Tesla’s New $300 Charger: What Does it Do?

Tesla and Elon Musk have been at the forefront of electric vehicle and tech news, largely thanks to the company’s zany marketing methods. During the Tesla stock’s meteoric bull run, there was a lot of chatter comparing Tesla to Apple, seeing as both were some of the biggest companies on the planet. For those following Tesla news closely, it would come as no surprise that the company is releasing a wireless charging platform. What’s so special about Tesla’s new $300 charger? Is it worth buying if you have an iPhone? Find out more information about the product below.

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Tesla’s New $300 Charger: More Information

At first glance, Tesla’s new $300 charger looks amazing. It’s a simple design but adds to Apple’s already well-crafted minimalist aesthetic perfectly. The charging platform measures 220L x 130W x 20H (mm). So the platform isn’t huge, which is probably for the best, as consumers typically only need to charge their phone and an accessory like their AirPods. According to the company, the angular and jagged features of the platform were inspired by the Cybertruck (a Tesla truck embroiled in a bunch of controversies). Here’s Tesla’s official press release:

Inspired by the angular design and metallic styling of Cybertruck, our Wireless Charging Platform provides 15W of fast charging power per device for up to three devices simultaneously. Its sleek design is composed of an aluminum housing, premium alcantara surface and a detachable magnetic stand that allows you to lay the charger flat or at an angle for better viewing. Featuring FreePower(R) technology, which charges your Qi capable devices such as phones or earbuds placed anywhere on its surface without precise alignment.

Unfortunately, if you have an Apple Watch, you won’t be able to charge it with Tesla’s wireless charging platform, as it’s limited to Qi-based devices. So compatible devices include your iPhone and your AirPods. Apart from Apple products, other Qi devices include the Google Pixel, Huawei products, and all Samsung consumer tech products like the Galaxy and Galaxy Buds.

Alternative to AirPower?

AirPower was Apple’s take on the wireless charging platform. Many were excited about the release, as Apple claimed it would be able to charge up to three devices simultaneously. Although a charging platform like this isn’t a necessity, it’s certainly useful to be able to charge your phone, AirPods, and Apple Watch altogether. It was initially announced in September 2017, however, the company canceled it in March 2019.

The product’s development had multiple issues, such as heat management (which seems to be a recurring issue for Apple’s development teams these days), inter-device communication, and speed of charge. Reports claim that the main issue boiled down to the engineering decision to include coils for two charging standards. As we know by now, the Apple Watch uses a non-proprietary Qi standard, meaning you wouldn’t be able to charge it on the AirPower.

So Tesla’s new $300 charger is certainly an alternative to AirPower in some way. We have no concrete information on how much AirPower would have cost, but we can assume it would probably be similar to Tesla’s price point. If you were excited to purchase the AirPower and disappointed when it didn’t come out, you’d probably like the Tesla wireless charging platform.

What Does Tesla’s New $300 Charger Mean for Consumers?

Of course, Tesla’s new charging platform isn’t a necessity for anyone. In fact, we would strongly recommend not purchasing this in today’s current economic climate unless you really do have enough disposable income and really want a device that can charge multiple Qi-based devices. If this device were cheaper, at about the $150 mark, then we could see it being a smash hit.

Since Tesla is a very well-known and popular brand, we might see a wave of similar charging platforms that can perform similarly for a lower price. Competition is always good for consumers, as it means we have more options to choose from. In fact, here are a few other similar products you can buy today:

Is There a Similar Cheaper Option to Tesla’s New $300 Charger?

One of the biggest complaints about wireless charging products is that they don’t charge fast enough. Here are a few alternatives to Tesla’s new $300 charger that are cheaper and more accessible:

Nomad

Nomad has a range of wireless charging platforms you can choose from, all of which are half the price (or more) of Tesla’s version. For example, the Nomad Base One Max is $150 and is a MagSafe charger that can also charge your Apple Watch. It has a super sleek aesthetic and can fit well with any workstation while also providing 15W charging, which is the same as Tesla’s product. It also comes with different colorways if you’re not a fan of Tesla’s monochrome jagged style. For a standard wireless charging platform, you can’t go wrong with any of Nomad’s products.

MagSafe Charger

The MagSafe Charger came out years ago and is compatible with the iPhone 12 onwards. It’s nothing special, to be honest, but it does charge the quickest that we’ve experienced. With the MagSafe charger, you can have your Qi-based device charged in no time. Unfortunately, you can’t charge multiple devices at a time, as the AirPower promised, but it’s still a solid choice if you want wireless charging. The cable isn’t too long, so you won’t be able to use it vertically as a stand, but it’s still a great option to have on your bedside table or on your desk.

Belkin

The Belkin Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 charging stand is available on Apple’s official website and has a very unique look. Instead of the classic flat platform style charger, you have a vertical stand that looks more like a coat hook than a wireless charger. You have two MagSafe chargers on each side of the product, where you can put your iPhone or Apple Watch, and then you have the charging base for your AirPods. This product is also half the price of the Tesla charging platform, making it a much better investment. The vertical orientation might not be for everyone, but it can be super useful to have your phone charge vertically, as you can use the charger as a makeshift stand.