Keeping an iPhone charged can be a hair-tearingly frustrating exercise. Hopefully the next generation of iPhones will come with larger battery capacities, or some way to sate the beast's appetite for power more easily but, in the meantime, iPhone users are stuck toting around batteries, chargers and a seemingly perpetual apologetic look when the iPhone cuts out on them because it's dead. iPhone charging can be fiddly, but the promise of Uniden's wireless power kit is that it makes charging mobile devices simple. It does this via a conductive pad and charging "discs" that attach magnetically to the pad. Drop a disc with an appropriate phone plug end onto the pad, and you can charge any compatible device. That's all very good for owners of Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung or RIM phones, but the one plug that's conspicuous by its absence in the Uniden starter kit is an iPhone/iPod dock connector. The Mini-USB connector does work nicely on iPhone/iPod external batteries, for what that's worth. Uniden's appeal to iPhone owners then isn't via induction disc charging, but instead with an add-on "Power Sleeve". Rather like the Mophie Juice Pack, this acts as an iPhone case as well as a charging solution. It's a very tight fit over the iPhone 3G and 3GS, which makes it a bit tricky to take on or off, something you'll need to do as it also covers the dock connector entirely. The tradeoff for that inconvenience is that there isn't a simpler way to charge an iPhone. Drop the case onto the pad, and the iPhone will chirp up to say it's charging. Charge times were identical to those you'd get from a direct mains connection, and to disconnect all you do is lift it off the pad. Calls come in as normal while charging, and the case design does allow for easy volume control. Uniden sells a variety of "starter" packs for wireless charging. $149.95 can either buy you the pad and discs (useless unless you're charging iPhone/iPod batteries via mini USB) or the pad and an iPhone sleeve. $199.95 will buy you pad, sleeve and discs/tips. An optional iPod Touch sleeve is also available for $59.95. As ease of use solutions go, it's hard to beat, but it's a big ask to suggest that consumers should pay $150 upfront — or more than $300 to get all five potential devices up and charging — just to replace the humble power cable.
Uniden wireless power charger
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Product Details
| Product | Uniden wireless power charger |
| Brief Description | Charging kit |
| Manufacturer/Developer | Uniden |
| Cost | $A149.95 |
Editor review
Uniden wireless power charger
| Overall rating: | 4.0 | |
| Ease of setup or installation: | 5.0 | |
| Ease of use: | 5.0 | |
| Quality (build and results): | 4.0 | |
| Value for money: | 2.0 |
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Your View
| The Good | Incredibly easy charging; robust power sleeve case; can charge other phones/gadgets. |
| The Bad | No dock connector tip; can't dock with sleeve installed; have to buy fresh tips with every charging disc. |
| The Verdict | Uniden's wireless charger tickles our geeky-whim bone nicely, but it's a costly option. |
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