Many of us who own both newer iPhones and Apple Watches were thrilled to see Apple’s reveal of the AirPower charging mat, but disappointed to see that we’d have to wait until 2018 to actually get one of the cool devices. Now there’s a Kickstarter campaign for a charging pad that provides much of the functionality of the AirPower at a fraction of the cost. The Funxim Charging Pad ($29, campaign has reached its funding goal) can charge both an iPhone 8/8 Plus/X and an Apple Watch at the same time just by laying the devices on the pad.
The design is actually quite simple, but it does have some limitations. The Funxim Charging Pad is actually a Qi-compatible iPhone charger with an Apple Watch charging puck embedded in it. In other words, you can place the iPhone pretty much anywhere on the pad, but you have to place the Apple Watch directly onto the charging puck.
This is different from the design of the AirPower, which will be able to charge a Qi-compatible iPhone, an Apple Watch, and a pair of AirPods (in a special wireless charging case) at the same time regardless of where they’re placed on the pad. AirPower hasn’t been priced yet, but most of us expect it to cost anywhere from $150 – $200.
For those who don’t have AirPods to charge and don’t want to wait months for the AirPower charging pad, the Funxim Charging Pad can charge your iPhone and Apple Watch wirelessly for just $29 and you’ll have it in January.
