Huawei wants to charge your phone with lasers: Here’s when we could see it

True wireless charging has long been heralded as a smartphone technology of the future, letting phones charge without needing to place it on a wireless charging pad or plug in a cable. We’ve seen a couple of companies tout this capability, using radio waves to charge a phone.

Huawei also joined the party last week, announcing that it’s patented the ability to wirelessly charge phones via laser beams instead. The Chinese manufacturer says this tech would allow multiple users with supported devices to charge via a wireless module in the room.

This tech could also be used for medium- and long-distance charging of devices from phones to drones, Huawei notes. In theory, this could mean that you can use your phone or drone without a charging break, although we do wonder about battery degradation if the devices are constantly charging.

This laser wireless charging solution also includes a safety feature that detects eyes in the laser’s path and shuts down charging to protect humans or pets.

What else to know about Huawei laser charging?

Huawei told Android Authority that a specific sensor is required on devices that need to be charged via this method. “Imagine the receptor as similar to a miniature solar cell,” it explained, bringing to mind solar-powered calculators.

The company added that it has yet to determine a maximum charging speed or the maximum number of simultaneously charging devices via this tech. In other words, it seems that we’re still a while away from seeing this technology come to life. So when should we expect it?

“It is estimated to likely be in phones two to three generations from now,” Huawei told us.

It looks like we’re in for a long wait then, but it could prove to be a killer feature if the company can solve the major technical and usability challenges.

Next: Huawei Mate 40 Pro — Everything we know so far and what we want to see