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Mophie's latest portable battery pack has a flip-out Apple Watch charger
It revealed three new wireless charging stations designed for Apple devices.
Oppo's next phone can be fully charged in just 30 minutes
While a handful of recent flagship phones -- namely Samsung's Note 10+ (with the optional 45W adapter) and Vivo's NEX 3 5G -- can be fully charged in a little over an hour, Oppo's upcoming tech will soon render such "fast" charging speeds obsolete. We're talking about juicing up a 4,000mAh battery in just 30 minutes! That's the claim for Oppo's 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 feature, which will debut on the gaming-centric Reno Ace due October 10th, according to the company's Shenzhen event yesterday.
Oslo is working on wireless charging for its electric taxis
As Norway's capital city prepares to ensure all taxis are zero emission by 2023, Oslo is setting up a wireless charging system for cabs. It aims to have the first such fast-charging taxi system in the world, though it's not clear exactly when it will be up and running. Charging plates will be installed at taxi ranks, which will link to receivers installed in cabs. The system will charge taxis at up to 75 kW.
The best Qi wireless charging power banks
By Nick Guy This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full Qi wireless charging power banks guide here. After testing nine competitors over 10 hours, we're confident that Energizer's QE10000CQ 10K Wireless Charging Power Bank is the best all-in-one option for anyone looking for the convenience of a Qi wireless charger at a desk and the portability of a power bank on the go. It also has the fastest ports, and you can charge two devices and the battery itself at the same time. The Energizer QE10000CQ offers better grip on its wireless charging surface than the competition, ensuring that your phone stays in place and keeps charging. It has roughly the same footprint as an iPhone XS but measures about twice as thick, and it's equipped with the best combination of charging options we could find: two USB-A ports (one of which supports Quick Charge 3.0 charging), a Micro-USB input, and a USB-C port for both input and output. (You can fast-charge supported devices through the USB-C port if you have the right cable.) It can fully charge most phones three times before needing to be recharged itself; that's as much battery capacity as we saw from any Qi power bank available during our testing period. myCharge's Unplugged 5K is a good option if you prefer a small, inexpensive charger and are willing to make a few sacrifices. It's more affordable than the Energizer but has half the battery capacity (most phones can get about one and a half to two full charges from this myCharge model). In our tests, the Unplugged 5K wirelessly charged just as quickly as the Energizer, getting a fully drained phone to about 30 percent after an hour. Through the two USB-A output ports, you can expect charging speeds at least twice as fast as with wireless charging, but the unit doesn't offer a USB-C port for even faster charging than that. The white plastic body flexes when you press against it, and this power bank has less grip for keeping your phone in place.
Qualcomm's Quick Charge technology extends to wireless power
Qualcomm's Quick Charge tech has been falling behind the times -- it's focused on wired power at a time when wireless is in vogue. The company knows it's time to change, though. It's introducing a version of Quick Charge for wireless power that aims to speed up your cable-free top-ups. Charging pads (with matching chargers) that meet Qualcomm's guidelines should not only deliver electricity quickly, but in a "consistent and safety-conscious" fashion. You shouldn't have to worry that a pad is overheating your phone, or that it's not living up to its performance claims.
Apple may unveil a 16-inch MacBook Pro and 31-inch 6K monitor this year
If you're in the market for a new MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPad or virtually any other Apple product, gather 'round for Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's freshest rumors. To start, he told 9to5Mac that Apple will release a 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2019 that would be the largest-screen MacBook since 2012. That makes some sense, as we know that LG or another manufacturer is building such displays for Origin and others. Kuo adds that a 13-inch MacBook Pro might appear with up to 32GB of RAM, an amount that can only be found on 15-inch models right now.
Samsung's next wireless earbuds could charge on the Galaxy S10
Samsung might pip Apple to the post with wirelessly charged earbuds. WinFuture has obtained images that show the hinted-at Galaxy Buds charging on the back of the Galaxy S10, apparently confirming both a wireless charging case for the earbuds as well as rumored reverse wireless charging for the S10 proper. You probably wouldn't charge this way very often (what if you get an important message while it's charging?), but it could come in handy if you're away from home and want a little more music without plugging in.
Mophie's wireless iPhone battery case keeps your Lightning port free
Many iPhone battery cases use the Lightning port to keep your handset topped up, and that's obviously a problem when there's no headphone jack. Case makers either need to add a port back or make you forego wired listening altogether. Mophie, however, has a simple solution: wireless charging. Its newly unveiled Juice Pack Access relies solely on Qi to power the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, keeping the Lightning port open for wired headphones while adding 25 to 31 hours of extra talk time. This also avoids the bulky chin that you've seen in the past.
I want a wireless charging pocket in my next bag
Look, it's hard to get excited about a backpack. But, I have to admit, the Targus Mobile ViP+ Backpack is actually pretty damn cool. Most importantly, it's a solid feeling bag with plenty of padding where it's needed most and tons of storage space. But it's also got a few pretty unique features. The most obvious is the zip up pocket on the side that hides a Qi wireless charging dock. There's rails to keep your phone from moving about too much, and even ventilation to prevent overheating. The whole thing connects to an easily removable and rechargeable 5,000 mAh battery pack.
B&O made a wireless charging case for its all-wireless earphones
More audio companies are trying to make their true wireless earphone charging cases fashionable as well as functional. Klipsch has revealed a Zippo-style case for its first true wireless set, while Bang & Olufsen has updated the stylish leather case for its Beoplay E8 2.0 earphones. What's more, unlike most other cases, you can charge this one wirelessly.
Hyundai imagines a future where EVs can charge themselves
Automakers and other companies are planning to ramp up charger installations to keep up with the increasing interest in electric vehicles. But if they can't keep up with growing EV sales, overcrowding at public charging stations could become an enormous problem -- especially since (as CNET noted) people tend to leave their cars plugged in while they wander off instead of monitoring them and unplugging as soon as they're done. Hyundai and Kia believe the solution to that problem is a system that can automatically guide an EV to a wireless charging station and then drive it away as soon as it's fully charged.
AT&T portable battery will charge both your Apple Watch and iPhone
Apple's AirPower charging mat may be a no-show, but that doesn't mean you're out of luck if you want a multi-device charger from a big-name brand. Entries at both the FCC and the Wireless Power Consortium have revealed that AT&T is working on the Power Drum, a portable wireless charger and battery bank meant to top up both an Apple Watch and a recent iPhone (or really, any Qi-compatible smartphone). While the concept isn't completely novel, it's very compact -- the biggest issue is the 3,000mAh battery, which could handle an overnight stay but not much more.
Apple may release AirPods with wireless charging in early 2019
When Apple effectively scrubbed all mention of its AirPower wireless charging mat when it didn't show up a year after its unveiling, that raised a question: would the wireless charging case for AirPods meet a similar fate? Not necessarily. Historically accurate analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that AirPods with wireless charging support should arrive in the first quarter of 2019. He also suggested that there would be more changes than you might expect. They'd update to a newer Bluetooth spec (presumably Bluetooth 5.0), possibly a new W-series chip, and would include design changes like a more heat-resistant hinge.
Google limits Pixel 3's fast wireless charging to certified devices (update)
We hope you prefer wired charging if you're buying Google's Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL phone with no intention of getting a Pixel Stand. The tech giant's new flagship devices don't support 10W Qi charging and will only reach 5W charging speeds on most wireless chargers. Google has confirmed the charging cap after an Android Police reader measured it and found that to be the case. The reader contacted Anker, their wireless charger's manufacturer, and the accessory-maker told them that the phone "sets a limitation for third-party charging accessories."
Razer Phone 2 leaks thanks to premature Amazon listing
Razer is expected to unveil its second phone today, and another leak has given us a more detailed look at what's to come. Last month, leaked images showed that the Razer Phone 2 would look very much like its predecessor, with a couple of exceptions, but a prematurely posted product listing from Amazon Italy has now laid out a few of the phone's specs.
Wireless charging: Are we doing this or not?
The world is going increasingly wireless, with hardware manufacturers left and right eschewing physical ports and cables for digital handshakes and gigahertz connections. Just look at Apple's infamous headphone jack-eliminating AirPods, for example. However, one plug that device makers have continually struggled to remove is the one that supplies the gadget with power. The era of wireless mobile device charging has been "right around the corner" for the better part of a decade but will Google's latest foray into Qi-enabled charging technology finally be the popular push that brings wireless power transfers into the mainstream?
Google's Pixel Stand is a wireless charger that doubles as a dock
Google is showing off a handful of new products today, including the highly leaked Pixel 3, and the company confirmed what leaks have suggested -- that the phone will support wireless charging. With it being the first Pixel with Qi charging, what better time to roll out a wireless charger? That seems to be Google's line of thought as today it unveiled the Pixel Stand, a dock that can wirelessly charge your phone while giving you access to Google Assistant.
Belkin's wireless charging dock handles your iPhone XS and Apple Watch
While we wait to see if Apple's AirPower mat will ever make an appearance, owners of new iPhones and Apple Watches who want to charge both at the same time could consider this Belkin dock. The BOOST↑UP Wireless Charging Dock works with iPhone 8 and newer models (including the just-launched iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max) and all Apple Watches.
Your phone can wirelessly charge Huawei's new AirPod-like Freepods
Apple's stumbles with wireless charging could be Huawei's gain. The Chinese tech giant's upcoming Freebuds 2 Pro truly wireless earbuds look an awful lot like Apple's AirPods and in a twist, their battery case can supposedly be charged via the forthcoming Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro, according to marketing materials obtained by WinFuture (translated).
Apple's AirPower wireless-charging mat is still MIA
Apple unveiled its AirPower wireless-charging mat at its iPhone event last year, promising a way for those with multiple Apple devices to be able to wirelessly charge them all at the same time. The company showed how an iPhone, an Apple Watch and a set of AirPods could all be tossed onto the mat to charge simultaneously, noting that AirPower would be available sometime in 2018. But a year later we still don't have it, and today as Apple showed off its latest round of iPhones and the Apple Watch Series 4, there was not a single mention of AirPower. And the device has largely disappeared from the company's website.
