Android 15 could revolutionize the way devices are charged by enabling NFC technology, commonly used for contactless payments and wireless phone charging.
This addition was discovered in the latest Android 15 beta. Named as “NfcCharging”, could introduce wireless charging capabilities to a variety of devices, especially affordable models that typically lack Qi wireless charging.
Although NFC charging offers a slower charging speed, reaching only 1W, it could still prove useful in emergencies. For example, fully charging a 5,000mAh battery would take about five hours, making it a less efficient but convenient alternative.
For smaller devices such as headphones, stylus pens and smartwatches, NFC charging could be more useful due to their low power requirements and smaller battery size.
This technology promises to make wireless charging more accessible, especially for devices that are too small to support Qi’s larger antennas. Because NFC antennas are significantly more compact, they could easily fit on a wider variety of devices.
Although the concept of NFC charging has been around for several years, its implementation is limited. However, if integrated natively into Android, it could set a new trend for device charging, potentially paving the way to replacing Qi charging if the speed and efficiency of NFC can be improved. This would simplify the internal design by reducing the number of antennas required and allow for larger batteries or additional features in the devices.
Android 15 is expected to launch between August and October 2024. More details about NFC charging and other Android 15 updates are expected to be revealed at the Google I/O 2024 event on May 14.
