Charging

Apple introduced MagSafe accessories for its new iPhone 12 lineup today at its October 13 iPhone event. MagSafe will make charging your iPhone 12 easier and faster than previous wireless generations; the frustration of placing your iPhone "just so" for wireless charging will also soon be a thing of the past. The line of MagSafe accessories includes cases, chargers, and wallets that connect to your iPhone with magnets. Read on to learn about MagSafe improvements to the iPhone 12, how MagSafe accessories work, what kind of gear you'll be able to purchase, and what MagSafe means for the iPhone accessory market. If you enjoy learning about wireless charging, fast charging, and charging myths, we can also give you the 411 on how to safely charge your device, MagSafe or otherwise.

Remember when Apple announced, and then later cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat? The concept was straightforward, simply have a flat surface upon which to lay your Apple iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch on, and have those devices recharge wirelessly. Apple shelved AirPower due to potential heating and uniform power concerns. Unsurprisingly, that hasn't stopped Apple third-party accessory companies from attempting to emulate the anticipated all-in-one wireless charging mat. Indeed, the Vissles-W 3-in-1 wireless charging pad ($45) even appears at first glance to be nearly identical to the Apple AirPower mat design. However, upon closer inspection, it isn't quite what Apple originally had in mind. Read on to find out why.

I travel a lot and am always looking for the ideal battery pack, and the Mophie Powerstation Plus XL Wireless ($99.95) comes close. The company sent me a review unit to try. There are a few features that set this charging battery apart from the rest. First, it charges via Lightning. This means iPhone owners can carry one less cable. In fact, the second differentiator is that it has a Lightning cable built-in, so you can charge your iPad (not Pro) or iPhone. But you would still need a separate standalone Lightning cable and wall plug to recharge the Powerstation.

Over the past dozen or so years, I have reviewed hundreds if not thousands of products. One of my favorite aspects of this is when a product I previously reviewed gets better and I get a chance to cover the newer version. I also appreciate multi-function devices. I have so many gadgets already so the more functions a single device can perform, the better, as long as there are no compromises. This is the case with Pitaka's Air Omni (starting at $119). While it is available on Kickstarter, and I hesitate to recommend crowdfunded projects because of the uncertainty, Pitaka is a well-established, longtime Apple accessory maker and this product is real, as Pitaka sent me a review unit to try.

I'm always looking for the perfect wireless charging accessory, and with so many gadgets to charge, one thing I look for is the smallest footprint possible. Fortunately, Moshi sent me the SnapTo Magnetic Wireless Charger $49.95) to try, and it offers something impressive, no footprint. That's because it uses a combination of magnets to keep your phone in contact with the rubberized charging pad, plus an optional swiveling wall-mount that attaches via the included 3M adhesive strips.

I like it when products do double or even triple duty. The less I have to clutter my desk or travel bag with, the better. The team at RapidX agrees and sent me their MyPort ($79.99) to try. It's a 10,000 mAh portable battery pack, which is enough to charge an iPhone several times, or you can charge a couple of items thanks to the USB-A and USB-C port and built-in Qi wireless charging pad.

I am always on the lookout for ways to my iPhone's boost battery life. The folks at Eggtronic sent me their Wireless Power Popper - Ring ($39.99) to try. This portable iPhone charger has a lot to offer. First, it's lightweight, soft, and compact. That's important because Eggtronic designed it to attach the back of your Qi-enabled smartphone. Second, the wireless charging bank comes with your choice of grip: the Power Ring, a 360-degree rotatable ring, or the PopSocket-style Power Popper; you just have to decide which you prefer when you order. You can also choose from assorted colors for the fabric exterior.

I have been a fan of Pitaka's iPhone cases and car charger for some time. The company has a unique design combining aramid fiber (which looks like carbon fiber) and metal and magnets to not only look good but also to keep your phone and accessories connected, in place, and fully charged. But if you want an extra battery pack to carry with you, Pitaka also has the MagEZ Juice ($89.99), which Pitaka sent me to try.

I keep restocking portable battery packs because the kids borrow and don't return them. Then I'll clean around the house and find discharged battery packs strewn around the house. Now, the ChargeHub HomeBase Power Bank Docking Station ($59.99) that Limitless Innovations sent me may be my saviour. The portable battery charging dock is a compact base that has four slots for the included aluminum battery packs, each offering 4,000 mAh of power, which is impressive given how slim they are.

Ever since I got my iPhone X last year, I’ve been intrigued by the possibility of creating a wireless charging station for it. Sure, there’s a burgeoning supply of furniture with Qi chargers already built in, but they’re more expensive than I’m willing to spring for. Beyond that, I enjoy repurposing all sorts of items around the house, from pallets, to fabric, to old box springs, and thought this project would be a great way to reuse a less-than-gorgeous piece of furniture while improving my less-than-stellar carpentry skills. My goal was to combine the old and worn with cutting-edge technology to create a piece of furniture no one would suspect had the ability to wirelessly charge your iPhone. 

Good news for everyone who was disappointed 2018 concluded without the announcement of AirPods 2, the AirPower Charging Mat, or a new set of over-ear headphones, potentially called Studio Pods: We may be getting at least one, maybe two of those devices very soon. Via press release, Apple has given us an official release date and specs of the AirPods 2. The rumors of an accompanying wireless charging enabled AirPod case, indicate that Apple may finally be ready to release the promised AirPower Charging Mat as well. In this rumor roundup, we'll cover every update about the new rumored new wireless earbuds and wireless charging case, as well as Studio Pods and AirPower related rumors.  


These days we have a plethora of options when it comes to finding a Qi wireless charger that best suits our needs. While these convenient charging pads have many similarities, no two are the same. In fact, one of the biggest differences I find between charging pads, aside from obvious variances in style and appearance, would have to be the charging wattage that they deliver and therefore how fast they charge. In my testing I found that all of these Qi chargers work well even with iPhones in rugged protective cases.

Once a technology, in this case, backup batteries, becomes a free give away for marketing purposes, it gets harder and harder to find products that warrant a review. MyCharge has managed to create a new backup battery worthy of your attention. The $49.99 MyCharge AdventureMax packs a 10050mAh battery into an attractive but rugged  compact portable charger that weighs just half a pound. The plastic case looks great and the material offers a secure feel when it's being held. The AdventureMax will charge two devices at a time via its 2.4A standard USB ports.

I reviewed the earlier version of Nomad's USB Hub, and I liked it then, but since then, Apple introduced phones with Qi-based wireless charging, so I had to use a third-party charging pad next to my Nomad hub. RECENTLY, I was able to try the USB Hub - Wireless ($79.95) from Nomad, which was announced at CES and will become available to the public soon.

Qi wireless chargers are about to become all the rage with owners of the new iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. If you weren't already on the Qi wireless charging bandwagon, you're about to find yourself much more inclined to be, now that Apple is offering Qi wireless charging as a native feature of its new iPhone X and iPhone 8 series. With Qi wireless charging, you simply place your Qi enabled device upon the Qi charging base and that's it, your device begins charging. Easy as can be. Fortunately Qi wireless charging is already an established charging platform, so there are plenty of great Qi wireless charging pads to choose from, with more on the way including Apple’s own AirPower charging plate. Let's learn more about some of the best wireless iPhone charging stations currently available.

Qi charging, wireless charging, inductive charging... whatever you call it, it's fast becoming a must-have feature in the smart phone world. Apple's latest three iPhone offerings, the 8, 8 Plus, and X, are all Qi enabled and can charge their batteries at the wireless charging stations that are popping up everywhere from airports to coffee shops. There's even a free app, Aircharge Qi, that lets iPhone users know where their nearest Qi charging station is! The versatility and convenience offered by electromagnetic charging isn't just for the latest iPhones, though. If you have an older iPhone and want to get on the wireless charging bandwagon, there's more than one way to Qi-enable your pre-iPhone 8 device. Choices include wireless charging cases, and a variety of wireless charging receiver cards, stickers, and patches; and remember, if you're going to buy a Qi-enabling accessory for your device, you'll also need a Qi charging pad. Let's get started going over your options to get wireless charging on your older iPhone.

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