Xiaomi Mi Air Charge

Xiaomi has set their sight for a wireless future with the Mi Air Charge system. Justifying its name, Mi Air Charge is designed to let users remotely charge their electronic devices including smartphones without any conventional ways like pads, cables, or wireless charging stands.

Before wireless chargers still needed to be attached to a power source, whether it was a battery pack or outlet. The latest Xiaomi Mi Air Charge, however, uses radio waves to charge a device over the air without having to use any wires.

The system uses a combination of 144 antennas and beamforming to accurately determine when a device is in range of the wireless charger and activate charging to commence. A smartphone with a receiving antenna array can connect to the charging point even if users are several meters away. The charging is interrupted by the objects in between the devices even if the person is roaming around in his room.

Xiaomi aims to use this technology in speakers, watches, and other appliances so that future devices do not need a power cable at all.

Multiple devices can be charged at the same time at the same rate but charging is limited to 5 watts which is a disappointment to its users. Also, the device needs an array of "beacon antennas" to be present within the device being recharged which is not possible with existing devices.