How to Buy a New Charging Pad (Not AirPower)
Bad news for Apple fans: AirPower is missing. At least Apple hid that little ad right before the weekend so that no one thought the big cancellation was a hoax.
The official reason? AirPower does not meet Apple standards. Likely cause? It’s really hard for Apple to create a fancy charging mat, especially one that uses a purported proprietary chip and a smaller version of iOS to regulate power management for whatever compatible device you put on it (anywhere on the mat, no less).
What should a person do? Grinding your teeth? Howl? Consider why the box of your newly released Wireless Charging Case for your AirPods mentions AirPower compatibility? Honestly, you don’t have to do anything. Are you okay. There are many great AirPower alternatives out there. They won’t let you place your device anywhere , but they won’t cost any obscene money either (as an Apple rug probably will).
Before heading to the store for your new wireless charging pad, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Need a trendy new charging mat at all?
I have both an iPhone X and an Apple Watch. The former has its own aftermarket wireless charging pad because I’m lazy and don’t like to plug my iPhone into a power outlet all the time. However, the wireless charger is slower than what I would get from a crazier wired solution as its maximum wattage is only 7.5W, which takes longer to charge my device than the 12W + power adapter. albeit slightly faster than Apple’s nifty 5W wired adapter. still gives out. (Sigh.)
Do I notice this in daily use? Not when I first started working with my iPhone X, no. Now that my device starts to show its age, its battery is not what it used to be. If I need a quick charge before heading out for the day, my wireless charging pad isn’t the best option; I’d rather stick it in.
My particular wireless charger is a little finicky too. Placing an iPhone on a tablet usually works, but not always. And it’s incredibly frustrating to put the device down, wait for a little “I’m charging” noise, hear nothing, and then you have to wiggle the iPhone around the tablet to align the wireless charging coils and make the whole process work. Sometimes sleepy David skips this step entirely and wakes up with an iPhone desperate for juice.
While wireless charging is fun and rewarding, it’s not perfect . Plus, your Apple Watch – if you have one – already comes with a wireless charger that’s incredibly easy to use. If you have a strap that won’t break, like a sports loop, this is the perfect size to squeeze into and charge your device. Otherwise, you’ll have to flip the strap or disassemble it to place the watch on the charging pad, which seems like an annoying process.
Make sure you have the best wireless charging speed
You can buy any number of “wireless chargers” right now – that’s half of the likely reason AirPower doesn’t exist, as Apple probably realized it couldn’t launch anything better than what already exists. However, not all wireless charging cradles are created equal.
You should make sure that whatever charging pad you choose supports at least 7.5W for Apple devices, which gives you the best iPhone wireless charging speed at the time of this writing. It would be even better if your tablet could charge compatible devices up to 10W – currently only certain Android devices are suitable for this, but Apple will certainly allow some iPhones to charge up to 10W at some point in the future (regardless of whether whether it’s in brand form – new iPhone or firmware update).
Make sure your wireless charging pad isn’t confusing
Some wireless charging stands support 10W wireless charging, but with a small star . If the tablet only supports three devices, say one Apple Watch and two smartphones, then one side can support a full 10W charge (or 7.5W for an iPhone). Part of the Apple Watch will support up to 5W (although the watch itself only charges from 2.5W). And the third smartphone tablet can support, say, 5W. Or worse, you get a wireless charging stand that requires 10W but only gives you an AC adapter capable of handling 5W.
While watts, voltages, and amps can be a little confusing, make sure you read the fine print for whatever wireless charging pad you are looking to buy. And make sure you fully understand how its charging setup works – for example, you don’t limit its capabilities by accident, and you don’t use the “slower” side when you really want to use the “faster” side, if applicable. -such things.
Stick to famous brands
I’m not a brand lover, but device charging is an area I would hesitate to buy any third-party chargers – one of those awkwardly described items that you usually find promoted on discount sites or all over Amazon. etc.
While this does not mean that Belkin or Mophie will never break, or worse, damage your device in any way, I feel much more confident about something that is well known and that many buyers and reviewers use it. … Generally, items that you can find on the Wireless Power Consortium certification list are more credible than those not listed.
Plus, if something happens to your device as a result of using a charger, you have a better chance of getting a refund from a reputable company than from a random online retailer selling ultra-cheap wireless chargers. Buy a cheap case or fake watchband; do not skimp on the charger.