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Review: Qi Wireless Charging Orb

QI Wireless Charging Orb

 

One of my favourite features to have emerged in smartphones lately is the wireless charging feature. While I already have one at home, I thought it was time to get one for my work too. If there is one thing I have learnt, you can never have enough chargers, and for me, the mantra is that you can never have enough wireless chargers.

What is it?

The beautiful device I am testing is, as the name suggests, a wireless charger. No wires. You just place your device on it, and it charges it.

Wait… what?

Yeah, you heard it right. (READ it, but you know). The principle is the same one that charged your electric tooth brush. It is called induction charging, and a lot of research is going into this.

What is this ‘QI’?

QI, or ‘chi’ as it is in pronounced in China, is the latest standard that is being adopted by almost everything to support wireless charging lately. This includes the Nexus 4 and Nexus 7, Galaxy S3, S4, Xperia Z, and other such phones. The advantage of having a standard is that one charger works for all, a bit like micro-USB chargers work for all Androids as well as Blackberries.

What about charging speed?

Okay, this is where it does lose out. It does not charge as fast as a wire, but hey, this is like magic!

Now that we know the technology, tell us more about this ‘orb’…

You are stylish. Your phone is stylish. Why should the wireless charger be something that looks plastic? The orb is designed such that it looks good, and comes in an array of colours. The tilt means that most devices can fit on, and there is a ‘sticky’ surface on the orb itself which means that your phone just sticks to it, and does not leave any sticky residue on the back of your phone. This means that your phone is always at an optimum viewing angle, and still has the advantage of being charged.

How well does it charge?

As well as you’d expect it too. You just leave the device on there. When it is powered, it shows a red LED, and when you leave the device on, another LED, green, turns on to indicate that your device is charging. It really is as simple as that.

Can I use a case on my phone?

Sadly, the answer to this is that it is totally dependant on your case. I do not generally use a case on my phone, and while I tried a couple of cases, it worked perfectly for one, while it refused to acknowledge the presence of a phone for the other. Generally, a thinner case would work better than say a thick one. Also, a thin plastic layer would work better than a thick leather one, or a metal one.

How do I get it?

This can be found under the Wireless Chargers category at Mobile Fun:

http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/qi-wireless-charging-orb-white-blue-p39840.htm

It retails for £39.95, and comes in White/Blue, White/Green, White/Red and Black colours.

Verdict

I am totally sold on this, and am totally in love with wireless charging. It is another one of those things that you don’t realize you need in your life, till you have it. You’ll know what I mean when you get this. As far as this particular orb goes, what sets it apart are the looks, the usability, and that it actually sticks to your phone, while keeping it at an optimum angle, so you can use it while it charges, without having to ‘disturb’ the charging process.

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