Nomad just announced a new wireless charger, the Base Station Pro, and it’s the closest thing we’ve seen to Apple’s failed AirPower initially slated to launch this year. Not only can the Base Station Pro wirelessly charge three devices at once, it uses a new technology called FreePower that does so at any orientation. In other words, you don’t have to perfectly align your devices on the pad in order for them to charge correctly.
Aira, the company that developed FreePower, says the secret behind the technology is a “foundationally different wireless power coil matrix.” Instead of individual charging coils found in almost all wireless charging pads, the Base Station Pro has numerous interlinking charging coils, which enable it to charge any Qi-supported device no matter where it’s placed on the pad’s surface.
Ever since Apple failed to deliver AirPower, its wireless charger that promised to simultaneous charge your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch, Nomad has been the leading manufacturer of “AirPower alternatives.” Its Base Station ($100) is a Qi-wireless charger that can power two devices at once, while the Base Station Apple Watch Edition ($140) is the same thing with an attachment for the Apple Watch.
The Base Station Pro is designed to be more convenient than Nomad’s existing charging solutions but it’s not perfect. The Base Station will only support charging speeds of up to 5 watts (the same speed that you get with your iPhone’s little 5-watt adapter). It also won’t charge the Apple Watch, which doesn’t support Qi.
Pricing for the Base Station has yet to be released, but judging by Nomad’s existing wireless chargers, it’s likely that this premium wireless charger will cost more than $140. We’ll know more when it becomes available for preorder in November.
