LG G4 wireless charging should be a thing. I mean, it was gearing up to be the year of wireless charging for most flagships. Samsung built it into its Galaxy S6 and Note5 line. Don’t get me wrong, the LG G4 has it if you buy a special Folio case but if you’re like me, you’re not a fan of such cases. While wireless charging has been absent from other flagships this year — like the iPhone 6s and the Nexus 5X and 6P — it offers a handy way of juicing up your device while it sits idle and one more phones should take advantage of, but that’s an article for another time perhaps.
UPDATE (10/20/2015): There has been concern and confusion regarding whether or not the installation of this third party sticker actually will violate the warranty of your phone. We reached out to LG to find out and a representative has confirmed that this can, in fact, void your warranty. This is what they had to say:
“Regarding that one if you will remove those things Mr. Jack your warranty will be automatically voided. Also it will effect directly the performance of your phone, since the one that you’ll be using is a Third-party wireless charger. We really do not have any control about the effects when you remove those things in your phone.”
ORIGINAL STORY:
While there may be special cases where LG does decide to honor a warranty, even with a third-party sticker or accessory, it should be noted that the company is well within its rights to not do so.
In my time using the LG G4, I contemplated picking up the LG Quick Circle Wireless Charging Folio case but like I’ve said before, I’ve never been a fan of folio cases. Luckily, it was brought to my attention that there was a third party way to get wireless charging without giving up my sexy leather back.
The Fonesalesman SlimPWRpatch is a low priced wireless charging sticker that offers the convenience of no cords, without giving up the sexy look your G4 may have rocking a leather back. But is it worth your coin? Let’s take a look.
Design
There’s not much to say on design. The SlimPWRpatch is just that, slim. Once the sticker is in place, it’s not noticeable at all. It doesn’t cause the case back to protrude at all.
Ease of Use
After receiving the SlimPWRpatch, and reading the instructions, I went over to the Fonesalesman web site to see if there was a video on how to place the sticker. The video (below) walks through the sticker placement.
After watching the instructional video and following the instructions, it took all of five minutes to get the sticker installed. While the video makes it look easy to pull off the OEM antenna and NFC sticker, it sadly, wasn’t that easy. The sticker didn’t come off in one piece, more like little bits and pieces. But that was the most lengthy portion of the install. After that, line up the stickers, make sure the charging works, use the guides to stick the patch on, then place the sticker, press, and voilà, you’re good to go.
That being said, if you want to pick up one of these stickers, get a second removable back as to not void the warranty should you have to send the phone in. Don’t worry about losing NFC functionality though. The patch does come with an NFC chip inside.
Performance
With the sticker in place, it was time to check out the wireless charging capabilities. I threw the G4 on the WoodPuck Wireless Charger and the charger beeped once to signify that the phone was correctly placed. The G4 display lit up to signify it was charging. I was in business.
The wireless charging works as it should. Place it on the puck, the phone charges, pull it off and head out the door. It’s that simple. However, in my times using the patch and puck, I found that sometimes I had to lift and place the G4 several times before I heard the single satisfying beep. A heads up, the charger beeps multiple times when you don’t place it right, which right before bed time is not the most wonderful sound to hear.
Other than that there’s not much to it. The Qi Wireless Charging Receiver works as you’d expect. Like other wireless chargers, charging time is not the fastest. In my use, it took about double the time to charge my phone. Instead of the usual 2.5 hours (from 10 percent to 100) it took about five, which is fine when throwing it on the charger when you go to bed.
Price/Value
The SlimPWRpatch is a relatively inexpensive third-party solution for wireless charging. It’ll cost you $24.99 for the sticker. The WoodPuck itself is $59.99, but if that’s too much for your wallet, you can always find another charger for less.
Wrap Up
If you’re looking for an inexpensive solution to add wireless charging to your G4, look no further. Fonesalesman’s SlimPWRpatch offers a cheaper charging option for those not wanting to pick up a Quick Charge Folio case. While it’ll cost a little more if you pick up a second back (highly recommended to avoid warranty issues) it’s still going to be about the same price as a charger and charging case.
Personally, I recommend the WoodPuck wireless charger itself as it’s a classy way to charge your phone and looks pretty nice. Of course, you can always pick up one of the new furniture pieces with wireless charging built in. It should be noted that if you’re planning on doing this, you take responsibility for what happens after. I had no issues with my SlimPWRpatch and my phone worked and operated as normal, but there’s always that chance when you’re messing with technology.
Also, if you’re looking for a quick charge and go, this option, and wireless charging in general, isn’t for you. However, if you’re looking for an inexpensive and convenient way to add wireless charging to that sexy leather-backed G4, then look no further.
[rwp-review id=”0″]*We were sent a SlimPWRpatch for the purpose of this review.
Last Updated on November 27, 2018.
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