Apple wasn’t quite able to make its promised AirPower wireless charging pad work. It canceled the project 18 months after announcing it. Its goal was to let you charge several devices at once using a single pad. However, where Apple failed, Mophie may have succeeded.
Those who were anxiously awaiting the AirPower mat might be pleased to know that Mophie took up the reins and did what Apple could not.
On Friday, Mophie launched two Qi charging stations, which will be available through Apple. The first is a dual-pad charger can juice up an iPhone and AIrPods at the same time. It also has a USB-A port for plugging in a third device.
The second is a 3-in-1 station that is similar to the dual but throws an Apple Watch charging stand into the mix. The design is slightly different in that there is a slight depression below the watch charger to hold a set of AirPods snuggly. Plus the watch stand is perfectly angled to utilized the Apple Watch’s nightstand mode.
Mophie claims the pads are optimized for Apple devices. The pads aren’t quite as flexible as Apple wanted AirPower to be, though. It only lets you charge one each of iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch simultaneously, though AirPower was to allow you to top up any combination of the devices. Nor does it seem you’ll be able to view the charge level for each device from your phone, a feature AirPower was to offer.
Both devices provide 7.5W of output for quick charging. Unfortunately, they can only charge one of each device at the same time. You also will not be able to check charging levels from your phone as Apple had planned with the AirPower.
The dual charger goes for about $100 ($80 from Mophie), while the 3-in-1 is $140. The price seems somewhat steep compared with other multi-device chargers. However, it is $10 less than what Apple was planning to charge for the AirPower.
The 3-in-1 model $140 adds an Apple Watch stand, through which you can charge your smartwatch at the same time as your phone and AirPods, with a dedicated cavity for the latter. Mophie suggests the Watch stand is at an ideal angle for Nightstand Mode.
Along with the pads, Mophie revealed a pair of USB-C car chargers that have 18W of output. They include a model with a single port $25 and one with an extra USB-A port, which provides 12W of output $30.
Apple is selling all four devices through its website now. They’ll be available in some Apple stores and from Mophie’s website next week.
