This wireless charger does what AirPower could not — and now you can buy it

This wireless charger does what AirPower could not — and now you can buy it

Dutch wireless charger maker Zens has unveiled what can hardly be called a replacement for Apple's unreleased AirPower.

Called "Liberty," Zens' new charger features 16 circular, overlapping coils that allow the pad to charge up to two devices simultaneously. It can also charge an Apple Watch separately with an adapter that plugs into the USB-A port in the upper right corner.

The price for all this freedom? $139. For this price, you get a Liberty Pad with a woolen charging surface. For $40 more, you can get the same charger, but instead the top is glassed over so you can peek at the coils below; if you also want the Apple Watch cradle, you'll need to add another $39.

The glass certainly looks cleaner and is also more practical, as you can see exactly where the coils are. In theory, the Liberty should charge any device placed on it anywhere, but according to AppleInsider, who has used this accessory in practice, there are dead zones along the edges and corners where the coil cannot reach at all.

Those who followed the ill-fated AirPower will notice a crucial difference between Zens' device and Apple's vision of wireless charging: the AirPower was supposed to be able to charge three devices at once, while the Liberty is limited to two. This is because AirPower allegedly had four to five more coils than Liberty, and the interference and heat generated by its miscellaneous coils forced Apple to cancel the product as it could not meet the company's "high standards."

In addition, Liberty lacks the software integration that differentiates AirPower from virtually any other wireless charging pad; AirPower uses the iPhone's display during charging to relay information about the battery status of other devices being charged simultaneously It is designed to relay information about the battery status of other devices being charged at the same time, something that third-party accessory makers like Zens cannot achieve without full access to iOS.

Still, Zens deserves kudos for bringing a go-anywhere charger to market; the Liberty is quite thick for a wireless pad and seems capable of managing all that energy. It also supports Apple and Samsung's own fast charging standards, something AirPower could never have claimed.

The Liberty will begin shipping this month, and Zens offers both cloth and glass versions directly from its online store.

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