Hands-on with Tesla’s $300 wireless charging pad: It’s expensively useful

Tesla might have disenchanted traders by not announcing anything new at its current Investor Day occasion, however maybe at this time’s launch will change that. 

Tesla has began delivery its $300 Wireless Charging Platform, which options the identical design method because the Cybertruck. The Wi-fi Charging Platform is not a standard wi-fi charging setup. By utilizing FreePower know-how, the pad has a complete of 30 totally different coils that permits you to place your telephone or any Qi-compatible system anyplace you need on the pad — no extra fussing with completely lining up a tool with the in any other case hidden coils.

You could recall that FreePower offered the tech behind Nomad’s Base Station Professional. That was the primary model of a wi-fi charging pad that allowed you to position a tool on it, forgoing the necessity for correct alignment, and it’d simply cost. The Base Station Professional delivered on that promise, however bumped into points simply a few weeks later when Apple launched the iPhone 12 with MagSafe. FreePower V1 struggled with the circle of magnets contained in the telephones. So, FreePower went again to the drafting board and, with V2 that is discovered within the Wi-fi Charging Platform, has resolved any incompatibility points with Apple’s MagSafe tech.

I have been utilizing Tesla’s Wi-fi Charging Platform for the final 24 hours and it does precisely what Tesla and FreePower promise. I have been capable of cost two smartphones and my AirPods Pro or Pixel Buds Pro on the identical time. Placing two massive smartphones on the pad takes up many of the floor space, so I’ve had some points discovering sufficient room for the charging case of both pair of wi-fi earbuds — however with a little bit of shuffling, I have been capable of match all of it. 

Additionally: The 5 greatest wi-fi automobile chargers you should buy

You possibly can place as much as three totally different units on the pad on the identical time and it will present as much as 15 watts of energy to every one. Contained in the field, together with the Wi-fi Charging Platform, is a 65-watt wall adapter that appears prefer it’s a part of the Cybertruck, and a magnetic stand that attaches to the underside of the pad. There are cable routing slots within the stand that make it look a little bit tidier. 

There’s additionally a single LED indicator mild centered alongside the entrance of the stand, slightly below the Tesla brand. The sunshine’s used to let when a brand new system begins charging or if there’s a difficulty.

And, sure, it seems that FreePower actually has fastened its outdated MagSafe situation. I’ve had no drawback charging an iPhone 13 Pro Max and an iPhone 14 Plus. 

The very first thing I observed earlier than even opening the field was how heavy it weighed. Your complete housing is made from aluminum, making it one of many heaviest wi-fi charging pads I’ve used. The hard-angle design, which can be discovered on the Cybertruck, is a pleasant break from the clear traces and clean surfaces that almost all wi-fi charging pads characteristic, however it’s not going to be for everybody.

Additionally: Finest MagSafe equipment in your iPhone 

And at $300, Tesla’s made certain the charging pad is considered as a premium product designed for the corporate’s diehard followers. Is it value $300? Arduous to say. It is a formidable piece of tech, and one thing I hope FreePower is ready to carry to extra platforms and surfaces sooner or later.

Would you — or, did you — pay $300 for the Wireless Charging Platform? Tell us how a lot you’d pay for it within the feedback under.