Dutch tech company ZENS has unveiled the new ZENS Liberty, a wireless charger that promises to do things that the canceled Apple AirPower could not.
Apple fans were disappointed when the iPhone maker announced in March that it would no longer release its AirPower charging mat. The wireless charger was supposed to power Apple devices, such as iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods, all at the same time no matter where they are placed on the mat.
With Apple no longer pushing through with the device, ZENS has decided to swoop in and take the field on its own with the Liberty.
ZENS' Liberty Wireless Charging Mat
Much like the AirPower, the ZENS Liberty allows users to power their Qi-compatible devices by placing them anywhere on its charging mat.
The Liberty makes use of 16 wireless coils to charge the batteries of certain smartphones such as the iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, BlackBerry, Microsoft Lumia, and Google Nexus. By comparison, AirPower was rumored to have 21 to 24 coils.
ZENS' wireless charging mat can handle two devices simultaneously, while Apple's offering was supposed to charge up to three gadgets. The Liberty can charge each device at 15 watts, and it can do it at a much faster rate compared to most other wireless chargers available.
However, one downside to the Liberty is that it doesn't seem to allow charging for the Apple Watch, as none of the promotional materials featuring the wireless charging mat shows that it could handle the device.
Reports suggest that Apple's AirPower encountered several problems during its development, which included overheating and emitting signals that were more powerful than what was allowed under European or U.S. regulations. While ZENS may claim that the Liberty could provide the same functions as AirPower, some critics doubt that the company was able to solve the limitations to the technology that Apple could not.
Alternatives To The ZENS Liberty
People who are interested in giving ZENS Liberty a shot can choose from two variants. There is the limited glass edition, which costs $179.99 a piece, and the aluminum-matted "Kvadrat edition", which costs $139.99.
Meanwhile, for those who may be looking for an alternative can try out the RavPower Fast Charge Wireless Charging Pad and the RavPower 2 Coils Wireless Charging Stand. Both devices use up to 10 watts of charging power, which is relatively more powerful than Samsung's 9-watt and Apple's 7.5-watt chargers.
There is also the Hard Cider Labs SliceCharge Pro, which can charge up to two devices at the same time using six wireless charging coils. This wireless charging mat mainly powers iPhones and AirPods, but it can also charge Apple Watches, albeit through a designated USB charger.
