If you're an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods owner, the Apple AirPower wireless charging mat can't come soon enough, but for the iPhone, there's a new wireless charger launching this month from Logitech.
It's called the Logitech Powered Wireless Charging Stand and it's been designed in collaboration with Apple. What that means isn't exactly clear, but Powered certainly offers a different take on what a wireless charger should be.
Typically they take the form of a mat you have to carefully position your device on to ensure charging starts. That's not the case with Powered. Logitech created a stand that's compatible with the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. You slide the phone into place guided by the sides of the stand meaning alignment is never an issue. It's even compatible with iPhone cases up to 3mm thick.
Because your iPhone is vertical (the screen sits at a 65 degree angle), it can still be used while wirelessly charging. Logitech also supports positioning your iPhone in a landscape orientation if you want to watch a video, for example, while charging happens. Very clever.
Logitech Powered is a Qi-compatible charger capable of a charging output of 7.5W for iPhones. However, the stand is capable of supporting a Samsung S7, S7 Edge, S8, S8+, S9, and S9+ and offering those handsets a charging output of 5W. So even if you aren't an iPhone user this wireless charging stand may be useful.
In the box you get the stand and a 1.5 meter power cable. Logitech built in safety features meaning the charger is protected against overheating, the base is constructed of no-slip materials, and there's no internal moving parts such as a fan so zero noise when in use.
If you'd like one, Logitech is set to offer Powered through its website and at Apple stores later this month for $79.99. After that, it's sure to appear at all the usual online retailers for a similar price. At the very least it means one less cable to worry about breaking with repeated use. The only cable left you'll need is for your portable charger or power bank.