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Whereas its CEO is a bit of busy elsewhere, Tesla has rolled out a wi-fi charger formed vaguely like its Cybertruck, with the identical purpose — however not design ethos — as Apple’s AirPower.
Overlook naming automobiles in order that the vary spells out the phrase “S3XY,” now Tesla’s advertising division has launched the “Wi-fi Charging Platform.” Maybe they knew they could as properly use an outline as an alternative of a reputation as a result of everybody’s calling it AirPower.
Beforehand, in 2017, Apple introduced AirPower, a then-forthcoming wi-fi charger the place you possibly can simply put your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods down on its floor, and so they’d cost. Besides they would not, or the AirPower would fritter away, or one thing, and finally Apple threw up its palms and deserted the concept.
Now, Tesla has begun taking pre-orders for its model, the Wi-fi Charging Platform, which is able to start delivery in February 2023.
“Impressed by the angular design and metallic styling of Cybertruck, our Wi-fi Charging Platform offers 15W of quick charging energy per system for as much as three units concurrently,” says Tesla. “Its glossy design consists of an aluminum housing, premium alcantara floor and a removable magnetic stand that lets you lay the charger flat or at an angle for higher viewing.”
It’s particularly for “Qi succesful units similar to telephones or earbuds,” which implies it will not cost the Apple Watch. Whereas in sure — and uncommon — circumstances you will get a Qi charger to work on an Apple Watch, it is fairly clear given Tesla’s advertising supplies that they didn’t crack that nut.
So it isn’t fairly the entire answer that AirPower tried to be. Which means you are still going to need to have at the least two chargers, which makes the $300 of Tesla’s choice appear much more pricey.
Tesla is just not the primary agency to provide an multi-device charger — however it’s the first to have one that you could put units down anyplace on the floor. Mophie launched what it known as the 3-in-1 wi-fi charging pad in 2019, and at launch it value $140 – together with a built-in stand for an Apple Watch charger.
That is nonetheless out there at a steeply discounted $60 from Amazon.
Equally, in 2020 there was the Satechi Trio Wi-fi Charger which incorporates an Apple Watch stand. That retails for $120 from Amazon.