Android’s world of wireless charging may be on the cusp of a subtle yet potentially game-changing expansion. While the Qi standard dominates wireless power transfer, Android 15 seems poised to offer native support for an alternative: NFC wireless charging.
Let’s rewind to 2020. The NFC (Near Field Communication) standard, the backbone of contactless payments, gained official support for limited wireless charging. This gives existing NFC hardware in phones the ability to transmit small amounts of power to other devices. And now, recent code discovered (via Android Authority) in the update to Android 15 Beta 1 that recently rolled out to Pixel users, aptly labeled “NfcCharging”, confirms Google’s investment in NFC wireless charging technology. While this feature may not be fully baked into AOSP (Android Open Source Project) yet, ongoing discussions in AOSP commits indicate that there’s active development.
But here’s the catch: NFC wireless charging is inherently slow, limited to about 1W of power. That’s drastically slower than even the most basic Qi chargers. So, what’s the point?
Accessories seem to be the answer. Trackers, styluses, and other compact gadgets too small for traditional wireless charging coils could conveniently trickle-charge when placed near your phone. The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) who manages the Qi Standard, envisioned precisely this scenario back in 2020, suggesting it could power smartwatches, fitness trackers, wireless earbuds, and more. With Google having just launched its Find My Device network, investing in this technology makes more sense.
While the exact implementation remains a mystery, native Android support for NFC wireless charging is a welcome development. This move could usher in a new wave of innovative, low-powered accessories. It’s a small step power-wise, but a potentially significant one in expanding the wirelessly powered accessory ecosystem. Only time will tell how creatively manufacturers will harness this subtle addition to Android’s capabilities.
Although this development is related to Android 15 Beta 1 that is currently limited to Pixel phones, the expectation is that NFC wireless charging will become widely available to other Android OEMs through AOSP.
Hillary Keverenge
2084 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.