What is Reverse Wireless Charging and How to Use It on Smartphones?

Reverse-charge technology is typically included in large-battery phones (above 5000 mAh) that allow OTG. These cell phones function as power banks, charging compatible gadgets including smartphones, TWS earbud charging boxes, Bluetooth speakers, smartwatches, and other electronic devices. All you need to connect is an OTG cable. It implies that the weight may be decreased, which is particularly advantageous when outside.

They are the greatest camping power banks for hikers and campers to use in place of conventional power banks. With the aid of this technology, you may use your phone as a charging station for other gadgets. You do not need to connect them to a charging dock or a power outlet because we are talking about wireless charging.

Huawei first made reverse wireless charging available in 2018. The first handset with reverse wireless charging was Huawei Mate 20 Pro, their premium model. The same technology was then included in other flagship phone models from Samsung, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, etc. On high-end luxury smartphone models, a reverse wireless charging option is typically available.

Two devices are needed for reverse wireless charging: one that can deliver it and another that can receive it. A gadget that supports Qi wireless charging is also compatible with reverse wireless charging from another smartphone. As a result, wireless charging devices may be wirelessly charged from a phone that supports reverse wireless charging.

Benefits of Reverse Wireless Charging

The first method to gain popularity was wireless charging, which involves powering up any gadget without utilizing any wires or wall outlets. Nowadays, a separate charging station is typically utilized, into which a smartphone is inserted and charged. In contrast, reverse wireless charging uses a smartphone as a docking station to charge the battery of a second device. This additional gadget might be a separate smartphone, tablet, or Bluetooth gadget.

How does it work?

Here is a brief explanation of the reverse wireless charging system’s workings. There are primarily two devices involved. The source of the charging current in reverse wireless charging has a built-in wireless charging coil. The electromagnetic field it produces is oscillating.

A second coil within the device that is being charged receives an electrical current from this field. The main charger transforms electrical electricity into direct current (DC). The secondary device’s battery is charged using this current.

Reverse wireless charging requires a charging device with a larger battery capacity than the item being charged. Align the two gadgets so that the one receiving the charge receives a significant quantity of power.

When compared to the conventional wall outlet and cable charging, it is not as quick. When one of your phones is about to run out of battery life, you may utilize the reverse wireless charging feature of your second phone to swiftly top off the battery in your primary handset.

On some smartphones, the reverse wireless charging speed may reach up to 10W, while it is typically 5W on various devices. It is not practicable to completely rely on reverse wireless charging to fully charge a gadget. Additionally, if the phone you are using to reverse wirelessly charge already has less battery life, doing so will reduce its power.

How to Enable Reverse Wireless Charging?

Reverse wireless charging is now available on certain expensive Android devices. Here’s how to activate it. Typically, the Battery settings are where you’ll find the reverse wireless charging option.

• Open the Settings app of your device.
• Scroll to the tab Battery and access it.
• Within that, you should find an option for Reverse Wireless Charging.
• Tap the toggle to enable the feature.

Alternatively, if the battery level falls below a certain level, reverse wireless charging can be immediately disabled. The minimum battery percentage needed to wirelessly charge another device is 25 percent, though. However, this bare minimum might change depending on the device.

Compatible Devices

Reverse wireless charging cannot, however, be used with all devices that allow wireless charging. All the gadgets that right now allow reversing wireless charging are included in the following table. Since there is presently no iPhone model that enables reverse wireless charging, Apple devices are unfortunately left out. However, a phone that enables reverse wireless charging may wirelessly charge an iPhone from that device. Only Qi Wireless charging and MagSafe magnetic wireless charging are supported by a few newer models, including the iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max. It’s interesting to note that you may use an Android smartphone that supports reverse wireless charging to power up an Apple iPhone.

Tips for Using Reverse Wireless Charging

• The phone that supports reverse wireless charging features an AC current coil. The magnetic field created by this current revolves around it. The gadget you wish to wirelessly charge contains a coil as well.
• You can charge a phone, iPad, Bluetooth earbuds, and any other wirelessly charging device via reverse wireless charging. However, reverse wireless charging is designed to allow you to use your smartphone as a power source in emergency situations.
• Make sure both devices are flat while utilizing reverse wireless charging to prevent any movement or slippage that might impede the charging process.
• Make that the charging coils on both devices are positioned correctly. For advice on how to position the devices correctly for charging, consult the manufacturer’s instructions.
• It is advised that you take your phone’s case off while utilizing reverse wireless charging to guarantee proper charging. In some circumstances, overheating or interference with the charging process may occur.
• Keep the two devices as near together as you can to guarantee a smooth charging procedure. The charging procedure might not function correctly if they are too far apart.

You can make your experience with reverse wireless charging as seamless and effective as possible by adhering to these suggestions.

Limitations of Reverse Wireless Charging

Like any technology, reverse wireless charging has its limits. The following are a few of the most frequent drawbacks of reverse wireless charging:

• Reverse wireless charging’s primary drawback is that it often charges devices at a slower rate than standard cable charging. This is because the power output of the smartphone’s battery restricts the charging process.
• Reduced Battery Life: When utilizing reverse wireless charging, the second device is powered by your smartphone’s battery. This implies that utilizing reverse wireless charging might shorten the longevity of your phone’s battery and cause it to discharge more quickly.
• Reverse wireless charging might cause your phone to overheat if used for an extended length of time. Not only may this shorten the battery life of the phone, but it might also harm it.
• Reverse wireless charging is not supported by all smartphones, and even when it is, not all gadgets may be compatible with the technology. This implies that not all of your other gadgets may be compatible with reverse wireless charging.
• Limited Range: For reverse wireless charging to function, the two devices must be close together. This necessitates keeping your charging device close to your phone, which may not always be practical.
• Device Orientation: For reverse wireless charging to function, the charging coils on both smartphones must be correctly positioned. This can be a little complicated, and the charging could not even function if the alignment is incorrect.

Other Uses of Reverse Wireless Charging

There are further possible applications for this technology aside from employing reverse wireless charging to wirelessly charge other gadgets. Here are a few illustrations:

• Wireless charging cases are now widely available on a number of smartphone cases. These cases can be charged using the reverse wireless charging feature on your smartphone, which can then wirelessly charge your phone.
• Other Wirelessly Charging Accessories: In addition to wireless charging cases, other accessories like wireless earphones or smartwatches may also be charged wirelessly. You may use your smartphone to charge these items as well if it supports reverse wireless charging.
• Reverse wireless charging can be useful in an emergency if you need to fast charge another gadget but don’t have access to a charger. To quickly recharge a gadget with a low battery, utilize your smartphone.
• Reverse wireless charging may be a terrific method to show off wireless charging’s capabilities to others. By utilizing your smartphone to wirelessly charge someone else’s device, you may demonstrate the technique.

Conclusion

That is all there is to know about how a smartphone uses reverse wireless charging. With the use and expanding demand, we may hope to see smartphone models from various OEMs of all budget ranges provide reverse wireless charging technology in the next few days. It undoubtedly makes life simpler for ardent smartphone users. Despite these drawbacks, reverse wireless charging is a practical function that occasionally comes in handy. To get the most out of this technology, it’s critical to understand its limitations and use the appropriate techniques.