Mophie’s Wireless Charging Is A Costly And Convenient Solution For Cutting Cables

Mophie’s Wireless Charging Is A Costly And Convenient Solution For Cutting Cables

I hate cables. I’m not particularly crazy about aesthetics — my bedroom floor is currently covered with a nice, healthy layer of clothing and detritus — but when it comes to the charging cables of the various gadgets I own, I inevitably find myself deeply irritated by their rubbery, Medusa-esque tangles.

All images: Alex Cranz/Gizmodo

What Is It?

Imagine my delight, then, when Mophie announced “Charge Force,” its latest line of battery cases and accessories. “Place your Mophie case with charge force wireless power on any wireless charging base and power is sent to your device directly on contact. Never fuss with cables again,” the company promises.

I’m a regular Mophie user — I own and use the company’s standard juice pack ($US60 ($80)) for extending my battery life — but that case needs to be plugged in to charge. Charge Force pads, on the other hand, wirelessly charge your device and case (in that order) while you’re working, hanging out at home, or driving.

Mophie’s Wireless Charging Is A Costly And Convenient Solution For Cutting Cables
Left to right: The desk mount, the charging base, and the vent mount.

Left to right: The desk mount, the charging base, and the vent mount.
The theoretical perk, of course, is that while the charge pad is connected via cable to a power source, the actual device isn’t, so it’s easier to pick up and put back. Plus, when the power source can remain in one place, the cords are much easier to place out of sight from disapproving gazes. (Hi, Mum.)

The charge pads are, like most of Mophie’s other products, light-weight, simple, and easy to handle. They also use magnetic positioning to keep your device in place, so it doesn’t slide around or come off very easily. (I should note here that I only tried out the desk mount and charging base, as I don’t own a car.)

During my tests, the charging capacities of the pads were a little wonky compared to charging directly via USB and battery pack. I tried them out using two different charging cubes — the one that comes with the Mophie charging pad, as well as the one I use for my iPhone — on a few different outlets.

While the charging base consistently charged as quickly as the wired method, the desk mount did not. During one trial, it took 25 minutes to charge up to 21 per cent from nothing. (It took 18 minutes during another trial.) The charging base and the direct through USB/battery pack route both took 19 minutes to charge each time.

Mophie’s Wireless Charging Is A Costly And Convenient Solution For Cutting Cables

The good news: If you don’t want to purchase Mophie’s line of extra charging pads, the company says its Charge Force cases are compatible with Qi and other wireless charging mechanisms, which means you can charge your phone wherever wireless charging is available. (The case and charging base can be purchased together for $US100 ($134) for an iPhone 6/6s, and $US130 ($174) for a 6/6s Plus. The vent mount and desk mount will set you back an additional $US60 ($80) a piece.)

Should You Buy It?

Given the slightly weird performance of the desk mount — as well as the distraction of having my phone stare me directly in the face while I was working — I wasn’t a huge fan, and I wouldn’t purchase it in addition to the bundle. I can stomach shelling out $US100 ($134) for the bundle; it’s only $US40 ($54) more expensive than my regular Mophie pack, and I did find the charge base to be useful.

But the cost of the extra stands is excessive. It’s even more expensive if you’re a Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge user: the regular $US100 ($134) juice pack includes wireless charging, but you’ll still have to fork over $US40 ($54) for the charge pad by itself.

Still, the wireless charging capabilities worked well overall, and it sure was nice not to deal with creeping wires. Plus, “Mophie” rhymes with “Sophie.” What, you really thought I was going to get through this entire review without pointing that out?

README

  • Lack of cables is, indeed, refreshing.
  • Do not waste money on the extra charge pads.
  • iPhone 6/6s users only have to shell out $US40 ($54) more than than a regular (excellent) battery pack. For 6/6s Plus users, it’s only $US30 ($40) more.
  • There are no bundles for Samsung users, but they can spend $US140 ($188) for the entire setup if they really want to.
  • It only comes in black (with the exception of the Galaxy S7 case, which also comes in gold.)

  • Mophie rhymes with Sophie.

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