Wireless charging – how it works, is it worth it, and which Xiaomi smartphones have it
Not so long ago, the idea that a phone could charge without a cable seemed absurd – something you only see in science fiction movies, not on a bedside table. Today it is one of those features that is no longer a luxury reserved for the most expensive flagships and is becoming a standard in more and more devices. You just put the phone down on a small stand and... the magic happens – energy flows in an invisible stream, the percentage on the screen goes up, and you don’t have to do absolutely anything. This simplicity is where its charm lies, because wireless charging is not a whim of modern times, but an evolutionary step forward towards convenience and minimalism that has accompanied the development of consumer electronics for years. It is exactly the kind of small, everyday innovation that changes habits imperceptibly, until finally it is hard to imagine going back to the old way of charging.
How does it actually work?
Although it looks like pure magic, it is the effect of a phenomenon known for over a century — electromagnetic induction. In simple terms:
• Inside the charger there is a transmitting coil through which current flows, creating a magnetic field.
• In the smartphone there is a receiving coil which “catches” this field and converts the magnetic energy back into electrical energy.
• As a result, the battery charges even though there is no physical connection between the devices.
Sounds simple? In theory yes, but in practice it requires precision. The phone has to lie exactly over the coil, and even a slight shift can disrupt the flow of energy. It is enough for the smartphone to slip by a centimetre and charging stops being effective or stops completely. That is why well-designed chargers that can “forgive” small positioning errors are so important. The best models — such as those from Xiaomi — use several coils arranged in different places, so the phone always finds the optimal contact point with the magnetic field.
Multicoil construction has one more advantage — it allows you to charge devices of different sizes, not only smartphones but also earphones or watches. Thanks to this, one station can handle the entire ecosystem of devices without the need to precisely position each of them.
The second key element is cooling. When energy is transmitted wirelessly, part of it turns into heat. During long charging sessions, the temperature can rise to a level that affects the condition of the battery. Xiaomi has solved this problem in an elegant way — it uses active cooling with a miniature fan or a heat dissipation system with aluminium heat sinks. Thanks to this, the charging process remains stable and the energy goes where it should – to the battery, not into the air.
These are the details that make the difference between a cheap supermarket charger and a well-designed premium device noticeable from the very first use. Where cheap solutions heat up and lose power, Xiaomi maintains a balance between speed, safety and quiet operation.
Why the world fell in love with wireless charging
It is not just about modernity. It is about convenience.
Instead of looking for a cable, you simply put the phone down — and that is it. The problem of worn charging ports, torn cables and constant chaos on the desk disappears.
The biggest advantages are:
• Convenience – you put it down and the energy flows by itself.
• Aesthetics – a desk without cables looks neat and modern.
• Safety – no physical connection means a lower risk of damage.
• Universality – one charger can handle several devices with Qi technology, e.g. a phone, watch and earphones.
Over time, wireless charging becomes more than just a feature – it becomes a new ritual. You put the phone down after work and it “knows” it is time to regenerate.
Xiaomi and their mastery of wireless charging
If anyone can prove that “wireless” can be just as fast as a cable, it is Xiaomi. For years the brand has been setting the pace in charging technology, improving both wired and inductive solutions. Today it is one of the industry leaders, and its solutions are found not only in flagships but are gradually reaching cheaper models from the Redmi and POCO series, which belong to the same product family.
Flagship Xiaomi 13, 14 and 15T Pro offer wireless charging with power up to 50 W, which allows you to top up the battery in less than an hour – a result that just a few years ago seemed unattainable. Mi 11 Ultra, in turn, went down in history, reaching a record 67 W, which made it for a long time a symbol of technological advantage over the competition. Interestingly, the same fast-charging philosophy is now finding its way into cheaper devices as well, although in versions limited to wired standards. The Redmi Note and POCO X series draw on Xiaomi’s experience in power management, offering exceptionally fast wired charging and optimised battery performance – all based on the same technological foundations. It is worth checking models with the “Pro” suffix. Most smartphones in this segment have wireless charging as standard.
However, it is the premium segment that remains Xiaomi’s testing ground. In the brand’s laboratories the Mi Air Charge project is being developed, which just a few years ago sounded like pure fantasy. It is a technology intended to allow devices to be charged from several metres away from the energy source, without any cables and without contact with a stand. A smartphone charged “from the air”, anywhere in the room, is a vision that may revolutionise the very concept of mobility.
All these innovations share a common goal – to create an ecosystem in which energy is always available and cables fade into oblivion. Xiaomi shows that comfort can go hand in hand with performance, and the lack of a cable does not have to mean compromises. It is an example of a company that not only follows trends but creates them, proving that wireless charging is not a gadget but the real future of consumer electronics.
• Xiaomi 13, 14 and 15T Pro offer charging power of up to 50 W, which allows you to charge the phone in less than an hour.
• The legendary Mi 11 Ultra set records with a speed of 67 W, surpassing even some of the competitors’ wired solutions.
• In the laboratories, the Mi Air Charge technology is already being developed, allowing the phone to be charged from a distance of several metres – completely without contact with a stand.
This is not only convenience but also the direction in which the entire industry is heading. Xiaomi proves that comfort can go hand in hand with performance, and the lack of a cable does not have to mean compromises.
What you need to know before choosing a charger
Wireless charging is convenient, but it is also a technology that requires a bit of awareness.
Not every charger is the same — and not every one works equally effectively.
Pay attention to:
• Qi certificate – guarantees safety and compatibility.
• Charging power – match it to the capabilities of the phone (e.g. 50 W for Xiaomi 14).
• Active cooling – a fan or heat sink is a must-have for fast chargers.
• FOD protection – foreign object detection protects against overheating of metal.
A well-chosen charger not only charges faster but also extends battery life. It is therefore worth investing in a model from a reputable brand instead of reaching for cheap replacements from an unknown source.
Speed versus convenience – who wins?
Many users wonder whether wireless charging really makes sense if it is slower than classic charging. And although the cable still wins, the difference is no longer as big as it used to be.
It is worth looking at it from a different perspective.
• Cable means speed, but also the need for interaction — you have to plug in, unplug and take care of the connector.
• Wireless means convenience, silence and order — you just put the phone down and forget about it.
For most users the advantage of comfort is hard to overestimate. Especially since more and more smartphones, including Xiaomi, can charge really fast even without a cable.
A future without cables
The world of electronics is heading towards minimalism and freedom from cables. The introduction of the Qi2 standard will make phones position themselves perfectly on the charger thanks to magnetic alignment. The process will become even more efficient and effortless.
In the near future, charging will take place not only through contact but also from a distance. Imagine a desk that powers your phone by itself whenever it is lying on its surface. Xiaomi is already working on this – and if anyone is going to bring such a revolution to life, it is them.
More and more places where charging becomes “invisible”
Wireless charging technology is starting to surround us from every side. Not only smartphones, but also furniture, lamps and cars now have built-in Qi charging stations. You can increasingly find them in bedside tables, desks with integrated chargers and even in office lamps that both illuminate and power your phone.
Car manufacturers are also introducing chargers into their models – you just put your smartphone in a special compartment and the energy starts to flow by itself. In modern cars from Xiaomi, BMW or Hyundai this is already standard, not an extra. Soon charging will become as natural as Wi-Fi – present everywhere, running in the background, invisible but essential.
A small luxury that changes everyday life
Wireless charging is not just a novelty for tech enthusiasts. It is convenience, aesthetics and a sense of order that you can really notice every day. Yes, a cable will still be faster, but a wireless charger offers something no cable can provide – peace of mind. A model such as the Xiaomi 80W Adaptive Wireless Charging Stand is perfect for a desk – the elegant stand lets you conveniently charge your phone and use it at the same time while you work.
It is a symbol of modernity that perfectly matches a lifestyle in which technology is supposed to work unnoticed, not demand our attention. And that is where its magic lies – it works when you are simply resting.
