Tesla launches wireless charger not for your car but for your iPhone

Tesla is launching a new product today: the ‘Tesla Wireless Charger’.

Surprisingly, the product is not for your Tesla vehicle, but for your smartphone.

It’s the latest ‘lifestyle product’ launched by the automaker who has also previously launched batteries for phones using “the same cell found in many of the batteries of Tesla vehicles.”

Now they are launching a $65 Qi-certified wireless charger with “the same design language” used in Tesla energy products, like Powerwall, on their shop website (Update: the page is down – likely sold out):

“The Tesla Wireless Charger is a 6000mAh (22.2Wh) battery-powered inductive charging pad that features the same design language used in our energy products, like Powerwall. In addition to wirelessly charging your device, you can also power up your phone with the integrated USB-C cable. For non USB-C devices, use the USB-A port to plug in any USB-A charging cable. The built-in USB-A cable can be used to charge your Wireless Charger from any USB port.’

Here are a few images of the Tesla Wireless Charger:

Here are the specs and features of the Tesla Wireless Charger

• Charge Wirelessly: Set your Qi enabled phone on the wireless base. Press and hold the power button for 3 seconds to activate wireless charging
• Charge On the Go: Plug your phone into the integrated USB-C cable. For non USB-C ports, use the USB-A port to plug in any USB-A charging cable
• Charge the Internal Battery: Use the built in USB-A cable to charge your Wireless Charger from any USB port.
• 21 hours additional talk time
• 18 hours additional surfing
• Battery capacity:  Lithium-ion polymer 6000mAh
• Watt hours:  22.2Wh
• Input charging:  5V/2A
• Removable USB cable (USB-C to USB-A) and 1 USB-A Port
• Output charging:
• -Wireless charging: 5W
• -Wired charging: 5V/1.5A

It looks like the ‘Tesla’ brand is coming with a very high premium. For example, the highest rated wireless charger on Amazon is only $40 and it comes with much more battery capacity.

For wireless chargers without battery packs, you can get one for less than $20 and there’s one built to fit in the Tesla Model S and Model X center console.