A few years ago, wireless charging was a very expensive niche feature. Even the most basic charging pads would run you $50 to $60, but things are much different now. You can get a cheap, Chinese-made Qi pad for $10, and Swedish furniture giant Ikea is getting in on the fun with a full line of lamps, nightstands, and pads that support Qi wireless charging.
The Qi wireless charging standard is built into devices like the Nexus 6 and Samsung Galaxy S6. Other phones have replacement back covers that add Qi wireless charging. With a supported device, you just set it down on the charger and it receives power via electromagnetic induction. It’s a little slower than wired charging, but it is pretty convenient.
Ikea will soon offer standard wireless chargers that you sit on your desk or nightstand, as well as furniture with the technology built-in. The devices were pre-announced a few months ago, but now we have prices and an approximate release window. On the integrated furniture side, there are a pair of nightstands, a table lamp, a desk lamp, and a floor lamp. These range in price from $60 for the smaller nightstand to $120 for the floor lamp.
You don’t get wireless charging built into the entire surfaces of these pieces of furniture, but there’s a small insert in the surface with a “+” to show you where the Qi coils are. The dedicated chargers come in single ($28) and three position ($65) varieties. If you’re not fully set up for wireless charging, you can get a Galaxy S3, S4, or S5 back plate, or iPhone case from Ikea that will add the functionality.
Ikea will also sell you wireless charging inserts that plug into some of its existing desks and nightstands that have cord management holes. Don’t have anything with the right hole? Ikea will happily sell you a hole saw (seriously) that attaches to a drill so you can make a hole. There’s no exact release date for these items yet, but late April is the target.
