When Apple killed off the AirPower charging mat in 2019, it seemed to take the dream of charging three devices at once on one surface with it. While there are plenty of dual phone chargers and multi-device mats that use separate cables for each section, Apple’s vision of a mat that can charge whatever you put on it, wherever you put it, hasn’t quite been realized.
Until now. On Thursday, Tesla released the simply named Wireless Charging Platform on its online store. Like AirPower, it has a few dozen charging coils below the surface and only needs a single 65W cable to run. Tesla says its FreePower technology can “charge Qi-enabled devices such as phones or earbuds placed anywhere on its surface without precise alignment.” A render shows it works similarly to AirPower, with up to three devices charging at the same time.
Tesla describes the design as “composed of an aluminum body, premium Alcantara surface and a detachable magnetic stand that allows you to lay the charger flat or tilted for better viewing.” It says it was inspired by “Cybertruck’s angular design and metallic styling.” The photos of the device show it charging iPhones and AirPods alongside an Apple Magic Keyboard and iMac. It’s doubtful it can also charge an Apple Watch, as AirPower could.
AirPower was announced alongside the iPhone X in September 2017, but never took off. Reports of overheating issues began circulating several months after the unveiling, and the project was canceled a year later in March 2019.
We never knew the price of AirPower, but we assumed it would be at least $149. Tesla’s charger costs double that at $300. If you want one, you can pre-order now for shipping in February 2023.
