LG Electronics (LG) today introduced the world’s smallest wireless charger – at just 6.9cm in diameter. Despite its smaller size, the charging area is 1.7 times wider than that of LG’s previous generation wireless charger.
The new model is compatible with a standard 5-pin micro-USB charger. The WCP-300 employs electromagnetic induction technology and is Qi certified by the Wireless Power Consortium.
Electromagnetic induction produces a magnetic field that in turn generates an electric current to charge the batteries in devices placed on the charging pad. Certification ensures that the WCP-300 is compatible with all smart-phones that support the Qi standard.
“Wireless charging is the holy grail of smartphone user convenience,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “With the WCP-300, LG was able to deliver both portability with top-class charging capabilities in a device no larger than a typical beverage coaster.”
In the US market, both the LG Spectrum 2 and Nexus 4 feature built-in support for wireless charging right out of the box, eliminating the need to purchase separate covers. LG said that it believes that built-in support for upcoming smartphones will be the most critical development in making wireless charging the industry standard going forward.