ZENS Unveils AirPower-Like Wireless Charger With 16 Coils to Charge Two Devices Anywhere on Mat

[x-evil-x]

I got a wireless charger a year ago because I thought the idea was cool. While it is simple to just "drop" my phone on the charger, over all I gotta say I think this is an inferior way to charge things. While my phone is plugged in, I can still use it within the reach of the wire. On these mats I have to leave it there unless I want to stop it from charging. I still think they're a cool idea, but less convenient in real world applications IMO.

do you not sleep? Do you have your phone in your hand every second of every day? There are situations where not having to find a cable and plug it in are better. I love my stand I built onto the side of my bed. I just put it there and I can see it and use it aimed at me. Works as an alarm clock too. I can take it off anytime to use it better and its not tedious as plugging in and out your phone when you're lounging around or sleeping. There are situations that it is much preferred you just haven't found it yet I guess
Here is my bed setup. I have a cable for backup if I need to charge something faster but most the time im using it wirelessly.

 

[mdw1]

Love my SliceCharge Pro works great doesn't get hot I can put my iPhone, AirPods anywhere on the 6 coil charger and it works, the Watch charger works like Apple Watch charger does.

 

[x-evil-x]

Unless you live in a van or a micro apartment, there's no such "resting place."

People leave phones on their desks, countertops, bags, and pockets.

#78
you aren't seeing his point. IT doesn't feel like you are charging your phone when you don't have to think about finding a cable plugging it in and removing the cable over and over again. Wireless is more convenient in certain situations.

 

[PezRadar]

I have a wireless charging mat.

I really enjoy it. I like how I can charge my watch, airpods, phone all at once. (it charges 3 devices at once)

it's a bit finnicky in where I have to put the airpods as its a smaller device but for my phone and watch, it's fairly simple.

I do like the convenience of having a mat. Less wires on my work desk and just within reach to make it easier.

 

[ke-iron]

Damn I really had hoped Apple could’ve figured this out, I mean they had a working prototype and they have the money.

 

[JPack]

Damn I really had hoped Apple could’ve figured this out, I mean they had a working prototype and they have the money.

Apple never showed a working demo.

 

[Jim Lahey]

"It never actually feels like you're charging your phone" Is that a feeling you feel people cannot cope with? "Charging anxiety" ?
You still have to place the phone on the charging mat. How is that not "deliberately charging" your phone? "It's no longer something that needs doing" What the heck are you talking about? You must deliberately place the phone on the mat (and the mat was previously deliberately plugged in) or it won't get charged.

The internal mental gymnastics that some of you Apple fanboys go through to justify nonsense is mind boggling.

I put the phone down on the mat because that’s it’s resting place when I’m not using it. No different to having a table that it would rest on, except now it charges without me having to think “do I need to charge my phone”. If you cannot see the difference between that and plugging it in with a cable then I can’t explain it for you.

Also none of that has anything to do with Apple, or being an Apple fanboy. It’s about wireless charging. If you don’t want to use the feature then fine.

 

[bobby_kes]

airpower try to charge iphones, airpods and mainly watch, any where on the device.

difficult task is to charge watch any where.

 

[iPhysicist]

I do read this specs as ‚15W in Heat dissipation’. That’s a lot of loss.

 

[Glockworkorange]

So if these guys can do it, why couldn't Apple? What's different here?

I’m sure 50 posters have responded, but here’s 51–can’t do the watch. Apple would have to do the regular Qui with the special stuff for the watch and it just wouldn’t work.
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Call me pedantic, but both these mats have wires. Truly can't see the point in having to put a device on a mat to charge as really no more convenient than plugging it in to an cable in the same location. Only place I can see a use is in a car, place it in a compartment in the centre console and have it charge while you drive.

Or if you cry about not having a headphone jack, wireless will let you charge and listen at the same time.
[doublepost=1566582260][/doublepost]

Apple never showed a working demo.

True! At the 2017 Keynote, there were units in the hands on, however, people were not allowed to touch or use them. I’m sure they were just for show. Everything else shown on the screen during the keynote was CGI.

 

[Crzyrio]

Call me when I can actually buy it

 

[Glockworkorange]

I have a wireless charging mat.

I really enjoy it. I like how I can charge my watch, airpods, phone all at once. (it charges 3 devices at once)

it's a bit finnicky in where I have to put the airpods as its a smaller device but for my phone and watch, it's fairly simple.

I do like the convenience of having a mat. Less wires on my work desk and just within reach to make it easier.

How do you charge your watch on a mat?

The watch charging is proprietary.

 

[Mascots]

Apple never showed a working demo.

Yes, they did. At the iPhone X launch press event, there were working units that the press actually interacted with. You can see them in the beginning and around 4:45 in this video:

 

[JPack]

Yes, they did. At the iPhone X launch press event, there were working units that the press actually interacted with. You can see them in the beginning and around 4:45 in this video:

Nope, if you actually looked carefully, none of the iPhones placed on the AirPower mat charge. This myth was debunked a long time ago.

No charging icon whatsoever.

 

[Mascots]

Nope, if you actually looked carefully, none of the iPhones placed on the AirPower mat charge. This myth was debunked a long time ago.

Debunked where? I remember videos showing it action (though I can't seem to find them in the media blitzes since) and quite literally in that video, there is an Apple Watch and AirPods on the mat and several points at which a mat has an iPhone (or two) on it.

Thanks for editing your post to add the video (the one I was thinking of in particular) from the event. Adds legitimacy to your claim and points out that I was clearly mistaken.

 

[bpeeps]

Totally agree. When my phone is plugged in, I can still actually use it. When it's sitting face-up on a mat? Not so much.

Different use. A wireless pad is for charging overnight or at work when you're not using your phone. Set it and forget it, no fumbling with plugging in cables. It's not a source of charging for active use, obviously.

 

[JPack]

Debunked where? I remember videos showing it action (though I can't seem to find them in the media blitzes since) and quite literally in that video, there is an Apple Watch and AirPods on the mat and several points at which a mat has an iPhone (or two) on it.

Debunked when Apple announced the cancellation of AirPower. There was huge discussion here and elsewhere on the Internet.

AirPower was never shown to the public in a working state.

Find an image or video on the Internet with AirPower working (not just devices resting on the pad) and you'll probably win a prize.

 

[Mascots]

Debunked when Apple announced the cancellation of AirPower. The was huge discussion here and elsewhere on the Internet.

AirPower was never shown to the public in a working state.

Find an image or video on the Internet with AirPower working (not just devices resting on the pad) and you'll probably win a prize.

For the record, Apple cancelling Airpower doesn't debunk that they could have shown a working prototype. But that’s a dead horse to beat because it looks like the ones they showed off during that event weren't working and I was incorrect. So go you! Here's some internet points.

 

[citysnaps]

Apple never showed a working demo.

And I don't think anyone outside of Apple really knows the functionality they were trying to achieve. I suspect it is beyond what can be purchased today from other companies.

 

[manu chao]

Call me pedantic, but both these mats have wires. Truly can't see the point in having to put a device on a mat to charge as really no more convenient than plugging it in to an cable in the same location. Only place I can see a use is in a car, place it in a compartment in the centre console and have it charge while you drive.

I still don’t get it why the hell would you want to wirelessly charge your iPhone. A full charge takes like 2h40mins. Ain’t nobody got time for that. Enable fast wireless charging and then maybe.

Wireless chargers are really suited for people that follow the 'vote early, vote often' principle. To exaggerate slightly, you don't put the phone on the charger because you intentionally want to charge it. You put it on the charging mat because the charging mat sits where you would put down your phone frequently anyway. It's when you put down your phone on your desk dozens of times a day (or reversely, pick it up from your desk dozens of times per day), that plugging it in every time becomes a chore you're unlikely to follow through with. If it just means, putting your phone down on the right space on your desk, then that is much more likely to actually happen. At home you might expand this to having charging mats in multiple spots, on your bedside table, your desk, your coffee table, your kitchen countertop. The end result is that if you spend enough time close to those charging mats, your phone will stay closed to fully charged a lot of the time.

 

[halluxsinister]

Dutch brand ZENS today unveiled a wireless charging mat with 16 overlapping coils, allowing two devices to be charged anywhere on the mat.

The ZENS Liberty will be able to charge any Qi-enabled devices, with the 16 coils providing a total output of 30W, while a built-in 2.4A USB port will be able to charge an additional device. Designed with high-grade aluminum, the mat will be powered by a 45W power adapter that connects via USB-C.

Other wireless charging mats released to date have fewer coils, resulting in devices needing to be placed in specific spots on the mat to charge.

This is the closest alternative we have ever seen to Apple's canceled AirPower mat, which would have been able to charge three devices placed anywhere on the mat, including an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. Of course, the ZENS mat will not have the same level of software integration with Apple devices.

Apple canceled the AirPower in March, noting that "after much effort," the mat failed to achieve its "high standards." An earlier report from Sonny Dickson claimed the AirPower would have been equipped with 21 to 24 coils, but reports claimed the mat suffered from overheating and potentially dangerous electromagnetic interference issues.

ZENS says the mat will be available in November for $139.99, with a limited edition version with see-through glass set to be offered for $179.99.

Article Link: ZENS Unveils AirPower-Like Wireless Charger With 16 Coils to Charge Two Devices Anywhere on Mat

If... ONLY... there were a way to power electronic devices directly, without losing about half the power that MAYBE reaches the device being charged, MAYBE... as the cost of doing away with a plug.

Wireless charging would be WAY more impressive if it didn’t require the device to be SITTING RIGHT ON TOP of the charger. To me, that kind defeats the purpose. Why in the hell not use Something like MagSafe? They could call it MagSafeMini... or MicroMagSafe. Or MagNanoSafe. Or maybe even SafeMagFemto, for a really, REALLY tiny adapter.

BTW, there’s another way to get power INTO an electronic device to run it and/or recharge the battery. It’s called a photovoltaic or PV panel. Why not just do away with ALL the ports and jacks, make it one contiguous piece of outer material, permanently sealed shut, and charge it with LIGHT? Before you say, “well, the number of watts per square centimeter...” who the hell cares?

Just make the shell all one big, skinny solar panel, and build a cradle that you can put the phone on top of, that when the phone is on top of it, will detect the phone is on top of it, and then blast the underside with high intensity LIGHT? Maybe make it many times brighter than the sun on a bright, clear, sunny day, and have it detect when the phone is being moved, and then have it dim the light automatically. There is absolutely NO reason they couldn’t do THAT. We have that technology. TODAY. NOW. Actually we’ve had it for a WHILE, now. There is no valid or legitimate excuse for NOT doing that, ESPECIALLY if the point is convenience, skinniness, and waterproofing. Then they wouldn’t need to waste time and energy trying to figure out how to charge with magnetic induction, and if your phone died, just stick it out in the sun for a bit.

 

[bobob]

So if these guys can do it, why couldn't Apple? What's different here?

If they can do it, why isn't it available until November?

 

[insoft.uk]

What a waste of energy, less out than you put in

 

[Baymowe335]

Apple never showed a working demo.

Why would they even if they had one? Apple doesn’t release prototypes for public view.

 

[votdfak]

If only AW supported Qi.