Tesla on Thursday announced its $300 Tesla Wireless Charging Platform, a wireless charging pad that is able to charge up to three Qi devices at one time.
The charging mat provides similar charging capabilities as Apple’s canceled AirPower charging mat, as users can place their devices anywhere on the mat, providing up to 15W of charging power to each device. However, the mat can only charge Qi-compatible devices, such as the iPhone and AirPods, but cannot charge an Apple Watch.
Inspired by the angular design and metallic styling of Cybertruck, our Wireless Charging Platform provides 15W of fast charging power per device for up to three devices simultaneously. Its sleek design is composed of an aluminum housing, premium alcantara surface and a detachable magnetic stand that allows you to lay the charger flat or at an angle for better viewing. Featuring FreePower(R) technology, which charges your Qi capable devices such as phones or earbuds placed anywhere on its surface without precise alignment.
Tesla’s charging mat uses FreePower, a technology from Aira that has been used in other wireless charging platforms. The new charging mat will begin shipping in February 2023.
Apple in March 2019 canceled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was first announced back in 2017. Reports at the time said the cancellation was due to the company’s inability to meet its own high-quality standards.
The AirPower was designed to simultaneously charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. Following Apple’s 2017 announcement and the delays that followed, numerous rumors of technical difficulties arose, while Apple stayed typically closed-mouthed about the delays.
Rumors suggested there were issues with heat management, interference, inter-device communication, and more. Apple’s desire to create a charging mat where an iPhone, Apple Watch, or AirPods could be placed anywhere on the mat to charge required the layering of charging coils and that led to issues even Apple couldn’t overcome.
(Via MacRumors)
