Tag Archives: magsafe

Elevate Your Apple Experience with these 5 Charging Accessories for the iPhone, AirPods, and Watch

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We call this time of the year Techtober because of all the new technology that releases around this season. New iPhones, new Apple Watches, new Pixel hardware, and if we’re lucky, some hardware from Meta, Nothing, Microsoft, Amazon, and Samsung. Techtober is great because suddenly you’ve got an entire catalog of new phones, watches, tablets, TWS earbuds, and other tech to choose from… but from one gadget enthusiast to another, it’s just as important to buy great charging accessories to go with your new gear too. Instead of relying on your old charger to juice your new device, here’s a conclusive list of great chargers and charging accessories from the folks at ADAM Elements. Whether it’s 2-in-1 charging docks, MagSafe gadgets, or power bricks running on cutting-edge GaN technology, this list has them all. So if you’re on the market for the latest phone or watch, make sure you’ve got a cutting-edge charging accessory to match your new tech!

Mag 3 Magnetic 3-in-1 Foldable Travel Charging Station

You’ve got compact chargers, and you’ve got the Mag 3 – perhaps the smallest, most utilitarian 3-in-1 MagSafe charger for your iPhone, AirPods, and even your Apple Watch. Designed for portability, the Mag 3 has a foldable design that makes it fit right in your pocket (imagine fitting 3 chargers in your pocket), making it the perfect pick for travel enthusiasts. The entire device is made from metal, giving it a slick, robust overall appearance that supports/docks all your gadgets with ease.

Whether you prefer your iPhone charged vertically or horizontally, the Mag 3 ensures a secure magnetic connection, allowing seamless messaging and video viewing. Plug the Mag 3 into an outlet and it outputs up to 20W across all its charging zones, allowing you to simultaneously charge your iPhone, AirPods, and even your Apple Watch… and don’t worry, features like Foreign Object Detection and Over-current Protection keep your devices safe while they’re juicing up.

Click Here to Buy Now: $87.2 $109 (20% off with coupon code “20YDMAG3”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

Mag 4 GaN 30W 4-in-1 Power Charging Station

For people looking to pack power into a petite product, the Mag 4 packs a GaN semiconductor that allows it to deliver high power outputs in a compact design. Although slightly larger than its predecessor, it does pack much more power with an output of 30W and the ability to charge not 3 but 4 devices concurrently, while being compact enough for your office desktop, nightstand, or living room side table. The GaN charging brick features a flip-open wireless charging top that lets you magnetically mount your iPhone on it (activating Standby Mode in the process) while revealing yet another charging dock for your AirPods right underneath.

The Mag 4 additionally offers two more ports (one USB-C and one USB-A) to plug your devices into, letting you charge other gadgets you may own like an iPad, a Nintendo Switch, or your headphones. The GaN construction manages power efficiently in a compact design, while the Mag 4 itself has a slew of safety features from overheating and surge protection, to an overall fire-resistant design that keeps your gadgets protected. Additionally, a 3-year limited warranty makes it a reliable choice for powering your devices.

Click Here to Buy Now: $59.25 $79 (25% off with coupon code “25YDMAG4”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

OMNIA CX2 Magnetic Charging Car Mount

The coolest car-related Apple thing after CarPlay, the OMNIA CX2 is a nifty MagSafe car charger for your iPhone. Working with iPhones 12 and above, the OMNIA CX2 ensures your iPhone snaps in place effortlessly thanks to the MagSafe ring, initiating up to 15W of fast charging on the go.

The CX2 boasts a compact design crafted from Zinc alloy, and even features a built-in LED light for night-time visibility. Whether horizontal, vertical, or angled, your iPhone stays in place, charging, while you navigate the roads. Additionally, the overheating protection ensures safety for both your device and vehicle, making it a reliable companion on any journey​.

Click Here to Buy Now: $39.2 $49 (20% off with coupon code “20YDOCX2”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

OMNIA M2+ MagSafe 2 +1 Wireless Charging Station

The OMNIA M2+ MagSafe 2 +1 Wireless Charging Station is not just a regular charger, it’s a minimalist powerhouse that charges as many as three devices at the same time. Armed with an incredibly slick design, the OMNIA M2+ occupies a tiny amount of real estate on your tabletop surface, but can simultaneously juice your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. A 15W MagSafe charging hub on the top lets you effectively snap your iPhone either in landscape or portrait and have it charge immediately (iOS 17 will even allow the iPhone to go into Standby mode while it charges).

Right underneath it is also a dedicated charging mat for your AirPods, with a 5W output, and a USB-C port on the side of the M2+ lets you hook an Apple Watch charger to complete your charging setup. The OMNIA M2+ is MFi certified, which means it charges your gadgets at the highest possible wattage for a true fast charging experience, handling them all together in one elegant solution.

Click Here to Buy Now: $79.2 $99 (20% off with coupon code “20YDOM2P”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

OMNIA A1+ Apple Watch Magnetic Wireless Fast Charger

Although paired best with the M2+, the OMNIA A1+ is a highly compact Apple Watch charging puck that’s about the size of an AirTag. Tailored to Apple’s MFW standards, this diminutive yet powerful gadget fast charges your Apple Watch Ultra and S7/S8/S9 Series. Plug it into a powered USB-C port, and the strong magnet ensures your watch is securely in place for an optimal charge. Its compact design makes it a great accessory to have with you on the go, along with a PU strap that lets you attach the A1+ to a keychain for easier convenience.

Click Here to Buy Now: $35.1 $39 (10% off with coupon code “10YDOA1P”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

The post Elevate Your Apple Experience with these 5 Charging Accessories for the iPhone, AirPods, and Watch first appeared on Yanko Design.

Twelve South unveils 3-in-1 MagSafe Charger that also supports the iPhone’s StandBy Mode

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Although the most interesting iPhone feature to be announced at WWDC, it seems like the StandBy Mode‘s thunder was entirely stolen by the Vision Pro headset announcement. The StandBy Mode is Apple’s clever way of making the iPhone screen useful even when you’re not using it. Dock the iPhone horizontally on a MagSafe charger and the StandBy Mode screen kicks in, turning into a clock, calendar, or widget of your choice. The screen uses Apple’s always-on display technology, and since it needs to be plugged in to be active, it doesn’t affect your iPhone battery. The StandBy Mode was announced in June, but it gets its first proper third-party product in the form of Twelve South’s HiRise 3 Deluxe – a 3-in-1 charging stand that charges your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch simultaneously without occupying a lot of space on your nightstand.

Designer: Twelve South

The HiRise 3 Deluxe is MagSafe certified, capable of charging your iPhone at up to 15W. It offers a unique advantage with its adjustable MagSafe pad, allowing a 35-degree angle shift for optimal viewing. Unlike traditional side-by-side layouts, this charger adopts a front-to-back arrangement, saving crucial desk real estate for those cramped nightstands or cluttered work areas. Twelve South prides itself on a footprint smaller than an iPhone 14 Pro Max laid flat. Additionally, the Apple Watch charging spot can be angle-adjusted too, allowing you to charge the Watch laid down flat, or even sitting upright if your band doesn’t open like traditional straps.

Although almost any MagSafe charging stand would activate the iPhone’s StandBy Mode, Twelve South was quick to capitalize on the HiRise 3 Deluxe’s ability by pretty much showing it in action. Dock the iPhone in place and its StandBy Mode activates automatically. You can swipe through screens to choose different clock/calendar styles or even select your own cards/widgets to show up when you’re charging your phone. Conversely, if you just want to charge your phone without the ‘theatrics’, dock it in portrait mode and it charges normally.

Aside from its clever, compact design, the HiRise 3 Deluxe is also MFi-certified, which allows it to charge your devices at the highest speeds permissible. In that vein, the dock supplies your phone with 15W, while giving your AirPods 7.5W of power to juice them faster than most conventional wireless chargers. The convenience ultimately lies in the fact that one single dock takes care of all your devices using a single cable and a single power socket, saving space pretty much everywhere. I’d throw in an AirPower Mat joke here but given how classy and functional the HiRise 3 Deluxe is, I wouldn’t want to kick a trillion-dollar company when it’s down.

Available on both Twelve South’s as well as on Apple’s own website, the HiRise 3 Deluxe starts at $149.95 and only comes in black.

The post Twelve South unveils 3-in-1 MagSafe Charger that also supports the iPhone’s StandBy Mode first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 5 iPhone 15 Accessories to Quench Your Wonderlust

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The new iPhone 15 isn’t just a simple upgrade from last year’s model. Sure, there are typical improvements as far as hardware specs go, but features like the improved camera system, USB-C port, and programmable action button present a whole new experience as well. Of course, that’s also a prime opportunity for designers and manufacturers to enhance that experience with their own products, offering options and features that Apple itself doesn’t. This year, we’ve collected a few of these novel and interesting designs that take your iPhone and Apple products to the next level. Here are five such products, designed to satisfy your cravings for new experiences and new memories created from your Wonderlust.

1. PITAKA StarPeak MagEZ Case 4

Apple used the portmanteau of “wonder” and “wanderlust” to frame the launch of the iPhone 15 series as the perfect partner for life’s journeys. And, when it comes to that metaphor, no other objects inspire the imagery of travel than the stars that helped the earliest navigators and the mountains that represent the highest goal of one’s endeavors. PITAKA captured these images and preserved them for posterity on its latest StarPeak MagEZ Case 4 for the new iPhone 15 series, creating a memorable visual and tactile experience that calls to mind beautiful memories of gazing at the Milky Way Galaxy at night or pondering what lies Over The Horizon.

Designer: PITAKA

Click Here to Buy Now: $69.99

PITAKA’s goal has always been to create a fusion of technology and art, and nowhere is that better seen than in the PITAKA StarPeak MagEZ Case 4. Made from the brand’s unique Fusion Weaving technology, the case creates patterns of alternating colors that are reminiscent of beautiful pixel art. Both of the two designs available speak to the human desire for travel and growth. “Milky Way Galaxy” paints the case with a hazy band of stars that have long been the inspiration for myths and stories, representing aspirations and growth. “Over the Horizon” brings mountain ranges that draw your mind to what lies beyond, sparking wonder and a sense of adventure.

PITAKA’s use of woven aramid fibers gives the StarPeak MagEZ cases a unique visual flair, but its benefits go beyond just appearances. Stronger and lighter than steel, the cases offer premium protection without unnecessarily bulking up the phone’s slim silhouette. At only 0.95mm thin, it’s as if you’re holding a naked iPhone, but with one crucial difference. The unique granular texture of the woven aramid fibers creates a 3D grip that brings confidence and comfort to your hold.

The StarPeak MagEZ Case 4 offers a new experience that goes beyond aesthetics and nature. Built-in NFC chips add a touch interaction, allowing owners to verify the authenticity of the product or access matching themes, music, games, and services provided by PITAKA. It is MagSafe compatible as well, which enhances the value of the case when used with other accessories, from chargers to stands. An asymmetrical raised camera lip provides not only protection for the iPhone 15’s biggest upgrade, it also makes the case look more elegant and fashionable.

Last but definitely not least, the PITAKA StarPeak MagEZ Case 4 delivers a strong sustainability message in support of the planet we’re all traveling on. Its package is made from environment-friendly, biodegradable bagasse material, and the camera lip will be made from recycled aramid fiber. Built to last and designed to remind us of our Earthly home, the PITAKA StarPeak MagEZ Case 4 brings beauty and protection as you take your iPhone 15 on your adventures, big or small.

Click Here to Buy Now: $69.99

2. CASETiFY iPhone 15 Ultra Bounce Case

You are definitely going to want to protect your shiny new iPhone 15, especially considering how not-so-expensive it is. At the same time, however, you probably don’t want to make your new partner look like a tank heading into a warzone. It’s a bit difficult to find a solution that satisfies both requirements in the best way possible, but CASETiFY managed to pull a rabbit out of its hat. With the new CASETiFY Ultra Bounce cases, you get the protection you can rely on that still lets your iPhone or your choice of design shine through.

Designer: CASETiFY

Click Here to Buy Now: $99

The secret to this new case is the combination of a 6-layer Rugged Protection System and specially designed corners with air pockets that provide structural support for the phone when accidents do happen. The clear material of its back lets your iPhone show off its true colors, but you also have the option to customize the design to really make the case yours. Even better, the CASETiFY Ultra Bounce is made of recycled plastics gathered from discarded cases, creating a more sustainable ecosystem that benefits everyone, including the planet.

3. MagSafe Origami Grip Stand

With the iPhone 15’s gorgeous display and more powerful cameras, you’ll probably want to use it more often to watch your favorite flicks and record precious moments. There are plenty of accessories that can prop up an iPhone on a table or help you hold it up securely and steadily, but few are able to do both. The ones that do serve both purposes, often end up adding unappealing bulk to your slim iPhone. Thankfully, there’s an elegant solution that takes inspiration from the centuries-old Japanese art of folding paper.

Designer: Marcy Arimoto

Click Here to Buy Now: MagSafe Origami Grip Stand ($45)

You won’t be making paper cranes, but you and your friends might be enchanted by how this MagSafe grip stand can fold into the support that your iPhone 15 needs and then fold flat after its task is done. A strong magnet lets it stick to your phone almost like glue and lets you stick your phone on any metal surface, be it a car door, a metal pole, or a fridge. Every part and fold of this stylish accessory serves a purpose, including the hole that lets you slip in a finger to have a better grip on your phone. Taking selfies and watching videos has never been easier!

4. AirPods/AirPods Pro Neck Strap

Losing a single AirPod or forgetting to even check if they’re inside their case has become sort of a running gag, but the stress and expense these situations cause is no laughing matter. Going back to wired EarPods is quite impossible and impractical at this point, so we need a better solution that combines the best of both worlds. That’s where these fashionable woven neck straps come in, providing a rather ingenious solution that keeps your AirPods safe in a visually interesting way.

Designer: M.CRAFTSMAN Design Studio

Click Here to Buy Now: AirPods/AirPods Pro Neck Strap ($39)

The gist of the AirPods Neck Strap’s solution is to have the buds magnetically attach to the ends of one of these colorful woven cords, allowing you to hang the buds around your neck without tying you down to actual wired earphones. When they’re not in your ears, the buds can magnetically clasp together to close the loop, preventing them from snagging or falling off. Now you’ll never have to lose those AirPods again and also get a beautiful necklace in the process!

5. AirTag Carabiner

Sometimes, what you want to protect isn’t just your iPhone or its accessories. You most likely have important bags and items like keys that you should never ever lose. Unfortunately, mishaps do happen, and Apple’s small AirTags were designed exactly for that problem. These trackers’ slim and petite forms make them easy to use but only to a certain extent. When it comes to attaching them to other things, however, they almost become a liability, which is why this durable, all-weather carabiner was created, ensuring the safety of your possessions as well as the AirTag itself under all circumstances.

Designer: Saegusa Design

Click Here to Buy Now: AirTag Carabiner ($119)

This all-metal carabiner provides both function and aesthetics when it comes to holding your AirTag. Unlike alternatives made from leather or silicone, this AirTag Carabiner is made to stand the test of time and weather the elements, while also securely holding onto your keys, bags, bikes, and any other object you need to keep track of. The metallic surfaces and colors also give the product a more memorable personality that fits the lifestyle of an adventurer always on the lookout for new experiences, with their iPhone 15 and AirPods in tow.

The post Top 5 iPhone 15 Accessories to Quench Your Wonderlust first appeared on Yanko Design.

This MagSafe Wallet + Power Bank + Tracking Device might just be the Ultimate iPhone Accessory ever

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The people who say Less Is More clearly didn’t come across the Stympro. A 4-in-1 accessory for your iPhone, this bad-boy is a MagSafe Power Bank, a Wallet, a Phone Stand, and a ‘Find My’ compatible Tracking Device all bundled into one. Quite literally the perfect accessory for your iPhone, the Stympro charges your device, stores your cards, and lets you track your belongings if they ever get stolen. It measures 10mm thick (0.3 inches), weighs 100 grams (3.5 ounces), and also props up your phone if you want to FaceTime hands-free. Pretty neat, eh?

Designer: Stympro Tech

Click Here to Buy Now: $79 $119 (34% Off) Hurry! Only 6 days left!

Call me a bit of a pessimist, but I wouldn’t expect Apple to make a gadget like the Stympro. Why? Because it just doesn’t make any business sense. Why sell them a 4-in-1 product when you could sell them 4 individual products, right?! The Stympro does the job of a wallet, a charger, a stand, and an AirTag, all of which together would end up costing you well over $200. The Stympro, on the other hand, is a nifty $79 gadget that packs everything into one convenient design. With a PU leather exterior (it isn’t FineWoven, but that’s alright), the Stympro snaps to the back of your iPhone using the MagSafe protocol. It sports a slot that holds 3 payment cards (just like Apple’s MagSafe wallet), charges your phone thanks to its built-in 2000mAh battery (just like Apple’s now discontinued MagSafe Battery pack), and also has its own Find My feature that lets you track the wallet if it ever goes missing. If that wasn’t enough, the wallet also doubles as a kickstand thanks to a built-in hinge, turning into an easel of sorts to prop your phone up in both landscape as well as portrait modes.

The Stympro’s stand feature works in landscape and in portrait.

The Stympro comes with a polycarbonate body that has a PU leather clad over it. N52 magnets on the inside allow the Stympro to attach securely to your iPhone, and a microfiber inner lining ensures the accessory doesn’t leave scratches on your phone’s glass back. A 2000mAh inner battery begins charging your phone the second it snaps on, relying on MagSafe for alignment and Qi-charging protocols to deliver 7.5W of wireless power to your device. To charge the Stympro’s inner battery, a USB-C port built into the bottom lets you merely plug it into your phone charger.

Stympro holds anywhere between 1-3 cards

Although designed to attach to your phone, the Stympro’s makers also envisioned a scenario where the 4-in-1 wallet isn’t affixed to the back of your smartphone. In the eventuality that your iPhone and Stympro get separated, a built-in tracker lets you determine the location of your wallet on the iPhone’s Find My app in real-time. A tweeter within the wallet also lets you remotely ‘ring’ your Stympro, allowing you to hear it if it’s in a messy or crowded space and is difficult to spot.

It’s easy to just dub the Stympro as a ‘multifunctional’ wallet, but what it does is just common sense, if you look at it from a consumer lens. It just doesn’t make sense for the four different products (power bank, wallet, stand, tracking device) to exist as independent objects. In fact, isn’t that the very ethos behind the iPhone? When Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone, he dubbed it as an “iPod with touch controls, a phone, and a breakthrough internet communications device.” Through constant repetition of this very phrase, Jobs hinted at the fact that what he was talking about wasn’t three separate products – it was one single device, capable of doing multiple things. In all those ways, the Stympro is just that, a cleverly built accessory that handles multiple crucial roles while being the best damn companion your iPhone could ask for.

The Stympro comes in Midnight Black and Orange variants, starting at a discounted price of $79 with global shipping beginning in November of this year.

Click Here to Buy Now: $79 $119 (34% Off) Hurry! Only 6 days left!

Click Here to Buy Now: $79 $119 (34% Off) Hurry! Only 6 days left!

The post This MagSafe Wallet + Power Bank + Tracking Device might just be the Ultimate iPhone Accessory ever first appeared on Yanko Design.

This origami-inspired Apple MagSafe grip stand folds out of your way when you don’t need it

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Today’s smartphones come with large screens to give space for more content, stylish designs that make them stand out, and price tags that can sometimes make you want to cry. All of these translate to devices that can accidentally fall or slip from our hands, crashing on the floor, and sending us into a panic. In response to protective cases that add bulk and remove elegance from phones, accessories like grips and rings have come up to help avoid accidents while minimizing their negative visual impact. Unfortunately, these solutions ironically make the situation worse because of their awkward design. What we need is an accessory that gives plenty of confidence when holding a phone, has enough features to make it worth its price, and still leaves your phone looking posh all the time. Fortunately, there is a product that is able to meet all three, thanks to the Japanese art of paper folding.

Designer: Marcy Arimoto

Click Here to Buy Now: $40 $45 (10% off at checkout). Hurry, Apple Event sales end in 24 hours!

Creating a three-dimensional object from a flat sheet of paper has enchanted people around the world for centuries. Taking inspiration from this ancient art, designs across many industries try to do the reverse, creating a structure that is able to fold flat and vice versa without the hassle of disassembly and reassembly. It’s a technique that saves space and reduces unnecessary parts, and it’s put to good use in the beak mag grip stand for iPhones.

Stand

At first glance, this accessory looks nothing more than a thin, card-sized block that sticks to the back of the phone. And exactly because of how thin it is, you can easily slip your phone into your pocket without worrying about the beak mag snagging on anything or making an awkward protrusion. It won’t separate from your phone either, no matter how much you jump or how much it juggles inside.

Attach

The strong MagSafe connection can handle a load of 500g, and it’s even strong enough to actually keep the phone up when you stick it to a refrigerator, a magnetic mount, or even a car door.

Grip

Of course, the real value of this grip stand is revealed when you lift up its top and pinch its two sides together. It might look like a simple stand, but that hole in the middle becomes a gateway for your finger, allowing you to hold the phone securely with comfort and confidence. And since it’s using magnets instead of adhesives, you can easily set it up for vertical or horizontal positions. And when you’re ready to get going again, simply fold the grip down again to have it virtually disappear.

beak mag isn’t just functional, though. It is also durable and, more importantly, aesthetic. The water-resistant cover dries up quickly so you won’t be left with a gross feeling if and when accidents occur. The material is also a pleasure to touch, and the grip stand’s sharp looks fit the iPhone’s own premium appearance perfectly. With this origami-inspired MagSafe-compatible grip stand, you can forget about those awkward and unflattering rings and stands, and hold your iPhone with confidence, both for its safety as well as its style.

Click Here to Buy Now: $40 $45 (10% off at checkout). Hurry, Apple Event sales end in 24 hours!

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Belkin introduces Qi2 compatible wireless charging accessories for iPhone 15 at IFA 2023

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At CES 2023 we saw the  Wireless Power Consortium’s (WPC) Qi2 wireless charging standard announcement and wondered when were we going to see gadgets with this technology. Now, just in time for the iPhone 15 announcement in under two weeks’ time, Belkin has revealed a couple of new accessories at the IFA 2023 technology show that’ll employ the emerging standard. More probably than not, Apple’s next smartphone will come loaded with the new wireless standard.

The accessories maker known for its proactive development of Apple-certified products has introduced these next-generation wireless chargers for the Apple ecosystem as well as supported Android devices. With Qi2 destined to become the global standard in wire-free charging, Belkin has the upper hand already.

Designer: Belkin

Both of these accessories get a very unusually long name – one being the BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Pad to Stand and the other dubbed BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2. Belkin has confirmed that both these accessories will juice up MagSafe-equipped iPhone with Qi2 standard at 15W.

The BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Pad to Stand is for people who prefer the goodness of a wireless charging pad but with the ability to flip upwards so that the phone screen stays well in view for watching content. The accessory comes with a non-slip material to keep the device in place and the dual thermal protection system prevents any chance of overheating that can damage the battery in the long run. The pad is slated to arrive in September for a price tag of $40.

Then there is the BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2 for gadget freaks who frequently charge their array of devices in tandem. Two of the pads on this accessory are Qi2 and MagSafe compatible while the third is a standard USB-C Apple Watch charger on the side. Both of them will charge compatible devices at 15W speeds while the third one is limited to 5W speed. The pad will go on sale later this year for price of $130, and the Apple Watch attachment costs extra.

Other than this, Belkin has also revealed the BoostCharge Pro Universal Easy Align Wireless Charging Pad that is Qi-compatible and charges gadgets at 15W speed. This one also gets the non-slip grip material and two thermal protection systems to prevent overheating.

The post Belkin introduces Qi2 compatible wireless charging accessories for iPhone 15 at IFA 2023 first appeared on Yanko Design.

This distinctive, asymmetrical monitor will hold up your phone while charging it

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Our reliance on smartphones these days means that we have another screen to pay attention to even when we’re already focused on the computer monitor in front of us. Productivity gurus naturally discourage anything that would distract us from the work at hand, but they don’t always consider cases where the smartphone is actually an integral part of that work. Rather than fighting the flow, some designs have instead embraced this kind of multi-screen setup, creating a special nook on our desks for smartphones. This rather lopsided monitor is one such example, keeping your mobile companion charged while also holding it up, putting it at a more comfortable eye level to stop you from bending and craning your neck so often.

Designer: Nex Computers

It’s not uncommon to keep our phones on our desks, presuming office policies don’t bar you from having them out in the open. Disregarding real distractions from social media and incessant but unnecessary notifications, some people do need to keep tabs on their mobile devices for some information or communication, without having those apps clutter their work screen. At the same time, however, most of these people probably don’t want to leave work with a nearly empty battery because they forgot to top up the work while using it at work.

The NexMonitor addresses both use cases in a way that’s both more ergonomic and also a little more stylish. Rather than just a simple stand that props up the phone off the side of your workspace, the monitor actually holds up the smartphone at the same height as the screen itself. That saves you from having to look down and away from your monitor, minimizing the time it takes to glance at the phone. At the same time, it helps reduce potential neck strain and injury from repeatedly switching between a monitor at eye level and a phone closer to the desk’s surface.

The monitor holds the phone up almost by magic, but of course, it’s all about magnets. That clearly marks it for MagSafe-compatible phones, which are primarily recent iPhones, though the company also says that Android phones are welcome to the party. Presuming they support magnetic wireless charging. And yes, the NexMonitor also charges the phone while it’s up there, so it’s pretty much a vertical magnetic wireless charging pad attached to the side of a monitor.

The NexMonitor’s design is quite intriguing in how it doesn’t go for visual balance, though it is definitely stable in its construction. The “stem” of the monitor is off to the right side, nearer to the phone than in the middle. Even the stand itself isn’t centered, which could potentially stress out some people because of its asymmetrical composition. That stand is designed to match the size and the color of Apple’s Mac Mini and the new Mac Studio, but any other mini PC can also find a home there, even if it clashes with the brushed metal look. The NexMonitor was announced back in 2022 but has yet to become available for purchase, which unfortunately leaves plenty of opportunities for other monitor makers to put out something similar, presuming there’s actually a good market for such an ergonomic yet unusual design.

The post This distinctive, asymmetrical monitor will hold up your phone while charging it first appeared on Yanko Design.

How this smartphone gimbal concept wants to take vlogs to the next level and in style

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As smartphone cameras get more powerful, the content coming from almost anyone and everyone these days has also increased drastically. Short-form videos, popularized by platforms like TikTok, are all the rage, especially because of their low barriers to entry in both technical requirements and quality. That’s just at the beginning, though, because as more people start doing these short vlogs, their profitability will also increase, and so will expectations of quality. Even now, we are already seeing influencer hopefuls trying to get their game on by attaching their phones to awkward and unsightly sticks. This design concept tries to make a break from those typical phone gimbals and presents an accessory that not only meets the needs of these content creators but also matches their aesthetic tastes and lifestyles.

Designer: Woojin Jang

Gimbals are a staple in photography and cinematography, using a combination of sensors and motors to counteract the effects of movement and jitter, producing clean photos and smooth videos. While the more powerful smartphone cameras today boast of some form of stabilization or another, nothing beats the combination of that stabilizer and a dedicated gimbal. Unfortunately, the handheld gimbals that exist for smartphones today are pretty much like fat sticks of metal or plastic. They’re definitely functional, but they’re also unpleasant to look at, making vloggers and mobile photographers really stand out, and not in a good way.

(Sphere) is an attempt to design a phone accessory that is both functional and fashionable. Instead of a stick that dwarfs the phone that it is supposed to support, it comes as a spherical attachment that magnetically sticks to the back of a phone, staying mostly out of sight. The sphere’s semi-transparent shell gives it a bit of a futuristic flair while also exposing some of its mechanisms to spark some interest. It uses Apple MagSafe technology to accomplish that, though it’s not hard to imagine a future where phones other than the iPhone would have a similar magnetic personality as well.

The gimbal concept is significantly smaller than anything in the market, so it has to make some compromises to maintain its compact form. For example, it doesn’t have its own sensors but instead relies on the iPhone’s gyroscope to get the data necessary to stabilize the phone. It does have a brushless DC (BLDC) motor, though, which is responsible for moving the phone in the opposite direction of the motion to create that stabilizing effect. Thanks to MagSafe and NFC technologies, the (Sphere) doesn’t need to have big and heavy hardware to work, making it simpler and more comfortable to use.

Granted, it might not exactly have the most ergonomic grip, since your hand will be holding a ball directed toward your face. At the same time, not everyone might find that spherical shape to their tastes, though it’s certainly an improvement over thick sticks. At the very least, (Sphere) tries to challenge current handheld gimbal conventions, offering a different way to design a product that caters not just to technical needs but also to the aesthetic tastes of its target audience.

The post How this smartphone gimbal concept wants to take vlogs to the next level and in style first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 Apple MagSafe accessories to elevate and upgrade your mundane iPhone

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The reinvention and return of MagSafe were an instant hit! There is a great sense of satisfaction, in my opinion, to have things just stick to your phone. Be it a pair of earphones (maybe that’ll be the next generation of AirPods) or have your phone just conveniently stick to a charging pad – it’s almost like magic. The reintroduction of the MagSafe led to a whole new world of accessories being unleashed. Designers and creatives were racing to create a whole range of products for the repurposed MagSafe. And we’ve been loving every bit of it! From an ingenious new iPhone MagSafe case design to a Gameboy-inspired MagSafe power bank – there’s a MagSafe accessory out there for your every need. And, we’ve curated many products that we truly believe are worth buying and investing in. This army of accessories will truly amp up your Apple experience!

1. The UPRO Ostand

Winner of the iF Design Award, the UPRO Ostand case gives your iPhone’s MagSafe feature a bunch of super cool upgrades. This includes the ability to make your phone stand, hang, or stay securely in your hands when you click a selfie or scroll through Instagram. Although the UPRO Ostand looks like your everyday average iPhone case, the familiar magnetic ring on the back gives it that innovative upgrade!

2. The G4 Charger

The G4 charger is a super cool throwback accessory that brings to mind the Elago charger that turned the Apple Watch into the Macintosh. The charger comes in the form of a sleek and compact small device that draws attention to the iPhone that is sitting on it. It features a dual joint system on the back of the charger that lets you angle and position your phone however you, please, as well as a nifty light within its domed front that lights up when your phone begins charging.

3. The Ringo Bottle

The Ringo Bottle combines the practicality of a water bottle with the convenience and functionality of a MagSafe-compatible iPhone stand. You can use the Ringo Bottle to quench your thirst while transforming your smartphone into a tripod on-the-fly. You can stay hydrated and take shape videos, FaceTime, and shoot IG Reels like a pro with the Ringo Bottle.

4. Ice Speed Freezemat Magsafe Wireless Charger

Called “Ice Speed Freezemat Magsafe Wireless Charger” this proposed Apple accessory uses a very interesting method to dissipate heat, keeping the innards at optimum temperature while gaming or during fast charging rituals. Built out of aviation-grade cooling material, Ice Speed Freezemat has an interesting cooling mechanism inspired by the way the human body sweats to dissipate heat.

5. 6-in-1 MagSafe Charger

This is the world’s first Apple-Certified 6-in-1 MagSafe Charger from ESR that is equipped with a GaN semiconductor, and it doesn’t just charge your small Apple devices, but it also delivers up to 100W of power to your MacBook, providing an all-in-one solution for all your modern day charging requirements. It has three dedicated slots for your iPhone, AirPods, and Watch, as well as three output ports for charging your laptop, tablet, and power bank.

6. Side Note

Called Side Note, this compact leather-bound notebook features an integrated pen and a MagSafe-compatible design that allows it to snap onto your iPhone or onto any magnetic surface. With the Side Note, you always have an analog notepad by your side for quickly noting down ideas, journaling, sketching, or quickly noting down information.

7. The Native Union Profile Fox Cases

These covers from Native Union and Maison Kitsuné have been made from premium Italian leather, and are perfect for your iPhone 14. They are designed with drop protection, lips around your screen and camera bump, and a set of magnets to reinforce the attachment of its own companion MagSafe wallet which stores two cards.

8. The Zens 4-in-1 Modular Wireless Charger

Designed to provide you with an organized desk, the Zens 4-in-1 Modular Wireless Charger enables you to charge all your precious Apple Devices in one go, and in the exact same locations. It helps you maintain a neat and tidy desk or nightstand.

9. STRICKERS

The STRICKERS concept uses an ultra-thin power bank that magnetically attaches to the back of a phone, most likely an iPhone. Current technologies do allow such a small pack to have a 10,000mAh battery capacity so that it won’t add too much bulk to your phone’s back. It features a sheet of bendable silicone material that turns the power bank into a smartphone stand.

10. The MAG.L MagSafe Powerbank

MAG.L MagSafe Powerbank 10000mAh Product Designer

Designed by Neo Bie and Leigui Lui for Stylepie, the MAG.L MagSafe Powerbank with its 10000mAh capacity aims to improve the wireless charging and power bank experience for anyone. It features the usual four operation buttons: SELECT, START, A, B, and a d-pad (directional pad). The lower part of the yellow power bank has a cover that slides to work as the stand of the power bank.

The post Top 10 Apple MagSafe accessories to elevate and upgrade your mundane iPhone first appeared on Yanko Design.

Here’s Why Your Next Power Bank Should Be Made From Graphene Instead of Regular Lithium

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Imagine having a power bank that charges your MacBook by 50% in just half an hour, or a power bank that can fast-charge 3 laptops, a phone, earphones, and a smartwatch all at the same time, or a power bank that looks slim, but has enough battery power to juice your AirPods 51 times from start to finish. Regular lithium-ion cells can’t pull that off – but graphene can. Built with cutting-edge Lithium Polymer Graphene Composite Cells, the BOLD 2 is pretty much officially the world’s fastest power bank for its size. Boasting a whopping 27,000mAh battery that can output 290W of peak power, the BOLD 2 has a capacity and power rating that outshines any power bank its size. It looks and feels like your average power bank but can simultaneously charge 6 devices at the same time, both wired as well as wirelessly. Take it from us – regular lithium-ion batteries are history…

Designer: Carolina Gutierrez

Click Here to Buy Now: $159 $289 (44% off). Hurry, less than 48 hours left! Raised over $120,000.

The BOLD 2 comes from the folks at UZE, a Miami-based startup looking to reinvent how we charge our gadgets. The company unveiled the first edition of the BOLD back in 2021, with the same Graphene technology and a stunning 260W output. The BOLD 2 pushes those odds by offering a higher power output in the same, classic, crowd-favorite design. Measuring a mere 7.5 inches long, 3.4 inches wide, and 1.18 inches thick, the BOLD 2 looks just like your regular power bank, making it easy to carry along and use wherever you go. It occupies minimal amounts of space in your backpack as well as on your desk, but will charge practically every device around it.

The side of the power bank sports four USB-C ports, two 30W ports for regular devices like your phones and AirPods, one massive 140W port for laptops one with a 100W in-out that charges laptops but also lets you charge the BOLD 2 itself, supporting even pass-through charging. Look to the top and the BOLD 2 has two familiar patterns marking the power bank’s wireless charging spots – one with an indent and a 5W output for your Apple Watch, and another with built-in MagSafe and a Qi-compatible 15W output for your smartphone. Right beside it is also an OLED surface that delivers real-time intel on energy levels and charging status.

The BOLD 2 makes some literal bold claims with how game-changingly powerful it is. With its ability to deliver up to 140W from a single USB-C port, the BOLD 2 claims being the only power bank that’s able to charge your MacBook by 50% in just half an hour – that’s about the same speed as plugging your MacBook charger into a power outlet. Moreover, the built-in 100Wh / 27,000mAh battery lets you completely charge your MacBook twice, your iPhone 8 times, or your AirPods 51 times… all in under 75 minutes.

All that power is all thanks to the BOLD 2’s Lithium Polymer Graphene Composite Cells. Unlike regular Lithium-ion cells, they’re much more efficient, hold more energy, deliver higher power outputs, and last 4x longer than regular Li-ion batteries, allowing your BOLD 2 to consistently charge your devices for more than 5 years with a negligible drop in performance. A cutting-edge temperature defense system also adds a layer of protection, preventing overheating, overcharging, overcurrent, short-circuiting, and surging, while built-in power management features also help the BOLD 2 deliver the right amount of power to each device to charge them all rapidly and efficiently.

This isn’t UZE’s first rodeo with power banks. The original 2021 BOLD device saw over 5,000 users benefitting from its powerful capabilities, and UZE is betting on a future where all power banks will rely on graphene instead of regular lithium-ion. The BOLD 2 is perfect for all sorts of applications, given its ability to charge a wide range of devices. It’s perfect for photographers and videographers looking to power their laptops along with their drones, cameras, and other gear, or even for the nomad who wants to be able to work out of anywhere without worrying about needing to carry 10 different chargers. If you’re hard-pressed for a power outlet, the BOLD 2 acts as a wonderful charging hub, letting you use one single power socket to charge the BOLD 2 itself along with all your other devices.

The BOLD 2 comes made from anodized aluminum along with a polycarbonate charging surface – making it durable, lightweight, and naturally fireproof. At 1.54 lbs (698 grams), it’s perfect for carrying around with you wherever you go, and is rated safe for carrying on flights too. The BOLD 2 starts at just $159 and ships with a 1-year warranty. Besides, you can even grab one of UZE’s GaN chargers to fast-charge your power bank while it fast-charges your other devices!

Click Here to Buy Now: $159 $289 (44% off). Hurry, less than 48 hours left! Raised over $120,000.

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