Skip to main content

As interesting as the Plux charging pad sounds, it hasn’t been Qi certified yet

Plux Wireless Charging Stand

If you’ve gone all in on Apple, you need a battery charger that has done the same. And here to help is Plux, heralded as the world’s first Qi-compatible, multidevice wireless charging pad for your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. Capable of charging all three devices at the same time, the Plux claims to re-juice your essential electronics with up to 10W of power, saving you both time and money on your energy bill. In fact, Plux claims to help you charge your devices up to 33 percent faster than standard wireless chargers.

Recommended Videos

Before you get too excited, however, we should point out that the Plux charger is not certified by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) as being Qi certified. That means that the charger has not been tested by the WPC, and as a result, has not been cleared of certain risks. Those include overheating, damage to charging devices, and potential incompatibility. While it’s possible that the Plux is still safe despite not being Qi certified, it’s certainly something to keep in mind.

If you’re unperturbed by this, however, the Plux is capable of being configured either as a pad or as a stand, Plux allows you to leverage the convenience of wire-free charging. By standing up the charger and using it as a phone stand, you can continue using your mobile device in a convenient fashion — or you can simply set everything down on the Plux pad and live an electronics-free existence for just a little while.

“Whether you’re texting, calling, or watching your favorite shows, don’t let your wireless charger restrict your mobility,” the Plux team notes on its Indiegogo page. “We’ve designed Plux to be an aesthetically pleasing and a highly usable stand that holds your phone up under a viewer-friendly angle.” The accompanying stand converter promises to provide users with an ideal angle for your Face ID and Nightstand Modes, which means that even as your phone is charging, you can easily access notifications, calls, and your favorite content.

More convenient still, the Plux ought to be able to charge your smartphone through its iPhone case. After all, being forced to remove the tightly fitted skin from your mobile device almost makes the wireless charging capabilities not worth it. But as long as your case isn’t thicker than 3mm, the Plux should have the ability to charge right through it.

To keep your AirPods, Apple Watch, and iPhone safe, however, Plux also promises to provide intelligent safeguards that will protect against overheating and overcharging.

Of course, you should always exercise caution when deciding whether or not to back a crowdfunding campaign. That said, if you’re interested in helping to bring Plux to life, the team is offering early bird pricing of $39 with an estimated delivery date of April 2018.

Updated on February 15: Noted that the Plux is not Qi certified by the WPC. 

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
What to do when your iPhone won’t charge
iPhone battery feature image.

If your iPhone is not charging as you would expect, there are a number of potential fixes available, from restarting your iPhone to changing your Lightning cable. They're all easy to try, and in the vast majority of cases, they'll get your iPhone juiced back up again.
Check, change, or replace the Lightning cable

Your iPhone charges by receiving electricity through its Lightning cable. If it's not charging, then there may be a problem with this cable. Here are a number of things you can try.

Read more
Otterbox’s Folding Wireless Power Bank offers fast charging while gaming
Otterbox folidng battery charger for gamers.

In advance of this weekend's Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle, Otterbox has announced its new Folding Wireless Power Bank intended for mobile gamers and travelers. In addition to providing up to 25 hours of extra battery life, as tested on a 3,000 milliamp-hour (mAh) smartphone, the pocket-sized albeit pricey Power Bank ($60) features an adjustable stand with an antislip surface and a friction hinge, and also doubles as a battery pack and a manipulable mount for your phone.

The Power Bank has been tested with an iPhone 12 to provide fast charging with a cable in as little as 30 minutes. It also works with Otterbox-branded phone cases, comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable, and outputs power using Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0/3.0. Its wireless charging is done via 10-watt Qi, the bank itself charges at 18W, and its dual coils allow you to charge in either landscape or portrait orientations.

Read more
Belkin gets MagSafe right with the sleek Boost Charge 3-in-1 charging dock
belkin boost charge 3 in 1 magsafe wireless charger

This is the Belkin Boost Charge 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe, to give it its full name, and it will charge your iPhone using MagSafe, your Apple Watch, and a pair of wireless headphones all at the same time, no messing around. It’s versatile and attractive, but it’s also very expensive at $150. Is it the second MagSafe accessory we feel happy recommending, or should you save your money?
Design
Belkin is very good at minimalist designs like this, just look at the 2015 Charge Dock for proof, and how it has refined the shape over the last few years, resulting in the Boost Charge 3-in-1 here. The wide, circular base is metal, covered in white plastic, and with a soft, grippy base. It is also available in black. A chrome metal shaft extends from the back of the baseplate, ending in a T-shaped piece holding the charging discs for the iPhone and the Apple Watch.

The disc for the iPhone uses the new MagSafe charging system, where magnets grip on to your iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, or 12 Max to hold it in place, and deliver wireless charging power at up to 15W. On the other side is a standard Apple Watch magnetic charger, and a Qi wireless charger lives in the base. All three can be used at the same time, so there’s no waiting around for your iPhone to finish charging before it moves on to the Watch.

Read more