Google wants to introduce an important innovation with Android 15 by adding NFC Wireless Charging support. The company is preparing to make wireless charging possible, especially for small smart devices.
Will Android 15 bring NFC Wireless Charging support?
First announced in 2020, NFC Wireless Charging (WLC) allows devices to be charged via NFC with much smaller antennas than Qi wireless charging. WLC antennas can be smaller than 1 cm in size. This means they can fit on small devices such as headphones, smartwatches and tracking accessories.
The Android 15 update, currently in beta, appears to include support for NFC Wireless Charging. APIs discovered by some developers include related classes for WLC. This suggests that Google may add WLC support to Android devices and accessories with Android 15.
While WLC has been available for years, its lack of support by any platform has hindered its adoption by users. Android’s large user base could help WLC come to life. It can also bring this feature to small electronic devices that do not have fast charging capabilities due to size restrictions.
The most notable applications at this point seem to be tracking accessories. Many existing accessories already use NFC, but have batteries that limit their lifespan. Integrating WLC could extend battery life by wirelessly charging tracking devices.
Other potential WLC devices include Bluetooth headsets, smartwatches and stylus pens. With Android 15, NFC Wireless Charging may become widespread.