Your Samsung Galaxy phone can charge another phone wirelessly

If your phone is about to die and a friend has a newer Samsung Galaxy, there is a backup plan. The feature is called Wireless PowerShare. It lets one Galaxy phone pass some of its battery power to another device just by touching backs. It also works with iPhones and other brands.

Which phones can do it

Phones that can both give and receive power include the Galaxy S20 through S26 series, the S10, the Note 20 and Note 10 series, the Z Fold series, the Z TriFold and the Z Flip series.

Some older phones can only receive power, not share it. These include the S7 and S7 Edge, the S8 and S8+, the S9 and S9+, and the Note8.

How to use it

Start with the phone that will give the power. Swipe down to open the notification panel and tap Wireless PowerShare. Then place the device you want to charge back to back with it.

There is one limit to know about. The sharing phone needs more than 30 percent battery to start. Sharing stops when it falls to 30 percent.

What it can charge

PowerShare works with any phone that is Qi-certified, a common wireless charging standard. That includes iPhones and many other brands. It also works with the Galaxy Ring, most Galaxy Buds and most Galaxy Watches. Some models, such as the Watch7, are an exception.

If it does not work

• Take off the cases on both phones, and any other attached accessories.
• Clean the backs of the phones.
• Put the phone being charged in the center of the sharing phone.

Why to save it for emergencies

PowerShare is not a replacement for a power bank. It charges at a snail's pace. Wireless charging wastes more electricity than a cable does, and much of the lost power turns into heat.

That heat is a second drawback. PowerShare creates far more heat than regular wired charging. Heat can be bad for both batteries involved, because it wears down lithium-ion batteries over time. Think of it as a last resort when you have no other option.