High-bandwidth wireless data transfer has been around since the 2000s. But up until now, true wireless charging hasn't caught up with the general public. There are some true wireless charging projects underway, but none are from major companies—until now.

Sure, we have wireless charging via the Qi standard. But it requires your phone to be touching the charging surface. Furthermore, its charging speeds are limited to 15W—whereas modern smartphone chargers can charge up to five times faster than that.

So what is Xiaomi's Mi Air Charge technology? Is this the start of true wireless power?

Over the Air Charging

In early 2021, Xiaomi announced they're working on a wireless charging solution. Unlike the Qi Wireless Charging technology, Xiaomi's solution aims to recharge your device even if it isn't sitting on the charging pad. So as long as you walk inside the room with a Mi Air Charge device, your compatible phone will automatically gain power.

Xiaomi does this by using 144 antennas in a charging box that transmits a millimeter-wave signal. The smartphone then receives this signal through 14 embedded antennas, converting it to up to 5 watts of power. The Mi Air Charge is expected to have a range of several meters and can even go through objects without a drop in charging efficiency.

Although Xiaomi's announcement got many people excited about the technology, Xiaomi Global spokesperson Agatha Tang clarified that it's a tech demo. The company has no plans to release it as part of its product portfolio in 2021.

The Wireless Power Space

tesla-coil

The Mi Air Charge isn't humanity's first foray into wireless power. In fact, Wardenclyff Tower, more popularly known as Tesla Tower, was built by Nikola Tesla in 1901 on Long Island, New York, as part of his experiment on wireless power transmission.

As of now, several small startups are working on developing wireless power. Companies like Yank Tech, Wi-Charge, Energous, and several others are all working on this technology. And although some have already released products for the consumer market, none have gained significant market share.

But now, with Xiaomi working on developing similar technology, we have a multi-billion dollar tech company stepping in. Their vast resources could help propel the research of this new kind of power.

Why Over the Air Charging Has Failed (So Far)

As mentioned earlier, several companies have developed and are selling wireless charging—but none have taken off. No major phone manufacturer has adopted it, and there is no clamor from consumers for it.

But why?

One of the reasons is that over-the-air charging is painfully slow. Even Xiaomi's tech demo only offers a maximum of 5 Watts. That is a trickle in an age where 120-watt fast charging bricks are now available.

Furthermore, if you purchase an existing wireless charging hub, you still have to install additional accessories to make your phone compatible. So your thin, sleek device, with built-in Qi-compatible wireless charging, must have a bulky, unsightly accessory case attached to it.

Considering purchasing the hub and its accessories brings additional costs as well, most consumers would instead just work with what the phone manufacturer installed in their phone.

Related: How Does Fast Charging Work?

After all, today's fast chargers can give you enough power for hours of use in just a few minutes. You can even charge some phone models from flat to full in an hour or so. Furthermore, most consumers simply recharge their phone when they're asleep. So when they wake up, their phone has enough juice to last them throughout the day.

The Case for Wireless Power

So, despite the lack of demand from consumers, why is Xiaomi pursuing the development of this tech? There are several possible reasons, so let's take a look at some of them.

Shrinking or Removing Batteries

power bank with blue cables

If you tear down your phone, you'll notice that its biggest component is the battery. Most phone batteries take up 60-70% of the space on your device. It's also one of the first parts to degrade. If you look at a phone from the early 2000s, it would still work today—provided you have a working battery.

So if Xiaomi can find a way to provide power to your smartphone wirelessly all the time (in the same way phone companies provide cellular signals), then they could reduce battery capacities in your phone or even remove it.

This could make future smartphones lighter, more compact, and allow for more form factors. It also has the added benefit of reducing our dependence on batteries, thus decreasing demand for potentially destructive lithium mining and battery waste in our landfills.

A Wire-Free World

wireless power router

While the Xiaomi Mi Air Charge technology is primarily geared towards smartphone users and consumers, there's a world of opportunities for it beyond that. These include industrial, medical, and even military applications.

For one, wireless power can allow doctors to run fully wireless monitoring devices on patients 24/7 indefinitely. It also allows for easier cleaning, sanitation, and disinfection of electronic medical devices.

In manufacturing, one less electrical cable can make the production line run more efficiently. It could make workflows smoother and even reduce the chances of accidents.

The military would also be interested in this technology. As long as it could offer 100% reliability, wireless charging would be useful in battlefield applications—where a cut or damaged power cable could reduce efficiency, disrupt communications, and even cost lives.

Related: How Will the Fourth Industrial Revolution Change Your World?

A Look Into the Future

So, is the Mi Air Charge True Wireless Charging? The answer to that is both yes and no. Yes, it could possibly recharge your phone wirelessly. But no, our existing technology isn't advanced enough to make it practical.

The beamed power merely sits at 5 watts, you need additional accessories to make it work, and the charging device is humongous. Furthermore, there is no statement on its efficiency. How much power will the wireless hub consume to deliver the required charge?

Nevertheless, having Xiaomi, one of the world's leading smartphone and electronics manufacturers, on the case is a good sign. After all, not every technology is practical and affordable at the start. But with time, effort, and resources, there's a good chance we will see true wireless charging in the years to come.