Best Alternatives to Apple's Now-Canceled AirPower

[fairuz]

I read a reply to the bolded first and was imagining a phone that used something like NFC and vibration motors to physically move itself to its charger.

Mind you, Apple has been getting into haptics lately, so we might not be too far off…

There was an app on the App Store that would vibrate a vertically-standing iPhone 5 just right so that it would spin, during which it took a 360˚ panoramic photo.
[doublepost=1554073181][/doublepost]

A charging mat is just another dongle. I prefer keeping is simple and would rather have only the cable without the charging dongle.



View attachment 829469

Yes, that's how I do it too, only problem is my cables look more like this after being plugged in so many times:

Really this shouldn't be a problem, but as we know, Apple's cables are weak. And the third-party replacements randomly stop being "genuine" sometimes, even the MFi-certified ones, so they last even shorter.

 

[nouveau_redneck]

There was an app on the App Store that would vibrate a vertically-standing iPhone 5 just right so that it would spin, during which it took a 360˚ panoramic photo.
[doublepost=1554073181][/doublepost]
Yes, that's how I do it too, only problem is my cables look more like this after being plugged in so many times:

Really this shouldn't be a problem, but as we know, Apple's cables are weak. And the third-party replacements randomly stop being "genuine" sometimes, even the MFi-certified ones, so they last even shorter.

You get some good life out of them! Mine are gone before the physical deterioration. I guess I need to stop buying them at the dollar store.

 

[Brandhouse]

I'd be interested to know if Fearless Ming was still calling this as going ahead or not?

 

[Azeroth1]

Can anyone with experience comment on which is the safest? All I care is something that is reliable and I won’t have to worry about overheating or worse.

 

[theman510]

Just backed the Slice Charge Pro on kickstarter. Hope to get it in June. Looks promising!

 

[PickUrPoison]

So can one assume the new AirPods work with any Qi Compatible charger, sort of like how the iPhone does?

No assumptions necessary. One can check the Apple website:

“With the new Wireless Charging Case, charging is as simple as placing the AirPods case on a Qi-compatible charging mat.”

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Vinpok actually has a good one it’s called plux. You can change it standing or laying down

I've been using a PLUX since last year, and have had no problems with it - I use the included USB A to C cable with a 12 watt iPad charging cube, and I charge my iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods with it at night. It included a silicone case and mini-Qi coil pad for the AirPods 1, but I had to supply an Apple Watch charge cable to install inside the charger. Installing the AW cable was a PITA though. I posted about it in another airpower thread the other day.

I also have been using a couple of Samsung 9W chargers in other places in the house, which work well with the 12W iPads cubes. But they were like $40 each vs $10-15 for the cheap Amazon and eBay ones. The Samsung chargers do feel higher build quality than the Plux, due to the Plux being hollow inside to allow for coiling up the AW charging cable.

 

[MarkB786]

What’s the point of AirPower in the first place? Can’t make it all work on one serface, just make sections for different products. Hit a wall and walk around Apple.

Jobs would have made the engineers figure it out. Cook doesn't really care all that much. Cook: "Oh golly. Good try, everyone! Let's get a a latte to discuss how you feel about this failure " Vs. Jobs "Get you a**es back in the lab and figure the da** thing out!"

Under Cook, Apple is all soft media and cloud rather than great hardware. He just can't figure it out, and he doesn't care as long as stock price is going up.

 

[Smigit]

Why are you upgrading?

I can’t speak for him but the company behind the SliceCharge offered a free upgrade to the upcoming Pro model for anyone that purchased the original. People just had to pay shipping. I don’t own the original but that sounds like amazing customer service and makes me want to support them.

 

[Khedron]

Jobs would have made the engineers figure it out. Cook doesn't really care all that much. Cook: "Oh golly. Good try, everyone! Let's get a a latte to discuss how you feel about this failure " Vs. Jobs "Get you a**es back in the lab and figure the da** thing out!"

Under Cook, Apple is all soft media and cloud rather than great hardware. He just can't figure it out, and he doesn't care as long as stock price is going up.

Not softer just more money focussed. Cook spends most of his time colluding with Trump for tax breaks and Goldman Sachs for credit cards, with the rest of the time paying celebrities to hang out with him.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

A charging mat is just another dongle. I prefer keeping is simple and would rather have only the cable without the charging dongle.



View attachment 829469

That's not an Apple cable.

 

[joueboy]

All these stupid products only justify Apple to charge theirs for $200. I can get 3 Qi charger from Amazon for $15 each and it works like charm.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

SliceCharge just came out with a new device (shipping in May) called the SliceCharge Pro. It DOES let you place phones and headphone cases anywhere on the device with the exception of the dedicated Apple Watch slot, which was necessary since earlier models of the watch don’t support standard Qi charging. They just finished a Kickstarter campaign. I supported it, and I’m looking forward to that device.

Thanks for the heads up. That charger looks to be exactly what I was looking for. I backed two of them, lol.

 

[Defthand]

Wireless charging was supposed to simplify charging how?

 

[Khedron]

Wireless charging was supposed to simplify charging how?

You have to connect the entire back of the phone rather than part of the bottom edge. It also takes longer and you can't move it.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

One of the reasons I like my Belkin charging pad is that the light only goes on when you first place the phone on it. And then it turns off. It’s funny how people‘s preferences are different!

I've got a Belkin, and the light stays on. *shrug*

 

[MisterSavage]

I've got a Belkin, and the light stays on. *shrug*

Correction! I've got an Anker. Typo on my part.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Wireless charging was supposed to simplify charging how?

You have to connect the entire back of the phone rather than part of the bottom edge. It also takes longer and you can't move it.

There are pros and cons to wireless charging of course. I could give some examples. I'm sitting in my family room reading the forum on my MacBook, and I lay my iPhone down with one hand on the end table and it starts charging, without me having to fish out a cable and use both hands. I'm reading and scrolling with one hand as I place my phone on the charger with the other, hardly having to glance aside.

Then I want to head to the kitchen and put my coffee mug away, and grab a snack, so I grab the phone with one hand and don't have to set down my mug half-full with cold coffee to unplug a cable - I can finish reading the forum on my phone with handoff while fetching my snack and microwaving my coffee, as I set my phone on the charging pad on the kitchen counter while I eat. I don't have to spill my coffee or get tuna fish on my phone or cable to plug it in or unplug it.

I keep another charging pad by my beside, a PLUX unit which charges my iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch at night, and it's powered by a single 12W iPad cube. I simply lay all three down on my nightstand and they charge, and are ready for me to use the next morning. But my wife only has an outlet for a dual USB charger near her bedside table, so she goes to the bathroom to drop her Apple watch on the charge cable. Then she reads a book in bed on her iPad for 15 minutes before she is ready to sleep - at that point has to plug a cable into her iPhone and into her iPad on bedside table. Her process takes a bit longer to perform although it's NOT that big a deal, as we've plugged things in to charge for years, but her routine is not as convenient as my bedtime process. "It simplifies the process".

I keep a single wireless charger in the bathroom. I can be completely hands free in the bathroom wearing my AirPods, but my phone is there if I need it and it's charging. It gives me a chance to wash my hands instead of touching my phone, and not get soaps or hair product on my phone and cable as I go about my routine. Sure, I could plug it in before I get started, but half the time the tail end of my cable would end up laying in the sink when we aren't using it. If we let the cable dangle down and away from the sink, the cat thinks the cable is a toy to play with.

The cons > I can't easily sit in my chair and use my phone while wireless charging, unless I have a charging stand right in front of me. If I plug in a charging stand into my MacBook, the USB out isn't powerful enough to charge very well, unlike a cable. And, I can't charge as fast wirelessly as I can with a 30W USB-C cube and a cable. And a 6 foot cable would give me some freedom of movement on the chair or couch or at the kitchen island when my battery is low and I still want to use it while charging, otherwise I pick it up to get a better view and it stops charging.

How I deal with the cons of wirelessly charging - (1) if I'm always topping off my iPhone then it's always full when I head out of the house, and I don't have to worry about heavy use running me down to zero if I don't plug in (2) I have a Pitaka Wireless Qi magnetic mount in my car to continue topping it off while I drive around, so I can use wireless CarPlay and not run the battery down (3) If I wish to use my device in more than one spot while it's plugged into power, I use the Anker Powercore Fusion wall wart with built-in 5000 mah battery.

I can have 1-2 devices plugged in to charge while moving around the house with the Anker battery pack in my pocket. Then when I'm done using it, I plug the battery directly into an A/C outlet to re-charge it. I keep on of these in my suitcase, one in my backpack in my car, and one next to my LaZ Boy chair.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K702S66/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[nouveau_redneck]

That's not an Apple cable.

You sir are a connoisseur and one with a good eye.

 

[TheIntruder]

Thanks so much for this post. I have a feeling we just slowly arrive in the “post fact era” even here on MR. People just ignore the facts and shout out random opinions, like “lock her up”, sorry I mean “kick Tim Apple out” or “heads have to roll!”

It’s sad. And it’s sad that AirPower will never see the light of day, it would’ve been one of these truly magical Apple products that no one would’ve been able to copy. The problem with competition usually is that they are ok with “good enough” like this slice charge device.

"Horse to water" and all that...

Apple's business strategy has been to only enter markets where it thinks it can bring something better to the table, and charge extra for it. Some will argue whether that still holds true, but AirPower did fit that description, but had engineering problems that could not be solved to meet its standards.

Can anyone with experience comment on which is the safest? All I care is something that is reliable and I won’t have to worry about overheating or worse.

Those warning about "UL listed" wireless chargers are speaking about unicorns. There are broader UL standards governing safety guidelines for AV electronic equipment, but there is no UL standard for wireless chargers per se, and unlikely to be.

To illustrate, the $160 Belkin Boost Up stand, sold exclusively by the Apple Store, and one of, if not the most expensive charger on the market, is not UL-listed. It does however, include a UL-listed power supply. Look for a UL marking on the Samsungs cited earlier, or something like a Logitech Powered stand and none will be found. All are from experienced, reputable brand name companies, not fleeting Amazon sellers relabeling Chinese ODM goods.

Wireless charging standards are administered by two principal organizations, the AirFuel Alliance (formed by the merger of the PMA and A4WP), and the Wireless Power Consortium. They are the organizations that develop and define the standards, certification processes, and maintain the registry of products from member companies.

The PMA and WPC were in competition to become the standard for consumer wireless charging, but the WPC, which administers the Qi standard, eventually prevailed. Apple's adoption of Qi charging and membership in the WPC were significant moves in that development.

If you're concerned about safety, look for a Qi-certified charger, and power it with a reputable wall adapter. However, note that the latter may also be a challenge for UL devotees, because the majority have not been submitted for UL-certification, and the scope of standards is much broader, and without the benefit of having only two standards organizations like with wireless charging.

In short, there are no such things as UL-listed wireless chargers, only UL-listed power supplies. For peace of mind, both components need to meet standards.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

A charging mat is just another dongle. I prefer keeping is simple and would rather have only the cable without the charging dongle.

Two issues with that for me:

1. Putting the phone down is quicker and simpler than fiddling with the cable.

2. Lightning cables are notoriously prone to breakage. I've gone through far too many of them, and the insert cycles can eventually harm the jack in the phone itself. Wireless charging means no finicky cable insertion issues, and no wear on the jack. I have gotten maybe 20-30 Lightning cables over the years. I only have one left that reliably connects. I have two more that you have to "wiggle the plug" to get it to actually start charging, or insert only one way (kind of defeating the purpose of the reversible Lightning plug.)

And "keeping it simple"? What's simpler that not having to plug in! It still only takes on USB socket, but you never have to worry about actually plugging it in. Just setting the phone down. It removes a step.

 

[nouveau_redneck]

Two issues with that for me:

1. Putting the phone down is quicker and simpler than fiddling with the cable.

2. Lightning cables are notoriously prone to breakage. I've gone through far too many of them, and the insert cycles can eventually harm the jack in the phone itself. Wireless charging means no finicky cable insertion issues, and no wear on the jack. I have gotten maybe 20-30 Lightning cables over the years. I only have one left that reliably connects. I have two more that you have to "wiggle the plug" to get it to actually start charging, or insert only one way (kind of defeating the purpose of the reversible Lightning plug.)

And "keeping it simple"? What's simpler that not having to plug in! It still only takes on USB socket, but you never have to worry about actually plugging it in. Just setting the phone down. It removes a step.

I get it. For your workflow it makes sense. Not for mine. I require charging throughout the day and the mat is just another thing I must have on my desk in front of my computer.

 

[dfs]

Apple on Friday made the unprecedented move of canceling work on the AirPower, the wireless charging mat that was supposed to charge the Apple Watch, iPhone, and AirPods all at once.

There are already a number of AirPower-like alternative products on the market, and we're likely going to be seeing additional replacements in the future. None of these accessories do exactly what the AirPower promised because there are dedicated spots to charge each device, but each option will charge more than one device at one time.

1. Nomad Base Station Apple Watch Edition ($139) - Nomad's Apple Watch Base Station has an Apple Watch charging puck for charging the Apple Watch, along with a double coil Qi wireless charging pad. You can use the wireless charging pad to charge the iPhone horizontally, but if you put the iPhone vertically, it frees up a little spot for charging the AirPods, so all three devices charge at one time. We reviewed the Nomad Base Station and liked it quite a lot, though it is quite expensive.

2. Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Dock ($127) - This is another expensive dock, but it's another that we reviewed and liked quite a lot. Belkin's Boost Up Wireless Charging Dock has an upright charging space for wirelessly charging an iPhone and a space for the Apple Watch, but this isn't a dock suitable for the AirPods. Still, it's a good option for dual device charging.

3. SliceCharge 2 Wireless Charging Mat ($60) - The SliceCharge 2 has an Apple Watch charging puck in the middle and two wireless charging coils at the sides, so you can either charge two iPhones or an iPhone and an AirPods 2 Wireless Charging Case. It's affordable, slim, and supports 7.5W wireless charging for the iPhone.

4. ZENS Dual + Watch Wireless Charger (99 euros) - The Dual + Watch Wireless Charger from European company ZENS is another option that we recently reviewed and were impressed with. It has a stand for charging an Apple Watch, along with a base that can wirelessly charge two iPhones at one time. It's 99 euros which is pricy, but ZENS does ship worldwide. This dock is temporarily out of stock, but it's coming back in May.

5. NytStnd AirPods Trio ($109) - The Nytstnd will charge your AirPods, Apple Watch, and iPhone all at once, but there's a catch - there's no wireless charging for AirPods. The Apple Watch charges via a standard Apple Watch charging puck (that you supply), while there's a wireless charging pad for iPhone, a Lightning port for AirPods, and one extra Lighting port. On the plus side, you can charge all three items at once and there's also an extra spot for storing keys or other odds and ends. You also don't need the new AirPods 2 with Wireless Charging Case to use it.

6. Unravel Wireless Charger ($99) - This interesting little charger features three charging stations, one for AirPods, one for Apple Watch, and one for iPhone. You can lay them flat or roll them up in a configuration that works for you if you only need to charge two devices at once. We haven't tried this, but it's a neat design and the reviews look to be largely positive.

Affordable AirPower Alternatives From Amazon

If you go to Amazon and type in "AirPower" or "Wireless Charging Station" you'll see a whole slew of cheap wireless chargers that promise to charge your Apple Watch, iPhone, and AirPods all at once. We haven't tested any of these options and can't verify whether they work, and at these price points, there's no way they're using Apple-certified components.

Still, if you're looking for an alternative to the AirPower that's super affordable, these might be what you want. We'll list some of the options that are getting better ratings below.

[*]Conido Wireless Charging Station ($42) - This charging station has an upright charger for the iPhone, an Apple Watch charging puck with stand, and a slot for charging the AirPods, but with Lightning instead of wirelessly.
[*]OLEBR Charging Stand ($39) - The OLEBR is similar to the Conido, but it uses Lightning for the iPhone and the AirPods while offering a charging puck for the Apple Watch. So this one isn't wireless at all, but still charges multiple devices at once.
[*]MQOUNY Wireless Charger 3-in-1 ($39) - This stand is rather compact, offering an upright wireless charger for the iPhone, an Apple Watch charging puck, and above that, a holder for the AirPods that charges them over Lightning.
[*]Bestand 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand ($48) - This wireless charging stand has an upright wireless charger for the iPhone, a charging arm for the Apple Watch, and a Lightning connector for charging the AirPods.
[*]IBIS 9W Dual Wireless Fast Charging Station 3 ($40) - There's no space for the Apple Watch on this one, but it will charge your iPhones and your AirPods with Wireless Charging Case.

More Charging Options

The iPhone and the AirPods Wireless Charging Case will work with any Qi-based wireless charger on the market, so there are an endless number of single device wireless chargers you can get as well.

Feedback

Have a favorite AirPower alternative that we didn't list here? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Best Alternatives to Apple's Now-Canceled AirPower

Apple on Friday made the unprecedented move of canceling work on the AirPower, the wireless charging mat that was supposed to charge the Apple Watch, iPhone, and AirPods all at once.

There are already a number of AirPower-like alternative products on the market, and we're likely going to be seeing additional replacements in the future. None of these accessories do exactly what the AirPower promised because there are dedicated spots to charge each device, but each option will charge more than one device at one time.

1. Nomad Base Station Apple Watch Edition ($139) - Nomad's Apple Watch Base Station has an Apple Watch charging puck for charging the Apple Watch, along with a double coil Qi wireless charging pad. You can use the wireless charging pad to charge the iPhone horizontally, but if you put the iPhone vertically, it frees up a little spot for charging the AirPods, so all three devices charge at one time. We reviewed the Nomad Base Station and liked it quite a lot, though it is quite expensive.

2. Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Dock ($127) - This is another expensive dock, but it's another that we reviewed and liked quite a lot. Belkin's Boost Up Wireless Charging Dock has an upright charging space for wirelessly charging an iPhone and a space for the Apple Watch, but this isn't a dock suitable for the AirPods. Still, it's a good option for dual device charging.

3. SliceCharge 2 Wireless Charging Mat ($60) - The SliceCharge 2 has an Apple Watch charging puck in the middle and two wireless charging coils at the sides, so you can either charge two iPhones or an iPhone and an AirPods 2 Wireless Charging Case. It's affordable, slim, and supports 7.5W wireless charging for the iPhone.

4. ZENS Dual + Watch Wireless Charger (99 euros) - The Dual + Watch Wireless Charger from European company ZENS is another option that we recently reviewed and were impressed with. It has a stand for charging an Apple Watch, along with a base that can wirelessly charge two iPhones at one time. It's 99 euros which is pricy, but ZENS does ship worldwide. This dock is temporarily out of stock, but it's coming back in May.

5. NytStnd AirPods Trio ($109) - The Nytstnd will charge your AirPods, Apple Watch, and iPhone all at once, but there's a catch - there's no wireless charging for AirPods. The Apple Watch charges via a standard Apple Watch charging puck (that you supply), while there's a wireless charging pad for iPhone, a Lightning port for AirPods, and one extra Lighting port. On the plus side, you can charge all three items at once and there's also an extra spot for storing keys or other odds and ends. You also don't need the new AirPods 2 with Wireless Charging Case to use it.

6. Unravel Wireless Charger ($99) - This interesting little charger features three charging stations, one for AirPods, one for Apple Watch, and one for iPhone. You can lay them flat or roll them up in a configuration that works for you if you only need to charge two devices at once. We haven't tried this, but it's a neat design and the reviews look to be largely positive.

Affordable AirPower Alternatives From Amazon

If you go to Amazon and type in "AirPower" or "Wireless Charging Station" you'll see a whole slew of cheap wireless chargers that promise to charge your Apple Watch, iPhone, and AirPods all at once. We haven't tested any of these options and can't verify whether they work, and at these price points, there's no way they're using Apple-certified components.

Still, if you're looking for an alternative to the AirPower that's super affordable, these might be what you want. We'll list some of the options that are getting better ratings below.

[*]Conido Wireless Charging Station ($42) - This charging station has an upright charger for the iPhone, an Apple Watch charging puck with stand, and a slot for charging the AirPods, but with Lightning instead of wirelessly.
[*]OLEBR Charging Stand ($39) - The OLEBR is similar to the Conido, but it uses Lightning for the iPhone and the AirPods while offering a charging puck for the Apple Watch. So this one isn't wireless at all, but still charges multiple devices at once.
[*]MQOUNY Wireless Charger 3-in-1 ($39) - This stand is rather compact, offering an upright wireless charger for the iPhone, an Apple Watch charging puck, and above that, a holder for the AirPods that charges them over Lightning.
[*]Bestand 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand ($48) - This wireless charging stand has an upright wireless charger for the iPhone, a charging arm for the Apple Watch, and a Lightning connector for charging the AirPods.
[*]IBIS 9W Dual Wireless Fast Charging Station 3 ($40) - There's no space for the Apple Watch on this one, but it will charge your iPhones and your AirPods with Wireless Charging Case.

More Charging Options

The iPhone and the AirPods Wireless Charging Case will work with any Qi-based wireless charger on the market, so there are an endless number of single device wireless chargers you can get as well.

Feedback

Have a favorite AirPower alternative that we didn't list here? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Best Alternatives to Apple's Now-Canceled AirPower

[doublepost=1554166610][/doublepost]It's a bit of a head-scratcher that everybody else in the world seems to be able to design one of these gizmos in such a way that excessive heat isn't a problem, but that Apple can't. Apple's typical position is way out in front of the pack, not way behind it.

 

[rmariboe]

I went with the Otto from Moshi, is a little fat but works well
https://www.moshi.com/en/category/connect/wireless-chargers

They also produce a combined USB-C “dock” and wireless charger that looks interesting

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

You sir are a connoisseur and one with a good eye.

Thanks, that made me chuckle.