The Motherbox Could Provide The First True Wireless Charging Experience

Wireless charging in some form or another has been present on select smartphones for the past year or two, but they’re really wireless online in name. At least for my Galaxy S6 Edge, my phone still needs direct contact with a charging “pad” to gain power. A new device on Indiegogo called The MotherBox looks to change that, however, claiming charging distances of up to 20 inches away from the device. While 20 inches is still a far cry from my dream of having a house that automatically charges my devices wherever I happen to be, it looks like the MotherBox could allow me to use my phone in bed without getting myself entangled in a charging cord, which is definitely worth the $79 early-bird price.

“Yank Tech, the company behind the MotherBox, claims that the device can supply 2 watts of power to a smartphone 20 inches away. That charging rate improves as you get closer: between 15 inches and 10 inches, the MotherBox supplies 4W of power, between eight inches away to five inches gets you 8W, and connected devices within five inches charge at 10W. ”

The MotherBox needs to be plugged in itself, though Yank Tech intends to offer a smaller, battery-pack powered version with a much shorter range. One other feature that could be either an upside or a downside depending on your perspective is the system’s design. The MotherBox looks like a glowing, futuristic soccer ball which probably won’t fit in with most decor. Still, this development is exciting as it’s some of the first consumer technology that will offer a truly wireless experience. It will be awesome to see what further developments we see in the coming years as technology improves.