Tech

Here's an easy iPhone wireless charging hack

Tired of waiting for Apple to add wireless charging to the iPhone? Here's how you can do it yourself, no screwdrivers or soldering irons required.

Written by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Senior Contributing Editor Nov. 5, 2016 at 6:07 a.m. PT

Here's how you can add wireless charging to your iPhone, quickly, cheaply, easily, and without risking your warranty.

Here's what you need:

A wireless charging receiver card for your iPhone. A quick search of somewhere like Amazon will turn up a number of solutions, such as BEZALEL I6 Qi wireless charger receiver patch module (price at publication is $16.25).
A Qi-compatible charger. Any of the ones listed here will do just fine, but there are many more you can choose from out there.
A non-metallic flexible case or cover no thicker than 5mm (only required if the receiver coil you've chosen doesn't come with a case). Apple's own silicone cases work well (although they are expensive), as do the cheapo versions you can pick up from eBay or Amazon.

How to add wireless charging to your iPhone

BEZALEL I6 Qi Wireless Charger Charging Receiver Patch Module

Fitting the charging coil is easy. Just pop the wireless charging card into your iPhone's connector, fold it over the back, and pop the phone into a case and you're done.

You do lose the port on your phone (unless you're willing to disconnect the card) but if all you use it for is charging, then this won't matter much.

With a compatible in-car charger (such as this one) you can continue to charge your iPhone when on the move.

In my experience, these wireless charging systems work very well, and are far more convenient than having to plug a cable into the handset every time. The only time it isn't is when you want to use your iPhone while it's charging -- then a cable is easier.