Infinix appeared on MWC 2025 with a few concept -smartphones – one of which is a telephone that passively charges itself with the help of ambient light.
I was allowed to take the Infinix concept device for a hands-on time (and the corresponding loading cupboard). It is an intriguing step in the direction of sustainable technology, but there are still a few obstacles to erase before we start the life of the dream of infinite power. That said, I think the days of desperate search for a charger can be numbered.
Let’s start here with the big idea. The phone uses something that is called SolarEnergy-Reserving Technology. That is just a great way to say that it can change indoors (which is particularly impressive) and outside light in power. The concept device that I treated had a rear panel covered with Perovoltaic technology perovskiet, which in theory should be better in capturing energy of little light than traditional solar cells.
There is also an AI-driven system that refines the energy collection in real time, so that the phone always narrowly needs some extra juice, regardless of the lighting conditions. And if your existing phone feels excluded, Infinix has also developed a solar energy loading cupboard that works through discreet contact points to transfer power. The case charges a little slower, which is annoying when the maximum speed is already 2W – but we are in the early days of this technology.
Now, the big question: does it actually work? Well, yes and no. During my short time I could see that the system indeed picked up energy from indoor lights and on one sunny day that I came out, with a small onion indicator who showed that it was ‘charging’. However, the power drops a maximum of 2W, which means that you do not exactly connect the battery with the lightning speed.
Infinix said that I should consider it more as an emergency boost instead of a complete replacement for your charger. But I am not sure if I want to trust a system that takes hours to charge my phone in an emergency. On a sunny day it can add a few hours of standby time, but if you hoped to leave your plug at home forever, it is still wishful thinking.
Another interesting addition is the ‘sunflower’ wireless charging technology. Inspired by heliotropic plants (which naturally turn to the sun), this system adjusts the power transmission path based on lighting conditions and device position. In practice? It’s still hard to say. The concept sounds smart, but I should see it work outside a controlled demo before I get too enthusiastic.
Beyond the phone itself, I think the solar screen is where this technology can really shine. Over the years (especially with folding things) we have seen that hip functions are not enough to let people throw away the smartphones that they already love. So a separate case that adds passive charging to your existing phone is a much easier selling than a whole new device.
The case is not even that extensive, which is impressive in view of the technology inside. Although solar energy banks are often available for buying, they are cumbersome and cannot be used easily.
Theoretically Infinix could bring this to more telephones in the future (the brand confirmed that it would consider making things for non-infinix devices), although I suspect that the price would be eye harassing.
This concept is much more practical than most flashy MWC reveals. Unlike tri-fold telephones that cost more than a small car or AI gimmicks that no one has actually asked, a smartphone on solar energy (or at least a case for loading solar energy can really be useful. You could claim that it is a bad habit of a desk on a desk or table. Give juice in my phone.
Infinix does not say when (or if) this becomes a consumer product, but it is clear that they are serious to make it work. And to be honest? I really hope they do that. If future iterations can increase the speeds of 2W, even up to 5 W, I think this technology can be a winner.