When Apple killed the AirPower charging mat in 2019, there seemed to be the dream of charging three devices at once on a single surface. While there are plenty of dual phone chargers and multi-device mats that use separate cables for each section, Apple’s vision of a mat that can charge anything you put on it wherever you put it hasn’t been done reality
Bye now. On Thursday, Tesla released the simply named wireless charging platform on its online store. Like AirPower, it has a couple of dozen charging coils under the surface and only needs a single 65W cable to operate. Tesla says its FreePower technology can charge “Qi-enabled devices such as phones or headphones placed anywhere on its surface without precise alignment.” A view shows that it works similarly to AirPower, with up to three devices charging at the same time.
Tesla describes the design as “composed of an aluminum shell, a premium Alcantara surface, and a removable magnetic stand that lets you place the charger flat or at an angle for a better view.” It says it’s inspired by “Cybertruck’s angular design and metallic styling.” Photos of the device show it charging iPhones and AirPods alongside an Apple Magic Keyboard and an iMac. It’s doubtful that it can also charge an Apple Watch like AirPower was supposedly able to do.
AirPower was announced alongside the iPhone X in September 2017, but never got off the ground. A few months after its unveiling, reports started circulating about overheating issues and the project was canceled a year later in March 2019.
We never knew the price of AirPower, but we assumed it would be at least $149. Tesla’s charger costs twice as much, at $300. If you want one, you can pre-order now for shipping in February.