Digitimes Research: Samsung, LG launch wireless charging-enabled smartphones

Ricky Tu, DIGITIMES Research, Taipei

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, as of the end of the second quarter of 2014, had launched smartphones supporting wireless charging technology with wireless charging modules produced by affiliates Samsung Electro-Mechanics and LG Innotek, according to Digitimes Research.

Samsung's S5 and LG's G3 both use electromagnetic induction for wireless charging but there is also the possibility of using electromagnetic resonance as an alternative. The former method is more mature in the market and is suited primarily for small-size devices while the latter is expected to be used in a wider variety of applications provided that it passes various safety tests.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics and LG Innotek are the main module providers in the market but other players such as RFTech, Hansol Technics, DongYang E&P, WisePower, Hanrim Postech, and LS are also emerging into the market.

Despite the module developments, Digitimes Research noted there are still limitations in the upstream supply chain, most notably for micro-controller units (MCUs).

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