Tag Archives: wireless charger

Layer Design’s state-of-the-art charging station conveniently powers various devices without compromising aesthetics

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I like the idea of portable convenience over organized accessibility. For reasons of your own, if you think you’d better have a device delivering an organized desk than a device for the backpack, Vitra Ampi charging station is a state-of-the-art offering for you.

The compact charging station is designed to relieve you of messy, tangling cables yet provide you with enough ports for charging convenience. The device is boxy and may not be the best to carry around in the backpack, but then, it’s primarily fashioned for the working-from-home generation, for which the device checks all the boxes. Complementing the finesse of your home office desk, the Vitra Ampi is designed in collaboration with Vitra and LAYER. Ampi derives its name from ‘amps’ – a unit that denotes the amount of electricity used by a device.

Designer:  Layer Design

The desk accessory has a wireless charging tray on the top. It has a fabric tab protruding out of the side, like a tongue, pulling which a small drawer is revealed, which houses the USB-C and USB-A charging ports and two mains outlets within. The first collaborative product from Vitra and LAYER, the Ampi has been ready for the market after two years of dedicated development. For offering multiple options to charge various devices from one device, the Vitra Ampi is described as the ‘first charging station of its type in the world.’

The discretely designed Ampi features a body made from recyclable plastic. The softly tactile pull tab attached to the middle of the magnetic drawer is made from Kvadrat. For the benefit of the working population that has multiple devices connected at one go on the work desk; Ampi is a viable charging solution. It has the means to juice up to six gadgets, such as tablets, phones, headphones, and cameras, without tangling cables. Ampi is currently available in the UK, EU and the US in Basic Dark and Soft Grey colors for £185 ($199). We learn that it would be provided in five new colors within the next few months.

 

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This tent-inspired wireless charging dock adds a touch of liveliness to your tabletop

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Working as a charger, multiport hub, and even a wire-organizer, ‘HUT on the reeds’ by Yeeun Son is a quirkily designed piece of tech that explores the intersection between tech and decor… or ‘techor’.

It styles itself as a hut, or rather a simplified version of a hut (let’s just call it a tent) that rests on a ‘grassy patch of land’. The hut’s hollow design houses a wireless charging coil, multiple USB ports, and enough empty space to hide/conceal those ugly charging cables that would otherwise be strewn across your desk. The HUT’s base comes with a ridged surface that lets you prop phones up, and even do things like rest pencils and pens!

Designer: Yeeun Son

The HUT comes in two sizes, a smaller size that works well with phones, and a larger size that also lets you dock tablets, should you choose. While most tablets don’t support wireless charging, the same large-size HUT can be used to charge phones simultaneously too!

The smaller and larger HUTs are built differently. The smaller variant sports multiple USB-A and USB-C ports, while the larger one acts as a multiplug. The smaller one is perfect for bedside tables, etc. while the larger one works well with laptops and desktops which come with their heavy-duty chargers and peripherals.

A nifty cutout lets you draw multiple wires/cables from the HUT without them cluttering the place.

The silicone mat provides the perfect grip for tech and stationery.

The wireless charging coil on the inside of the HUT is placed at an elevation, allowing it to charge phones while standing, but making it challenging for charging your AirPods.

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This Bluetooth speaker and wireless charger is like a piece of sculptural art

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Wireless speakers have been on the rise in the past few years, especially with the mass exodus of headphone jacks from smartphones. Because of that, manufacturers have started playing with different designs, going from traditional boxes to cylinders to all sorts of shapes and forms. In many cases, like smart home speakers, these audio devices have taken on more artistic forms, functioning both as tech equipment as well as room decor. Some even hide in plain sight as picture frames or sculptures. This wireless speaker concept is cut from the same cloth, providing a beautiful art piece that is both a Bluetooth speaker you can carry around as well as a wireless charging pad for your devices.

Designer: Jong Han Lee

Most portable speakers come in rectangular or cylindrical forms. These, after all, are the easiest to produce and the most convenient to put in any location. Ever since their popularity exploded, however, designers have started to go beyond the norm and explore different styles and aesthetics. Some are inspired by nature, while others try to pay homage to art movements of the past. All of these with the goal of creating a product that isn’t just functional but also pleasing to look at in any space.

DROPS, as its name would imply, is inspired by the gentle ripples created when something small falls on a larger body of water, represented by the concentric circles in the center of the base. Just like how the water eventually settles down and returns to its calm state, the rest of the base outside the ripples is flat and smooth. Coincidentally, this part of the base also functions as a wireless charger, so you can easily put your phone or earbuds down on it while playing some music.

The actual speaker itself is actually the tetrahedron that stands upside down on its top, representing an object falling into a pond. Like many wireless speakers these days, it uses some fabric material to cover its surfaces. The only parts that remain uncovered are the playback buttons on top, and the curved tip below that acts as the wireless charging contact point for the base. This would also be where strong magnets are located that keep the speaker from toppling over.

Yes, the speaker can actually be removed from the base if that wasn’t yet evident. This allows DROPS to be used anywhere at any time, though charging outdoors could prove to be difficult when the battery runs out. The loop on top is specifically designed to be easily hooked onto a carabiner or strap. It’s no larger than most portable speakers, though its actual audio output can’t really be guaranteed. Then again, there are speakers of this size that can produce decent quality sound, so that might not be that big of a problem.

The DROPS speaker and wireless charger concept isn’t exactly mind-blowing or game-changing in terms of innovation, but its distinctive design will definitely make it an eye-catching piece in any room. The use of a flat circular bed to both represent water and serve as a wireless charger is definitely genius. Its very design and reference to water produce an almost calming effect, making it an excellent centerpiece when listening to some soothing and relaxing tunes.

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This portable wireless charger is a handsome example of form and function in harmony

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Portable chargers or power banks are a dime a dozen these days, including the new breed that sports wireless charging capabilities. They might come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing that most have in common is that they look no better than plastic bricks inside your bag. Some even weigh like bricks, too. Granted, some people couldn’t care less about how their portable batteries look, but that is a frame of thinking that takes for granted the importance of a well-designed and well-made product. It also presumes that you can’t have both functionality and aesthetics in the same thing, which couldn’t be farther from the truth. That is what makes the NOA Daytripper stand out, not just for its dashing good looks but also for being a witness in the marriage of beauty and technology.

Designers: Martin Boehnel, Arvin Bayat & Christel Hadiwibawa of NOA

Click Here to Buy Now: $86 $128 (30% off). Hurry, less than 72 hours left!

A lot of people don’t give a second thought to the tools that they use. Some might even scoff at those who fuss over beautiful stationery or stunning apparel. Sadly, this betrays a mindset that equates design with superficial qualities or even vanity, that something that looks good is immediately less functional compared to plain-looking tools. Worse, it also views tools and products as short-lived objects that you simply throw away without a second thought, adding to the world’s growing landfill and pollution problem.

The Daytripper stands in defiance of that way of thinking by delivering a portable wireless charger that will make you feel good about owning such a stylish accessory. The 5,000 mAh battery inside is, of course, critical to its function, but it almost plays second fiddle to the overall design of the power bank. Make no mistake, it will get the job done without breaking a sweat, whether you need to charge a phone wirelessly or with a cable. You can even do both at the same time or charge both the power bank and your phone with one cable if you’re pressed for time.

Charging Configurations – Charge however you like. Base to base, perpendicular, or on an angle.

Universal Compatibility – Compatible with all Qi-enabled devices.

Charge 2 Devices at the Same Time – 2-way USB-C port can be used to charge another device.

Charge while Recharging – Simply plug Daytripper in and place your phone or device on top, and both will be ready to go for the next day.

It’s hard to deny that the portable wireless charger’s appearance is also an important part of its appeal, but its beauty isn’t only skin deep. The Daytripper doesn’t just use materials that look good and feel good in your hand; its creators also chose those materials for their longevity and sustainability. In a small way, it is yet another example of how function and form go hand in hand.

The body, for example, is made from a single block of aluminum, reducing waste and providing durability to the power bank. The genuine leather that serves as the charging pad not only protects our device from scratches but also develops a unique patina over time to add to the charger’s timeless beauty. Even the ABS core structure underneath the leather that provides the rigidity it needs can be separated from the rest of the body to be recycled when its end of life finally does arrive.

Versatile, functional, and beautiful, the NOA Daytripper portable wireless charger embodies what a well-designed piece of technology can be like. Its durable and natural materials encourage you to develop a personal attachment to the product, giving it more attention and more care than you would a regular power bank. And because it is designed to last and to be kept for far longer than its peers, it won’t be finding its way to a landfill any time soon.

Click Here to Buy Now: $86 $128 (30% off). Hurry, less than 72 hours left!

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This minimalist 3-in-1 MagSafe charger seems to defy the laws of physics

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MagSafe has been around even before the time of the iPhone, but Apple repurposed the brand for an almost magical innovation. The company famed for its design chops took existing technology and added just a single, simple thing, and it opened the floodgates to accessories that made wireless charging not only popular but also hip. MagSafe wireless chargers now come in a variety of forms, from cardholders that stick to the back of your iPhone to folding mats that you stick your iPhone onto. It also gave birth to quite a few innovative or downright crazy designs that took advantage of the science of magnets. Without going overboard, this compact wireless charger not only brings a space-efficient way to charge three devices at once, but it also makes your iPhone seemingly hover on top of your nightstand or desk like magic.

Designer: Twelve South

It isn’t necessarily a general truth, but more often than not, an iPhone owner would also have other Apple products in their possession. This could be an Apple Watch, a pair of AirPods, or even a MacBook. Apple’s deep dive into magnetic wireless charging means that almost all these accessories support MagSafe, which, in turn, means each one might have its own wireless charger. It’s that situation that has given rise to many 2-in-1 or even 3-in-1 MagSafe chargers, many of which start to look like each other. Twelve South’s new HiRise 3 stands out not just because of how tall it is but because of how little space it takes up to charge an iPhone and two of its friends.

True to its name, the HiRise 3 takes inspiration from tall buildings that take advantage of vertical space where horizontal space is scarce. It maximizes each and every surface of the vertically-oriented stand, like using the base as a charging pad for compatible AirPods cases. In fact, that base can even be used to charge Android phones capable of wireless charging. And despite how many devices it can hold at the same time, it manages to keep a clean, minimalist appearance that looks beautiful without calling too much attention to itself.

Its real talent, however, is how it manages to hold an iPhone 12 or later models hanging from a small height. Not only does this solve the problem of space, leaving enough room for AirPods or another phone underneath, it also lets owners easily see their iPhone screen, whether the stand is on a work desk or on a bedside table. Some might find that position a bit nerve-wracking as if waiting for the iPhone to fall down, but the strong magnets used in MagSafe ensure it won’t meet any accidents while you slumber.

The Twelve South HiRise 3 might not be the perfect solution for everyone, especially those that prefer to use their Apple Watch in Nightstand mode. The package also doesn’t include a 20W USB-C charger that’s needed to juice up the three devices at the same time, employing the same line of thinking that has banished iPhone chargers from the box. Those, however, might just be little nitpicks that don’t completely detract from the HiRise 3’s multi-functional yet minimalist appeal, especially when you consider that there are very few that have a very small footprint like this.

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Mobile Island Modular Wireless Charger becomes more useful than ever

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Mobile Island Modular Wireless Charger Features

Wireless chargers have become more prevalent in the past couple of years. With more smartphones and mobile devices supporting this technology, tech companies are also venturing into such categories. This Mobile Island Series is an old design as it was actually launched in 2018 by a company called Moa. It was previously introduced with Samsung Creative Square’s support as a modular wireless charger for smartphones. We think its design is still perfect for today when there is an ever-growing demand for wireless chargers.

Designers: Won Jang, Daehyun Kim, Daegwan Kim, Soyoung Ko, and Jaewan Choi (Moa Inc.)

Mobile Island Modular Wireless Charging Hub

The idea was to develop a wireless charging island that could juice up phones and other small-sized wireless devices. The result is this thing that boasts a stylish and unique design that we can also now say is timeless even after years of existence. What looks like a set of trays for the office desk is a Mobile Island where you can charge most of your stuff and look nice on your work table.

Mobile Island Modular Wireless Hub

The design concept has turned into a mass-producible concept many people can still enjoy today. The system features different important parts that deliver other functions. There is the Ground (square) which is the basis of the Mobile Island, but on its own, it can be a neat wireless charger.

Mobile Island Modular Wireless Charger System

This station features other extendable wireless charging modules that allow you to charge any smartphone. There is also what is called the Garden, which is a tray, that makes organizing more manageable and more convenient. It is shaped like PacMan, so it can conveniently be connected to the Ground. Finally, there is the Building part that allows wireless charging for other small home gadgets and devices.

The whole Mobile Island is a modular wireless charging system that allows fast and convenient charging. The modules are like blocks for electronic accessories that you can build and further expand. Back in 2018, such a wireless charging hub concept may not be that popular, but this idea now makes more sense. There is a need not only for the organization but also for charging, especially with all the available gadgets. One person alone owns at least two major gadgets that charging schedules and stations must be planned–and this Mobile Island can be an ideal solution.

Mobile Island Modular Wireless Charger

Believe it or not, the wireless charging game is becoming more advanced and complicated. We need more charging areas these days, whether at home or the office. But since the house is now the work area or office for most people, there really is a demand for more efficient gadgets and accessories. This charging station can charge different devices, including smartphones, wireless speakers, wireless earbuds, smartwatches, and maybe even portable batteries. The other modules can charge more devices via USB and auxiliary ports.

Mobile Island Modular Wireless Charging Station

We have featured similar charging stations recently, including that Zoom-friendly charging station. There is also that modular wireless dock that is a one-size-fits-all offering. So even if the AViiQ EVOUNI Portable Charging Station Folio is from almost a decade ago, we still think it is the perfect solution just like the Mobile Island Modular Wireless Charger.

Mockups Design

Concept Mobile Island Modular Wireless Charger

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This minimalist bedside table is definitely too smart for its own good

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After years of being immersed in minimalism, the design world seems to be saying in the other direction to promote the strengths of maximalism. Not everyone is ready to jump ship, however, and some are finding ways to bridge the divide. That often means putting hidden functions in what looks like a pretty bare and barren piece of furniture. IKEA, famed for embracing and capitalizing on minimalism, has already started incorporating smart features into its furniture, like wireless charging or even hidden speakers. Sometimes, however, those hidden features themselves can feel a bit overwhelming, like when a handsome bedside table turns out to have no less than eight functions you have to discover and remember since none of those are obvious at first glance.

Designer: Foshan Shunde Midea

A bedside table is where we often place a night lamp, either for reading at night or for lighting in the darkness. These days, it’s also where we put our phones on as well, sometimes charging them while we sleep. Books and other accessories can also sometimes go on or inside the table’s shelves and drawers. Apparently, those aren’t enough anymore, and some appliance manufacturers are trying to put everything except the kitchen sink inside a small table beside your bed.

There is one attempt to put a mini-fridge in that position that doubles as a bedside table, but that’s mostly to conserve space, especially in hotels. Midea’s Smart Bedside Table admittedly doesn’t go that far, but it has thrown in everything else that it says is related to bedroom activities. Or at least the ones that will help you sleep more comfortably.

The bedside table’s main functions are supposedly for air purification and humidification, something that’s not directly apparent when looking at the beautifully minimal piece of furniture. The “sub-functions,” however, are where things get a bit more out of hand. There’s a hidden wireless charging area on top of the table, but only near the front. The rear area of that surface actually flips open to reveal low-temperature storage with just enough room for a bottle or a few cans. The front area actually does open up to a UV sterilizing compartment for your gadgets or jewelry. There’s also a USB hub, aroma diffuser, and, thankfully, a bit of lighting.

On its own, the Midea smart bedside table is already quite attractive with its wooden body and clean design. You wouldn’t be able to tell that it’s actually hiding a ton of features, which is probably a good thing. “Out of sight, out of mind,” as they say, and having to keep in mind a handful of functions might be the last thing you want to have on your mind before you drift off to dreamland. Hopefully, in peace and undisturbed by thoughts of the drink you stashed away in your secret bedside minibar.

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Multi-purpose light is a wireless charger, lamp, and container in one

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One of the first things that I do when I get home, especially after a long day out, (aside from going to the bathroom) is to charge my smartphone. Well of course you drop your keys, bag, or any other things that you may be carrying, but plugging in and charging your phone is a priority. Now that wireless chargers are starting to catch on, it makes it easier to do so and even make the charger part of your decoration and do other functions as well.

Designer: Wenhua Xu

Wireless chargers are not just simply plain old chargers anymore but product designers are finding ways to incorporate it into our lifestyles. This product concept called multi-function light looks more like a lamp or container. It is that but also as a way to power up your smartphone. It’s designed for the bedside so it serves as a lamp if you don’t want to sleep in pitch-black darkness. But it can also be placed anywhere in the house where you need a lamp.

Aside from the lamp and the wireless charger, the device is also designed so you can place tiny things around the charging base like keys, medicine, a scrunchie, or anything small enough to place in that space. It’s a good spot to put items that you don’t want to forget before you leave the house since you probably will remove your phone from the charger and not forget to put it in your bag. So some people might want to place the multi-function light somewhere in the living room or near the door.

As for the charging pad itself, there doesn’t seem to be much information about the specifications which is understandable since this is still in the design phase. All we know is that the pad has an x marks the spot design just like a lot of other wireless charging pads. You place your smartphone within that x and it should be able to juice it up. The cylindrical part under it is where the charging coils are located and where the lamp part comes in.

Because I always seem to need to charge my phone and I always forget things like my keys, this is something that can be useful to me. The lamp part is a bonus since I also can’t sleep completely in the dark.

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Blond Fold wireless charger checks all the boxes of great design and sustainability

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Phone makers are cutting down on chargers in boxes, but third-party chargers are rising in number instead. Blond, fortunately, has a great idea on how to fix that problem as well.

One of the biggest sources of electronic waste in garbage dumps has been discovered to be smartphone chargers. According to the European Commission, about 11,000 tonnes or 11 million kg of unused or discarded chargers pile up every year. Figures and studies like these are often cited as reasons for imposing a common charging standard or removing charging bricks from phone packaging. That only addresses one part of the problem, though, because chargers are still being made and sold en masse anyway. The other part of the solution is to make the chargers themselves long-lasting and sustainable, which is what this innovative multi-functional wireless charging concept is trying to propose.

Designer: Blond

The Fold, no relation to Samsung’s foldable phones, immediately strikes one as a handsome piece of tech. Blending minimalism and transparency, the foldable wireless charger makes no qualms about its geeky nature. In fact, it invites people to peer into its very soul, and some might even have to dig deep into it in order to repair the accessory over time.

Creative design studio Blond’s concept for this wireless charger is notable in more ways than one. More than just portable, thanks to its foldable design, the charger can be used in multiple ways as well. For example, it can juice up three devices all at once, but it can also act as a smartphone stand when folded in a certain way.

Its most ambitious feature, however, is its longevity. Unlike most consumer electronics, the Fold is designed to be easy to open up and replace broken parts, at least for someone who is used to doing repairs on their own. In theory, the materials used will also be sustainable or responsibly sourced, possibly from recycled products even. That’s not always possible with electronics, of course, so the option of repairing and sending back components for recycling helps both the owner and the environment in the long run.

The Fold’s sustainability extends to the concept of its packaging. Where most products require two layers, with the packaging itself and then the shipping box, Blond envisioned a single recycled and recyclable packaging that meets both needs. This eliminates wasted materials while still leaving room for some creative innovation inside the box, like a space for broken or suspended components for shipping back to the manufacturer for repairs or recycling.

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Memory foam wireless charger gives your smartphone a charge and a rest

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No matter how good the battery life of a smartphone is, the fact that we use it almost every hour of every day means that you’ll constantly need to charge it. The advent of wireless chargers has made it a bit easier or more convenient to juice up your devices. But this new product concept gives a whole new meaning to letting your smartphone rest because even these gadgets need a little TLC too.

Designer: Hyeongkwon Lee and Junsung Hwang

Foam is a design concept for a fast wireless charger with a twist: it has a memory foam to let your smartphone have a “restful” time while being powered up. Phones are probably the most used (and abused) of the gadgets that we have so the designer thought of something that can truly give rest to them because even though it’s an inanimate object (although it sometimes feels too alive at times), it deserves to be rested every once in a while.

The design idea of a foam for your smartphone is inspired by clouds, which gives us an image of true relaxation. Foam looks like your typical wireless charger but on top of its base is a, well, foam structure made from memory foam, the kind used on pillows, mattresses and other similar “relaxing” objects. It is covered with fabric to let your device “settle down on the charger softly”. And since it has a sort of gradient design and color, it does give the impression that your phone is floating while charging.

The purpose of memory foam on pillows and mattresses is to have it mould to your body and remember your shape and optimal sleeping position over time. I’m not really sure how it can help smartphones since they don’t really need the charger to “remember” their shape to make it charge better. In terms of design, it doesn’t really stand out as a wireless charger as it looks pretty much like any other one except that there’s a foam to let your phone sleep.

Whether or not I would get one for my much-used smartphone really depends on the actual specifications of the wireless charger. But since Foam is still in the product design stage, we can only judge it from that and it seems to be a simple, minimalist charger that can fit well on a minimalist desk.

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