In last night's News 1+1, Academician Zhong Nanshan has made it clear that this new type of coronavirus pneumonia can be transmitted from person to person, which means it can be spread through the respiratory tract. He also advises people to wear medical-surgical masks in places where there is a high concentration of abortion, which can effectively prevent infection.

So today, in many places, both online and in pharmacies outside, masks are out of stock. But there are still many people who do not know which mask should be worn to be useful, after all, there are disposable medical masks on the market, paper masks, cotton masks, activated carbon masks, many people are not sure.

As the questioner asks, what is the difference between a medical mask, a nursing mask, a surgical mask, and a non-surgical mask?


In fact, the hospital does not divide so many types of masks, generally only disposable medical masks, medical-surgical masks, and medical protective masks. So, how to distinguish between disposable medical masks, medical-surgical masks, and medical protective masks? What are their respective roles?

1. Distinguish from packaging

Generally, these three types of masks have different technical standards, "single-use medical masks" for (YY/T0969-2013), "medical-surgical masks" for (YY0469-2011) "medical protective masks" for (GB19038-2010). You can determine which type of mask the product belongs to by looking at the implementation standards marked on the outer packaging of the product, in addition to the packaging will also write the respective name.

2. Different shapes of masks.

Disposable medical masks and medical-surgical masks are both rectangular in shape, available in over-ear and strapped styles. The vast majority of medical protective masks are duck-billed, which is better differentiated.

3. Performance varies.

All three types of masks can have a filtering effect on bacteria, but they differ in terms of both water resistance and particle filtration efficiency. First, disposable medical masks have no performance requirements for both waterproofness and particle filtration efficiency, while medical-surgical masks and medical-protective masks have requirements. Secondly, the waterproof performance of the medical-surgical mask is higher than the medical-protection mask, which can prevent the infection of the doctor by the spatter of blood and body fluids produced during the surgery.


Finally, medical protective masks must have both the primary functions of a surgical mask, including bacterial filtration efficiency and the ability to block liquid spatters with pressure, and respiratory protection, which protects the wearer's breathing. And the particle filtration efficiency performance of medical protective masks is higher than that of medical-surgical masks.

What does each of these three masks do?

First of all, single-use medical masks are only suitable for general clinical operations to block the operator's oral and nasal exhaled contaminants, that is, no invasive operation when used, clinical hospital personnel in the work generally wear this mask. It can basically meet the needs of the common man as well.

Secondly, medical-surgical masks are suitable for use during surgery, laser treatment, isolation, and dental or other medical operations, as well as for air or droplet-borne diseases or wear; they are mainly used by hospital surgical operators because of their good waterproof properties and particle filtration efficiency.

Medical protective masks are suitable for occupational protection of medical personnel in contact with patients with airborne and droplet-borne diseases or with infectious micro-organisms because of their high particulate filtration efficiency and their ability to filter viruses.

Which mask should be chosen for this new coronavirus pneumonia prevention?

In fact, it has been explained from the interview of Academician Zhong Nanshan that for the prevention of this new coronavirus pneumonia, only medical-surgical masks should be worn in daily life, there is no need to wear medical protective masks. Medical protective masks, such as the KN95 mask, are required in the case of exposure to patients already infected with novel coronavirus pneumonia.