Smartphones with wireless charging

Several years ago, smartphones with fast charging began to appear en masse, and now the user is not surprised by such a function. More consumers are interested in gadgets with wireless charging. In this review, we will look at popular phones with QI charging that have received the maximum number of positive reviews and are relevant in the second half of 2021.

Samsung Galaxy S10 – expensive and reliable

Representative of the 10th line with a recognizable design and IP68 moisture protection. The 6.4-inch SuperAMOLED display has a built-in dual camera. The maximum screen resolution is Wide QuadHD, but there are lower settings in the settings to save power.

The battery is 3400 mAh, and the focus is on adaptive mode. Thanks to it, even with active use (except for games), the device’s charge lasts for the entire working day. Fast and wireless charging is supported.

Samsung uses powerful hardware based on Exynos 9820 with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory.

Templates with quick actions Bixby Routines make regular tasks easier. The cameras work great even at night, and the Live Focus mode allows you to shoot at short distances. The video is recorded only in Full HD at 30 frames.

Pros:

Image quality.
Amount of built-in memory.
Optimized OneUI.

Minuses:

The battery drains quickly.
Uncomfortable to hold in one hand.
High location of the power button.

HUAWEI P40 Pro

Price : from 63,200 rubles.
Pros :

high-quality camera with an impressive range of capabilities;
good sound with the ability to customize the built-in equalizer;
high-quality screen operating at high frequencies;
durable buttons;
clear and reliable software shell.

Minuses:

high price;
low video quality when shooting in the dark;
The cutout is too big for the front camera.

A stylish smartphone with good functionality and a powerful Leica quad camera. The model is quite versatile, so it will be equally good when taking photos or videos, running modern games, using complex applications or listening to music in high quality.

There is a reverse wireless charging function that allows you to quickly charge smart watches, bracelets and similar devices from your smartphone. An additional advantage is the waterproof housing.

Apple iPhone Xr 64GB – good old iPhone Xs

An economical version of the iPhone that comes without a single accessory, not even a case, and the body is made of fiberglass. Unlike its older brothers, the model is protected according to the IP67 standard. Equipped with the highest quality IPS display on the market with a resolution of 1792×828 pixels, the front camera is hidden in the cutout.

The Face ID and password function is the only way to unlock the device, and you can add the face of a relative or friend for a special occasion.

The iPhone Xr hardware came from flagships of this generation. There are no games on the platform yet that can load the device with work, and the case at maximum load (machine learning, augmented reality) practically does not heat up even with 3 GB of RAM. Works under the updated iOS 12.1.

The battery capacity is only 2942 mAh - small for such a powerful device, but excellent optimization of the software shell has a positive effect.

You can discharge it in a day, but you have to try. To implement fast and wireless charging, you need to purchase the appropriate chargers. The 12 MP main camera and 7 MP front camera are the same as the Xs, 4K video is recorded at 60 frames.

Pros:

Battery life.
Performance in the shell and applications.
Minimal frame thickness.

Minuses:

Display resolution is low.
The battery only lasts for a day.
Supplied without accessories.

More about Apple iPhone Xr ►

How can you tell if your phone can be charged using wireless charging?

The price tag on the smartphone box will tell you a lot. Cheap models have limited capabilities and are usually charged in the classic way via a USB charger. If you get your hands on the latest smartphone with a bunch of bells and whistles, then there is a high probability that the gadget can be charged wirelessly.

To avoid guessing, go to and look for information about the availability of support for the Qi standard. The “Products” tab contains a current list of models that charge over the air.

Type the brand of your gadget in the search bar or scroll through the list manually to find the desired smartphone; models are sorted by registration date, new ones are located at the top of the list.

There are currently many models available that support Qi technology. The extended table contains information about phones and accessories for charging devices. If you can't find the gadget you're looking for, just enter the brand name to narrow your search.

Nokia 8 Sirocco Android One – Nordic reliability

The top-end device, however, built on last year’s platform is the Snapdragon 835. Performance has never suffered from this, there is simply no significant power reserve for the next 3-4 years, and who needs it - an updated model will be released next year.

The 128 GB built-in storage is not expandable with a memory card. The device is protected from water according to the IP68 specification and supports all wireless technologies, including QI charging.

The edge display with a resolution of 5.5 and curved edges cannot boast of saturated colors, and the brightness level is enough to display images normally in the sun.

Android Pie is equipped with AI that adapts to the user's preferences in everything. The camera takes top-level pictures only during the day; you shouldn’t expect outstanding results in artificial lighting.

The 3260 mAh battery demonstrates good battery life - up to 10 hours with constant load and the Internet on, but fast charging replenishes the battery capacity in more than 2 hours. The inductive charging module must be purchased separately.

Pros:

Pure Android.
Long battery life.
Moisture protection.

Minuses:

Image distortion near curved edges.
The cameras are “planted” inaccurately and unevenly.
No 3.5mm headphone jack.
The protective glass is disgusting.

Apple iPhone SE 2020

Price : from 35,800 rubles.
Pros :

relatively low cost for this brand;
fast modern processor for solving the most complex tasks;
fits comfortably in the hand;
loud built-in speakers;
impressive black screen frame.

Minuses:

The delivery package does not include a charger;
low battery capacity;
one camera lens.

In addition to the flagship, the top also includes a budget model from Apple. Despite the low cost and somewhat reduced functionality, the wireless charging option is still present here.

The device has a new A13 Bioni processor built into it, the performance of which is sufficient for most mid-level tasks. When overloaded, some lags may occur.

Touch ID technology guarantees the security of the user's personal data and also allows instant access to all options of interest. The model has a degree of protection IP67, so it can handle splashes without any problems.

HUAWEI P30 Pro – the best camera phone

Updated P20 with the maximum range of functions and capabilities for top models. It is equipped with a 6.47-inch diagonal AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution, which is protected by 3rd generation Corning Gorilla Glass. Auto-brightness adjusts over time to suit the user's needs, and the brightness is sufficient for working in the sun, although the image does dim.

The 4200 mAh Li-Pol battery supports fast (65 minutes) and wireless charging, and the latter is of very little use.

Adaptive mode allows you to use the gadget all day. The smartphone runs on the 8-core Kirin 980 platform, which consists of 4 clusters of cores. The energy efficiency of the processor and video core has increased by ~50%.

The Chinese smartphone has a camera with 5x physical zoom, which has no analogues on the market yet. There is also a 10x software zoom, but it is only relevant in daylight. The video is recorded in Full HD mode at 4K resolution (30 frames).

Pros:

Great camera, good night mode.
Energy efficiency.
Charges quickly.

Minuses:

Not bright enough for outdoor use.
There is no customization of the home screen, you cannot install themes.

Table: All Wireless Chargers Phones and Devices

How does wireless charging work?

If you're not yet familiar with wireless charging for smartphones, you've come to the right place: inductive chargers have been on the market for a few years now and have left behind the "teething problems" - wireless charging is already standard on modern smartphones. Wireless charging works using something called induction technology, which you may know from electric toothbrushes or kitchen appliances. The energy is transmitted wirelessly over short distances using electromagnetic waves and thus powers the smartphone. But what is a Qi mobile phone and which mobile phone models support inductive charging? You will find the answer in the following sections.

The market for wireless chargers based on the Qi standard has grown significantly - wireless charging is a trend, and the new iPhone 11 could not do without it - more and more users are looking towards this simple charging method.

Charging cables have already lost their former glory. They were replaced by charging stations. When charging wirelessly, the charging station generates a small electromagnetic field. It is positioned a few millimeters above the charging surface as soon as a compatible device is detected. The inductive exchange of energy between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil begins immediately. The receiver coil transfers the resulting current directly to the smartphone battery, which is charged as a result - the phone is charged wirelessly.

LG V40 ThinQ – good sound

How can a device with top-end hardware, five cameras, a capacious battery and a clear, large display surprise you? Possibly great sounding. Is it so?

The V40 ThinQ features a 6.4-inch IPS display with a camera built into the notch. The bangs, of course, can be disguised. The picture fades in the sun, but does not fade completely. The device comes with an excellent sound subsystem and a number of sound settings, including support for surround sound for a 7.1 system.

Built on the basis of last year's best hardware Snapdragon 845 and 6 GB of fast RAM. Why such a reserve of power if there are no applications on the platform and no applications that need it yet?

The rear camera consists of three modules: the main one is 48 MP, the ultra-wide-angle is 16 MP and the third is 12 MP, supporting 2x zoom and optical stabilization. The case is protected according to the IP68 standard.

Pros:

High brightness.
Powerful iron.
Natural color rendering of cameras.
Sound quality.
Moisture protection.

Minuses:

Slippery body.
The battery drains quickly.
The lens is not ultra-wide-angle as advertised.

Apple iPhone 11

Price : from 49,400 rubles.
Pros :

excellent camera;
high performance;
good battery life;
optimal amount of memory;
reliability.

Minuses:

high price;
thick frames around the screen;
There is no charger in the box.

A stylish smartphone in a metal case, perfect for both work and entertainment. There is a powerful six-core Apple A13 Bionic processor that can handle even the most complex applications without overheating.

4 GB of RAM will allow you to quickly switch between open windows, as well as use several applications at once.

Xiaomi Mi 9 6/64GB – a powerful phone without any flair

Xiaomi Mi 9 has everything that is best in devices in its price category, but is nothing special among its competitors.

SuperAMOLED from Samsung with a diagonal of 6.4 inches with a resolution of 2340x1080 pixels supports HDR, which almost no one uses. Viewing angles are decent, and the brightness is not enough to keep the image easily readable in the sun.

The 3300 mAh battery can last up to 10 hours in games at peak display brightness with communications turned off. And the case hardly gets hot.

Mi 9 uses productive and energy-efficient hardware. The 7-nm processor from Qualcomm is distinguished by its Prime Core core distribution algorithm, which makes power consumption very economical. There is only one productive core.

Adaptive mode also does its job. To replenish the charge, QI and 20W fast charging are supported. The only thing that can distinguish Mi 9 from the mass of analogues is the Hexagon 690 SDP processor.

The camera is represented by 48, 12 and 16 megapixel modules, and has laser focusing. In the evening, the photo quality suffers from insufficient detail and noise. Video shooting is carried out in 4K resolution at 60 fps.

Pros:

Laser autofocus system.
Fast charging QC4+.

Minuses:

Unfinished camera software.
Backlash in the rear wall of the case.
The battery runs out quickly.
The screen flickers noticeably.

Which modern smartphones can be charged wirelessly?

The latest Qi certified smartphones are always at the top of a mobile phone list or review. Modern smartphones, especially from Samsung and more recently from Apple, often have the Qi standard already built into a faster version of “Fast Wireless Charging”. Wireless charging power levels are 5W for all older Qi models and adapters, 7.5W for new Apple iPhone models and up to 10W for the latest Samsung smartphones or up to 11W for the Google Pixel 4. Select the appropriate model from the Qi mobile phone review and find the right accessories.

Sony Xperia XZ3 – 2K resolution

The new XZ3 came out just six months after the XZ2 and got a couple of changes: an OLED screen (the first in a Sony product) with increased resolution and optimized dimensions while keeping the diagonal unchanged.

There is enough brightness to read information from the display during the day, but the colors lose their saturation. Instead of buttons below the screen, on-screen keys and gesture controls are offered.

The XZ3 is a phone that supports QI (inductive) and fast charging, but all adapters will have to be purchased separately.

Using the Quick Charge function, the battery is half charged in 35 minutes, and 72% in an hour. It lasts for almost two days of work with the display turned on for 3-4 hours and constant data transfer.

It is built on the basis of an 8-core Kryo 385 chipset, fast 4 GB UFS 2.1 memory and an Adreno 630 graphics chip and runs on almost pure and optimized Android 9.

The Motion Eye camera, well known to fans of Sony products, takes clear pictures when there is movement in the frame, can create slow-motion videos and records video in 4K. Night shots are full of noise, making it difficult to discern small details.

Pros:

You can work with gloves.
High-quality display matrix.
There are no cutouts in the display.

Minuses:

Very slippery body.
The picture is distorted around the perimeter of the curved display.
Many sensors take a long time to respond: proximity sensor, automatic brightness adjustment.
Not enough built-in memory.

Sony Xperia XZ3 smartphone review ►

How can I add charging via Qi?

Updating your mobile phone with Qi is easy and fast: For mobile phones that do not have dedicated charging pins for Qi receivers on the back, dedicated Qi charging cases can be used. They are attached to the back of the smartphone and connected to the device's battery - the mobile phone can already be charged inductively: thanks to induction, energy from the charger can now flow through the Qi receiver coil into the mobile phone's battery. Wireless charging cases are a great alternative - some are even available in special form with an additional built-in battery in the form of so-called Qi battery cases.

Highscreen Power Five Max 2 – the most technologically advanced Highscreen gadget

The device will interest the buyer due to its low price, wireless charging and NFC. The IPS display matrix has a diagonal of 5.9 inches and a resolution of 2160x1080 pixels.

The low brightness is compensated by a good level of contrast, which allows you to see the picture in the sun. When viewed from angles, it hardly changes.

A 5000 mAh battery drains just as quickly as 4000 mAh batteries. It can provide up to 11 hours of video viewing at peak brightness or up to 6 hours of 3D gaming.

Fast charging quickly replenishes half the charge, and the entire process takes more than 2 hours. Inductive charging is also supported.

The Helio P23 processor, created on 16 nm technology, and 4 GB of fast RAM are sufficient for any tasks in the OS; Android will not need more for another year. The built-in 64 GB of memory is also enough to install dozens of large games and store movies and many hours of footage. The cameras are very mediocre, especially in low light conditions.

Pros:

Large battery.
Pure Android.
Low cost.

Minuses:

Combined SIM/SD card slot.
Android 8.1, not 9.
It will be hard for girls.

Wireless charging phones: top tips

So, when you become the proud owner of a wireless charger and a phone suitable for it, you should pay attention to the following points:

The phone must be accurately positioned on the charger. It should not move, otherwise it may not charge when displaced.
The process takes longer than normal charging.
No confirmed negative impact on the phone battery has been identified. On the contrary, monitoring the charge level extends the life of the battery.
There is no and cannot be an impact on human health: non-ionizing radiation is used.

New smartphone models with wireless charging appear every day. Now these are not only flagships, but also quite budget devices. The trend is that there will be more and more of them. Already now you can choose a suitable device from the rating I compiled in order to fully experience all the benefits of living without wires.

Blackview BV6800 Pro – rugged

A smartphone with a high level of protection from external influences and powerful hardware. It has a 5.7" IPS display with a resolution of 1080p, which is protected by Gorilla Glass 3.

The 6580 mAh battery breaks many records: 3 days of active work without recharging, and charges in 2 hours and supports 10 W wireless charging.

The device can withstand exposure to running water and immersion to a depth of 5 meters; the case is also protected from dust and can withstand falls from a height of 2-3 meters onto a hard surface.

The MT6750T processor will cope with all the work on Android, but the cameras for lovers of high-quality photos and selfies will not please.

Pros:

Autonomy.
Great macro shots.
Level of protection.

Minuses:

Disgusting cameras.
Problems with the side button operation.
It takes a long time to charge.

Operating principle

The operating principle of wireless charging is electromagnetic induction. This means that any gadget cannot be charged this way: it must have a magnetic coil connected to the battery. Usually it is hidden under the housing cover, thin and invisible to the eye. It is possible to install an induction module on any smartphone, and then the question of which phones can be charged wirelessly disappears. But this is not so convenient, since it takes up the USB port and makes the device larger.

Those smartphones and chargers that are equipped with the function support the Qi standard. The word is read as “Qi”, it means the energy of the surrounding world in Chinese culture. Many lines of smartphones already support the technology: iPhone from version 8, Samsung, LG, Nokia, Xiaomi and other brands. I have compiled a small “rating” - which phones support wireless charging in different price segments, which I will share below.

What is wireless charging and how does it work?

The wireless method of transmitting electricity is based on the effect of electromagnetic induction, which was discovered about 200 years ago by Michael Faraday. In a generator that converts mechanical energy into electric current, a magnetic field moves relative to stationary coils, in which the movement of electrons occurs.

This property is also used in the transfer of electricity from wireless charging to the phone. The device generates an alternating magnetic field, which is converted into electric current in the telephone coil. After equalization, current is supplied to the battery contacts.

In this relatively simple way, it is possible to completely restore the battery of a mobile device. Wireless products have sufficient power, so the time required to transfer the required amount of current is slightly inferior to their wired counterparts, and some models are equipped with a fast charging function, which allows you to charge the battery at an accelerated pace.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 6/128GB

Even though the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 is not so new, it is still on sale, and for the money, it is perhaps the best offer on the market.

A special feature is the smartphone-slider, that is, in order to see the front camera, you need to move the halves of the case apart. An unusual feature, but very convenient, it also made it possible to make a display without cutouts.

Mi Mix 3 has an excellent 6.39-inch display, top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset, 6 GB of RAM, support for fast and wireless charging. The fingerprint scanner is located on the back cover.

Screen diagonal: 6.39 inches

Screen resolution: 2340×1080

Weight: 218 g

Number of SIM cards: 2

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

Memory capacity: 128 GB

RAM capacity: 6 GB

Battery capacity: 3200 mAh

Rear camera: dual 12/12 MP

Front camera: dual 24/2 MP

Memory card support: no

What to do if your smartphone does not support wireless charging

If there is no built-in Qi module in the device, you can purchase a receiver-receiver that allows you to use the wireless module on a device that initially did not have this function.

Receivers for some gadgets have special contacts that match the components under the cover of smartphones. The most popular phones with receivers:

Samsung Galaxy: S3, S4, S5; Note 2, 3, 4, Edge;
LG: G4, V10;
iPhone: starting from the fourth model (including iPhone 6 plus/6s plus and ipad mini/ipad mini 2 retina);
Sony: Xperia Z3+/Z4; Experia Z5; Experia Z5 Premium;
Huawei: AscendMate 7, MateS.

The kit includes a receiver and a docking station. It is also possible to purchase parts separately.

In addition to receivers, you can buy special cases for wireless power supply to phones. Inside the fixture there is a copper circuit.

There is a wireless charger that is universal for all mobile gadgets. In contrast to receivers located under the phone body or presented in the form of an unremarkable plate, docking stations provide the buyer with the opportunity to choose the appropriate model design.

The most popular external batteries from Samsung are oval-shaped. They can also be used to charge phones from other companies.

Such receivers are equipped with automatic shutdown when the gadget is fully charged, as well as backlighting. The average price is 2000 rubles, but in Chinese online catalogs you can find an inexpensive and stylish docking station for 400-700 rubles.

TOP 4 best smartphones with wireless charging in price/quality ratio 2020-2021

Apple iPhone SE (2020) 128Gb

Apple released the second generation iPhone SE in 2021 . This model has

Qi wireless charging, supports fast charging technology.

The classic design of the model with rounded edges, a large Home button, a rear camera with a protruding peephole, and a small 4.7-inch screen by modern standards correspond to the design of the iPhone 8.

Available in three colors - black, white and red.

The screen has a high maximum brightness and anti-glare properties, which makes it possible to clearly see the image outdoors in sunlight.

iPhone SE performance is almost 1.5 times faster than previous models.

A camera with good sharpness and detail allows you to take high-quality pictures and videos, although users may consider the lack of a night shooting mode to be a disadvantage.

Specifications:

operating system iOS 13;
screen 4.7″, resolution 1334*750;
memory 128GB;
Apple A13 Bionic processor;
12 MP wide-angle camera,
dimensions: 67.3*138.4*7.30 mm.

pros

good camera;
high performance;
anti-glare screen.

Minuses

no memory card slot;
There is no night mode.

Xiaomi Mi 10 8/128 Gb

Chinese smartphone Xiomi Mi 10 8/128 GB released for sale in 2021 . This is a device for amateurs

high pace of life, created taking into account the latest developments.

A powerful battery and 30 W wireless charging make it possible to charge your smartphone to 100% in one hour . The 6.67-inch diagonal AMOLED color touch display and 8-core processor make both work and gaming or viewing content efficient.

The main camera has 4 modules, the processor uses artificial intelligence to process and improve images, which allows you to make photos of especially high quality.

The Mi 10 camera allows you to shoot video in ultra-high resolution and even record audio in stereo surround format.

A special Pro mode shoots video with professional quality. 8 built-in cinema filters, color filters and background blur during real-time shooting will make your video a real work of art.

Specifications:

OS Android 10;
screen 6.67″, resolution 2340*1080;
RAM 8 GB, built-in memory 128 GB;
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor; 8-core;.
main camera 108 Mpx;
front camera 20 Mpx;
dimensions 162.6*74.8*8.96;

pros

high quality photos and videos;
5G support;
image processing using artificial intelligence;
4 cameras;
voice control, voice dialing,
high-quality cooling system.

Minuses

one SIM card;
no slot for memory cards.

Samsung Galaxy S20+

Samsung Galaxy launched in 2021 a brand new model of the S20+ smartphone with wireless charging, an intelligent battery, a powerful processor, and a 64 MP camera with artificial intelligence..

30x Zoom super resolution makes photos and videos so clear you can see the smallest details.

The minimalist design with very thin bezels, smooth edges and a small front camera lens looks very modern and aesthetically pleasing.

Wireless charging for 30 minutes will give you the opportunity to not worry about battery life for 24 hours.

Multi-shot mode with artificial intelligence (AI) processing produces particularly high-quality photos, even in motion. Night mode makes low-light photos as bright as daylight.

Up to 12 GB RAM and 7 NM processor reduces latency and makes the smartphone perform incredibly fast.

Specifications:

OS Android 10;
screen 6.7, screen resolution 1440*3200;
RAM 8GB, built-in memory 128GB;
Exynos 990 processor; 8 cores;
main camera 64 Mpx+12 Mpx+12 Mpx;
front camera 10 Mpx;
dimensions: 161.9*73.7*7.8 mm;

pros

high quality photos and videos;
fast wireless charging;
presence of a memory card slot;
2 SIM cards.

Minuses

High price.

One Plus8 Pro 12/256 Gb

OnePlus brand belongs to the BBK Electronics concern, one of the world's largest smartphone manufacturers .

The OnePlus 8 Pro model released in 2021 has all the features of the best brands.

The smartphone's battery has sufficient capacity to operate in standard mode for up to 36 hours..

The Warp Charge 30 wireless charger (sold separately) charges the device up to 50% in half an hour.

The software runs on Android 10 OS and has good performance.

Photos and videos have excellent color rendition and good dynamic range, even in low light.

The Color Filter camera uses a special color filter that significantly improves the quality of your images.

Specifications:

OS - OxygenOS based on Android 10;
AMOLED color touch screen;
diagonal 6.78″;
resolution 3168*1440 pixels;
RAM 12 GB, internal memory 256 GB;
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 core processor;
camera 48 MP+8MP+48MP+5MP, front camera 16MP;
dimensions 74.3*165.3*8.5 mm.

pros

support 4G, 5G
2 SIM cards;
high performance;
large amount of built-in memory;
moisture protection.

Minuses

no shortcomings noted.