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This gadget turns your tabletop into a phone charger - Is it worth it?
Your desk is a mess. OK, maybe not your desk specifically, but think about all the things you’ll find in the average workspace. Tap or click here to give your home office a high-tech makeover.
Start with your computer and then there’s a monitor or two (or three?) along with a keyboard and mouse. You might have a set of speakers, wireless earbuds and of course, the all-important phone charger.
Regardless of it being a cable on your desk or some kind of docking station, it still takes up space. Now you have the option to buy an innovative and “invisible” gadget that basically turns your desktop into a wireless charging pad — but is it really worth it?
Kew Labs UTS-1
Meet the Kew Labs UTS-1 Wireless Charger, a 2021 honoree of the CES Innovation Awards that promises to turn just about any flat surface into a charging pad. Not only that, but this Qi charger is supposed to be as fast as some of the more speedy wireless charging options for iPhones and Samsung Galaxy smartphones.
As long as the surface isn’t too thick, whether it’s a desk or some other kind of table, the idea is to mount this charger underneath (no drilling required), hence the “invisible” part. It works with wood, glass, plastic, marble, granite and quartz but keep it away from metal surfaces.
The ability to charge your phone with a surface in between is possible because of Kew Labs’ patented Intelligent Power Communication (IPC) technology, which the company calls the first of its kind. Like any other Qi charger, the electromagnetic induction passes through material such as a phone case, just on a larger scale in this situation — which takes a little setup.
Want to ‘see’ this invisible charger in action? Check out the review on Kim’s show
Choose your location wisely
When the sample unit sent to me for review arrived, I remembered not to get ahead of myself and just tear open the packaging. You first have to make sure the surface you want to attach it to isn’t too thick or thin, and luckily there’s a guide you can use right on the side of the box to double-check. For the standard UTS-1, the surface can’t be more than one inch thick or thinner than seven-tenths of an inch.
Instead of adding it to my desk, I wanted to install the charger on an end table where it’s also accessible to others in the household and it was within the correct range. Now it’s time to open the box.
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