Google has recently announced a new feature that is expected to be available to users of Android 15 devices. According to Android Authority, the feature is related to support for wireless charging via NFC, which is not entirely new, as it was launched back in May 2020. However, Android users will have to wait until Android 15 to receive support for this technology.
The Beta 1 version of Android 15, which was released last week, contains a new class named “NfcCharging” in its source code, which makes it quite clear that it will allow the use of NFC chips present in some smartphones to transmit power, as is the case with consumer electronics. This technology is expected to support the Qi standard, which is often used for wireless charging.
One of the benefits of supporting wireless charging via NFC is the applicability of this technology to small products because it works with antennas smaller than 1 cm. The same antenna can also be used for traditional data transmission, which means manufacturers can simply place an antenna inside their product to transmit data and power wherever possible, whenever necessary.
However, the main drawback of this technology is the speed. Power transfer is limited to just 1W, which is much slower even compared to the slowest wireless chargers on the market. This means that it may not be suitable for devices that require fast charging.
Overall, it remains to be seen what advantages and applications this technology has to improve the lives of Android 15 phone users.