The QiStone+ is the first wireless power pack for your iDevices

If you're like me, you sometimes travel with an external battery pack to keep your iPhone or iPad charged if you are on the road or just can't get to a wall outlet. Those battery packs work well, but they are tethered with a cable to your device.

So here's something a bit different. The QiStone+ is a 4000mAh wireless charger. Of course it needs to be charged at some point too, but it has a prodigious amount of power. You can carry it with you and charge your device simply by setting it on top of this rock-like power pack.

Specifications

• Qi Wireless standard

• Works with all Qi receivers

• 4000 mAh capacity

• Can charge with a built in USB port as well

Design Highlights

The charger looks like a flat stone. Its textured design keeps your device from slipping off the charger surface. It fits in the palm of your hand and will blend with any decor.

Functionality Highlights

There are a lot of advantages to wireless charging, but of course there's going to need to be a wire somewhere. The QiStone+ will charge your iPhone, but first your phone it will need an iQi accessory -- a thin receiver that plugs into your Lightning port. Once your iPhone has the iQi dongle installed, a case can be placed on the phone as normal. The device is thin enough that most soft cases will fit. A hard case is not recommended for use with the receiver, but some may work.

Now it's just a matter of setting your iPhone on the QiStone+. When you are charging, the QiStone+ beeps and a blue LED comes on. The device itself can be charged with the included USB cable which can be plugged into a computer USB port or a wall USB adapter. If you have a Qi wireless pad, you can charge the stone wirelessly from that.

You can only wirelessly charge one device at a time, but if you want to plug in another device you can charge one wirelessly and another with a wired connection.

Using the Q1Stone+ and Conclusions

Setup and use was easy. I plugged the iQi adapter into my iPhone, put my iPhone back into my case, then set the iPhone on the QiStone+ where it immediately started to charge. The QiStone+ sells for U.S. $79.99 on Amazon. The iQi Mobile adapter sells for $35.00. The Qi charging standard is widespread, and there is a whole family of wireless products that support it.

The hardware is attractive and easy to use; the only real issue is cost. You can find some really nice wired external chargers for less than half the cost of the QiStone+, and if you don't already live in the Qi ecosystem you'll need to buy an adapter to work with your iPhone. Between the adapter and the QiStone+, you're looking at an expense of $115.00. Although this charger removes the wire from the charger to your phone, you still have to charge the stone so at some point, you will still need a wired AC connection to keep everything functioning.

The QiStone+ is an attractive and unique charging solution. The wireless feature is effective and well thought out. If it fits your day-to-day charging workflow, it is worth a serious look.