Pi Introduces 'Contactless' Wireless Charging
Pi, a startup company, has recently introduced an upcoming product called the Pi Charger, which will allow wireless charging without direct contact between the device and the charger.
Currently, even the most high technology wireless charging option, Qi, transmits power to recharge a device's battery through inductive charging. This requires that the device be placed on top of a Qi-powered charging pad.
With what Pi has in their pipeline, the charging pad will be replaced with what looks like a charging station that sends signals transformed to energy. This ultimately recharges the device.
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In a press release, Pi explained: "Using never-before-seen electromagnetic charging technology invented by Pi's team at MIT, Pi can power multiple smartphones and tablets (iOS or Android) at once, at a distance, without the need for a cord, charging pad, or any contact with a surface."
"Pi charges smartphones and tablets wirelessly using magnetic fields. Since no contact is required, users can freely move the devices around or use them near the Pi, without stopping the charging process," Pi added.
A device must be within a foot from the Pi Charger for the process to work. According to the company's press release, one Pi Charger can accommodate up to four devices simultaneously. However, although the company's statement implied that their product could support more than four devices charging at once, users should then expect a slower performance in that situation.
Wireless charging is not an entirely new technology. In fact, premium devices released in the past several years were built with wireless charging in mind. Right now, a number of flagship smartphones from various manufacturers such as Samsung's Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S7, LG G6, Moto Z Play, and more support wireless charging.
The market demand for wireless charging-enabled devices is expected to rise now that Apple has also adapted the technology on their iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus. As it happens, Pi is timely developing the Pi Charger.
Pi has yet to announce the wireless charger's specific launch date and pricing. However, it is expected to be released sometime in 2018 and will cost less than $200.
The company now accepts pre-orders and offers a $50 discount to those who will make early reservations.
