Zens Says 16-Coil Design Brings 'Freedom of Placement' to Qi Chargers

Zens announced a wireless charger with 16 overlapping charging coils, which it said gives owners of Qi-based devices “complete freedom of placement.” Users can position two Qi-based devices anywhere on a charging pad, it said, which would eliminate the need for precise coil-to-coil alignment necessary with traditional Qi chargers -- one of the caveats of Qi wireless charging. Placement freedom would cancel one of the competitive advantages wireless charging company Energous claimed (see 1905030023) over Qi with its WattUp contactless charging technology that has yet to reach the market in meaningful numbers. Photos show Zens charging pads holding two smartphones and a smartphone with AirPods. The Zens Liberty charger has a 2x15-watt output with Apple and Samsung Fast Charge support. A 2.4-Amp built-in USB port on the top of the unit charges an additional device; the company teased the reason for the top-mount placement, promising an additional announcement in coming weeks. Due in November, the charger is made of aluminum and comes with a 45-watt USB-C power adapter and separate power plugs for use in the EU, U.K. and U.S. The Kvadrat edition ($139) has a woolen upholstery base created by Danish designer Margrethe Odgaard; the $179 limited-edition glass model reveals the inner workings of the 16 coils, said the company.