Mophie is taking the wraps off its new wireless charger Charge Stream Pad+ for iPhones and Samsung smartphones.
It looks almost identical to its so-called predecessor, the Wireless Charging Base. However, under the hood is where it's taking things to the next level, so to speak.
Mophie's Upgraded Wireless Charger
The Charge Stream Pad+ is a Qi-based charger, just like the Wireless Charging Base. The difference is it can deliver up to 10W, as opposed to the older model's 7.5W offering. On top of that, it uses a standard USB to microUSB connector, instead of a proprietary cable.
"The mophie Charge Stream Pad+ is our first product that delivers optimal high-speed wireless charging to both Apple and Samsung Qi-enabled smartphones to make charging as effortless as possible. As smartphone capabilities continue to evolve, we believe charging should too. With the Charge Stream Pad+, there's never a need to fumble with a charging cable again," Charlie Quong, vice president of product development for Mophie, says.
What This Means For iPhone, Samsung Phone Users
To set things straight, Apple first implemented wireless charging with the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. These three devices can receive wireless charging of only 7.5W. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S9 supports 9W of wireless charging. In other words, the Charge Stream Pad+ can charge the Galaxy S9 faster than any of Apple's iPhones.
The thing is, iPhone users won't benefit much from choosing the updated version over the earlier Wireless Charging Base, which was designed with them in mind. That's because 7.5W is all they need.
The Charge Stream Pad+ is already available on Mophie's website, and it'll set consumers back by $59.95. That's $10 more than the Wireless Charging Base's $49.95 price tag — all the more reason for iPhone owners to stick with the older model.
It's worth mentioning that Apple could increase the charging limit of its devices. For instance, the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X started off with 5W of wireless charging, but the Cupertino brand gave it a little bump to 7.5W via iOS 11.2. Put differently, if the company pushes the wattage further to, say, 9W, then the new Charge Stream Pad+ will be a good buy for iPhone users.
To get a closer look at what Mophie has in store this time around, hit up the video below:
