Samsung Tips Wireless Charging for Galaxy S6

Samsung Tips Wireless Charging for Galaxy S6

Samsung has been dropping hints about its next-generation flagship smartphone, and the latest clue suggests the Galaxy S6 will support wireless charging.

In a Tuesday blog post, Samsung’s lead engineer for IT and mobile, Seho Park, discussed making wireless charging an industry standard.

“It is expected that 2015 will be a landmark year for the growth of wireless charging deployment, as wireless charging stations will begin to appear in more and more public places,” Park said.

“Samsung will accelerate to demonstrate this wireless charging technology with compelling smartphones,” he continued. “With our upcoming Galaxy smartphones, users will be able to enter a new wireless world like never before.”

“Consumers have been crying out for a simple wireless charging solution that frees them from the need to carry several different chargers for multiple devices,” Park wrote.

Getting to one standard that works with all phones, though, has been a challenge. There are a variety of wireless charging groups, from the Wireless Power Consortium to the Power Matters Alliance, but it’s still rather split between major phone makers, while Apple has yet to embrace the technology at all.

It seems those who buy a Galaxy S6, though, will be dealing with fewer wires. Samsung in 2011 introduced its first commercial wireless charging pad for the Droid Charge, and has since provided wireless accessories for the Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 3, GS5, and Note 4.

“Wireless charging has come a long way in terms of charging speed as well,” Park said. “Two or three years ago, wireless charging was only 20 to 30 percent as efficient as wired charging. But since then, we have been able to double the charging speed.”

Samsung will hold its annual Unpacked event—expected to include the launch of the Galaxy S6 smartphone—in Barcelona on March 1. The presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. CET (12:30 p.m. EST) and will be live-streamed on Samsung’s YouTube channel.