Google Nexus Gets Wireless Charger 223
judgecorp writes "Wireless charging has had little success so far (except for toothbrushes) but Google is giving it a good try, with a Nexus Wireless Charger that works with LG's Nexus 4 and 5 as well as the latest version of Google's tablet, the second generation Nexus 7. The charger operates using the Qi standard, which seems to be ahead of rival Powermat."
Re:The distinction is minor (Score:5, Informative)
It wears out your port. I wish these phones came with tethered but removable inserts for charging.
My brother for example works in a pizza restaurant... he gets flour stuck up his charger all the time and has to pick it out.
Giving it ANOTHER good try? (Score:5, Informative)
https://play.google.com/store/devices/details/Nexus_4_Wireless_Charger?id=nexus_4_wireless_charger&hl=en [google.com]
I own one, works fine, and I think it also works with the new Nexus 5's as it's using the Qi standard already.
$17 chargers elsewhere (Score:4, Informative)
I just ordered 5 wireless chargers for a grand total of $85 as stocking stuffers for my family members with Nexus 4's and Nexus 5's.
I think they came from China since they're just being delivered today. Reviews of them on newegg were good. We'll see.
I just can't see spending $50 on a charger unless its the size of a mousepad and can charge multiple thins.
Re:The distinction is minor (Score:4, Informative)
Granted my old Defy isn't the loudest phone. It is water proof enough that I've gone swimming with it in my pocket.
Water proof is apparently a very popular option in Japan. Social bathing etc.
Re:Giving it ANOTHER good try? (Score:4, Informative)
I'm not sitkill, but I use a Qi charger (unbranded Chinese-made charging pad) with my Galaxy S3 (with a Keedox Qi receiver) though my lifeproof case and it works nicely.
It won't work through my otterbox armour case though. There's just too much distance between the back of the phone and the back of the case.
I haven't tried it with any other cases.
Power efficiency (Score:5, Informative)
I've checked a few places and it seems as though you can expect a 70% power efficiency with this type of inductive charger. Some of the higher end models reach as much as 85%.
It strikes me as odd that in a time where we want as much energy efficiency as possible, we'd push towards something much less efficient with the potential to be so widespread.
Sources:
http://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com/technology/total-energy-consumption.html [wirelesspo...ortium.com]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inductive_charging [wikipedia.org]