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Wireless Power Market Thrives, Widening Adoption

Industry Pulse, Market Trends

WAWT

As we approach the mid-point of 2021, the evolution and reach of the wireless power industry continues to grow. The following trends provide new challenges and opportunities for forward-thinking companies:

Focus Shifts Beyond Mobile

  • The wireless power market continues to expand beyond smartphones, to wider applications across computing, wearables, hearables, small appliances, smart home, medical, industrial, robotics, automotive, 5G telecom, and retail sectors.
  • New applications with unique form factors, design challenges, charging needs, and the strong desire for interoperability are adopting next-generation wireless power solutions that include – low-frequency induction and resonance, high-frequency resonance, new emerging high-frequency NFC Charging, ultra-high frequency ‘distance’ wireless charging based on radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), or ultrasonic (US) technology.

WAWT Wireless Power Market

Note: Applications in each bubble (above figure) are segmented based on the industry sectors they belong, irrespective of which wireless power technology they are/may adopt and their interoperability status.

Market Needs Further Technology Advancement

  • Wireless power technology is on the brink of becoming mainstream and being offered as a standard feature, but it needs further technological advancement. Each wireless power solution type – low-frequency, high-frequency, and distance wireless charging – is at a different development stage.
  • While low-frequency induction-based solutions continue to dominate the wireless power market, mainly driven by its adoption across mobile ecosystem devices (primarily smartphones), other sector OEMs continue to assess the credibility, commercial viability, and appropriateness of integrating other wireless power solutions for their devices. Considering the product needs, some companies are also using high-frequency resonance, NFC charging, or uncoupled distance charging based on RF or IR solutions, while some are developing customized, multi-frequency ‘hybrid’ systems.

WAWT Wireless Power Market Leaders

Low Frequency Inductive Solutions Continue to Dominate

Based on WAWT’s recently published ‘Wireless Power Market Tracker’ report, the low-frequency wireless power technology segment driven by WPC’s induction-based (Qi-) standard, will continue to have a majority share of unit shipments through the five-year forecast period. However, its share is expected to drop from almost 100% to around 75% in the next five years. This decline in market share is a result of growth in wider applications adopting wireless power solutions (magnetic resonance, NFC charging, and distance charging), that are better aligned to their needs. 

WPC (Wireless Power Consortium) with its low-frequency inductive solution is developing standards beyond low-power (PC0- 5W-15W) to medium-power (PC1- 30W-65W) and to high-power profile (200W-2200W) with its Ki-Cordless Kitchen Standard. However, one still finds gaps between power groups which could be relevant for other emerging applications. However, there is lack of interoperability across its power classes within low-frequency solutions.

Other Technology Solutions Continue to Develop Further

WEVC solution gradually moves to the fast track 

The standard for low-frequency magnetic resonance-based solution, backed by SAE (Society for Automotive Engineers) continues to develop at a faster pace, with regulatory bodies across other regions providing additional approvals. The low-frequency resonance standard primarily focuses on the wireless charging of electric vehicles (WEVC) with its 3kW-11kW solutions, possibly extending to 21kW power levels.

AirFuel Alliance facilitates wider applications to benefit from its resonance and RF standard

AirFuel Alliance is releasing enhanced standard specifications for its high-frequency, resonance-based wireless charging solution for a wide range of applications such as laptops, personal e-mobility devices like e-bikes/e-scooters, service robots, 5G repeaters. Innovation-driven Chinese mobile manufacturer, Oppo had recently demonstrated wireless power solution for its mobiles using Airfuel Alliance Resonance. AirFuel is also providing hands-on training and development kits to companies and developers. AirFuel Alliance on the other hand is also working on its AirFuel RF wireless charging standard. 

While NFC Charging is carving out its niche, ‘distance-charging’ solutions gains more traction

Devices with smaller form-factors, design constraints, and low power needs are seeking NFC charging or distance charging solutions using either RF or IR. 

  • The market for such wireless power solutions is expected to show robust growth, driven by wearables, IoT sensors, ESLs (Electronic Shelf Labels), and others. However, the opportunity is restricted to applications needing less than 1W (max 2W) power levels.
  • WAWT expects 2021 to be the ‘make-or-break’ year for companies developing ‘distance-charging’ solutions, as this segment gains traction, with few new players entering this segment.

Are We Losing Interoperability?

  • There is a trend towards use of proprietary solutions, using either low-frequency induction or high-frequency resonance solutions.
  • Apple’s iPhone 12 launch, where the company introduced a 15W wireless charging solution using its proprietary MagSafe technology instead of WPC’s EPP solution, confirms the trend towards use of proprietary solutions. While Apple may have created a relatively better user experience (key innovation driver for Apple) with it MagSafe technology (addressing the alignment issues), one could argue whether this approach is a step forward from a wireless power technology perspective – or a few steps back.
  • Apple’s cancellation of its AirPower technology in 2018, followed by introduction of MagSafe in 2020, have created some disruption in the wireless power market, possibly triggering renewed interest amongst OEMs and developers to re-assess existing low-frequency induction and possibly exploring new wireless power transfer solutions including high-frequency magnetic resonance solutions and/or working on a new wireless power transfer solution.
  • WAWT speculates about the possible emergence of another wireless power solution/specification in the next 12 months, with the aim of becoming an industry standard.

Opportunity Is Huge, with 8 Billion Devices Expected to Ship in the Next 5 Years

Based on WAWT’s recently released Wireless Power Market Tracker report, the following trends will drive industry growth and innovation in the coming years:

  • The total wireless power receiver and transmitter market, in terms of unit shipments, is forecast to grow at a five-year CAGR of 30%.
  • While smartphones, personal appliances and smartwatches are currently the top three applications adopting wireless power, other applications across wearables, industrial (IoT sensors and AGVs), and retail sectors are expected to see a lot of traction in the next 2-3 years.
  • WAWT expects the ‘distance’ wireless charging market (using RF and IR-based solutions) to witness a lot of activity during 2021. Several new players such as Xiaomi, Motorola, Huawei have already announced development of RF-based solutions, with more such announcements expected during the year.

WAWT Wireless Power Trends

  • The total addressable wireless power receiver (Rx) and transmitter (Tx) market is expected to be around 8 billion units in the next five years.

WAWT Covers It All

Wired and Wireless Technologies (WAWT) is a strategic technology analyst and consultancy firm providing reliable data, knowledge, insights and market intelligence on the latest technology trends and developments. WAWT offers the industry’s most comprehensive research on the wireless power technology, consisting of critical market data (estimates and forecast), trends, insights, and market intelligence. Its wireless power research covers all key wireless power technology types, power classes, and wide range of 30+ applications. If you are interested to gain further knowledge and insights on the market, and access to its valued and insightful reports please visit www.wawt.tech and submit your enquiry.

Contributor

Dinesh Kithany, Founder and Chief Analyst at WAWT, is an established wireless power industry expert with over 26 years of experience providing high-level insights and strategic advice to companies across technology sectors. Former Lead Analyst at Informa/Omdia and IHS Markit, with deep expertise in wireless power, power supplies, wired interface and connectivity technology, smart home and home appliances, service robots and drones, connectivity, semiconductors, and wider consumer electronics markets. Dinesh is a frequent and most sought-after speaker at key industry conferences, trade shows and events worldwide including CES, IFA, CABA, ITRI, WPC Conferences, NFC Forum and AirFuel Alliance. To contact Dinesh, please visit www.wawt.tech or email him at dinesh.kithany@wawt.tech