Charger

Like with almost anything, Apple’s adoption of an existing technology is a sure way to boost said technology (and rewrite history in the process). This year, it’s wireless charging, thanks to the iPhone X. But while wireless charging promises the convenience of having no wires, it doesn’t exactly deliver complete freedom. You still have to put your phone on top of a flat surface. That’s where the Pi comes in. Billing itself as the world’s first truly wireless and contactless charger, it doesn’t require users to place their devices on it. In fact, given it’s conical shape, you really can’t anyway.

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There is no shortage of smartphone and tablet accessories of all kinds. We power banks and chargers of different wattage and technologies. We have stands and holders of all shapes and sizes. There are, however, only a few that combine these two traits: docks. And those that do are, more often than not, specifically designed for a specific model or OEM to the exclusion of others. Chuwi wants to do away with multiple wall chargers and multiple stands for those with multiple devices and it does so in a rather unique way. Chuwi calls it the Hi-Dock and it’s almost exactly what the doctor ordered. Almost.

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There are two problems when trying to charge via wall sockets. One, there are so few such outlets. Two, wall chargers take up precious space. Even the iPhone's charger, short as it may be, is a fat and thick cube. If you're the type that obsesses over whether you have room for a charger in your bag, let alone your pocket, then the Kado is for you. It's a wall charger that is not only thinner than the thinnest smartphone, it thin enough to even fit inside your wallet.

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Qualcomm is boosting its charging technology, unveiling Quick Charge 4+ for getting juice back into your phone's battery even faster. The technology, which launches today on the nubia Z17 Android smartphone but is likely to be featured on a number of flagships in the coming months, promises faster recharging but also greater safety while that happens. Given high-profile issues surrounding exploding batteries in phones like the Galaxy Note 7, that's likely to get some attention among increasingly safety-conscious users.

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Product recalls aren’t exactly new, but those especially related to fire hazards caused by batteries have recently become more publicized. This time, however, the culprit isn’t a smartphone but almost an unlikely one. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission or CPSC has announced a recall of PDP’s Energizer Xbox One 2X controller chargers, citing reports of overheating that could potentially lead to fires.

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Barnes and Noble can’t win, it seems. The company’s troubled ereader devices received a needed and surprising refresh with the NOOK Tablet 7, a 7-inch tablet with a $50 price tag unveiled just a few months ago. Unfortunately, news surfaced shortly after launch that the tablets had a malware issue. Now the company is pulling the product off shelves entirely, but for a different reason: it seems there’s an issue with the device chargers.

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OtterBox has announced the launch of its own line of accessories, including a pair of regular earbuds, wireless earbuds, and some car-charging accessories. The earbuds feature DECIBULLZ’ custom-molding technology for what OtterBox says is an ‘ultimate fit’ that helps keep out ambient noises, among other things. The chargers, meanwhile, are designed to be more durable than your average device charger.

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Apple chargers tend to be on the expensive side, but the next time you're tempted by an inexpensive alternative, you may want to think twice. The UK's Chartered Trading Standards Institute has issued a new report that says many fake Apple chargers aren't up to snuff when it comes to safety standards. The resulting issues from using a non-compliant charger could include anything from shocks when unplugging the charger to damage to your phone.

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Notebook users with machines that have a USB-C port that need more power for life on the road might want to pay attention to the Line Dock. This device claims to be the first USB-C device in the world that integrates a battery to keep your notebook running longer, connectivity, active cooling, and an SSD for storage. Line Cooler packs all that stuff into a 9mm chassis making it very portable.

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USB-C is the new darling of both mobile and computing industry because of how it can be (almost) everything for any need. And you won’t have to learn how to plug it in right to boot! But as with any new technology, there is some teething pains to be experienced with USB-C, especially considering how both device and accessory manufacturers seem to be in a hurry to push the standard forward. It gets even more complicated when you factor in fast charging technologies, which could spell disaster for your device if used incorrectly. This list will hopefully find the best, not to mention safest, one.

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There's a new USB car charger out there, and it's entirely too cute for the road. ThinkGeek's new baby Groot charger is designed to fit in your car's cupholder where Groot dances while charging your phone or other small USB gadgets. The charger has two USB ports and can itself be plugged into your car's DC 12V port, and it outputs enough power to charge tablets as well as smartphones. The item is officially licensed and available now.

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Eclipse is a USB hub that is nothing like most of the USB hubs you have used before. This device is round and hides the connectors and all the cables away inside. The round design is meant to charge three of the gadgets that you use daily and can be placed on a nightstand, desk, or hung on the wall.

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