Bezalel, an LA-based design and manufacturing team, has created a portable wireless phone charger called the ARK that's claimed to be faster and more energy efficient than its competitors.
The ARK is a pocket-sized box on which users can rest a Qi-wireless charging-enabled smartphone to be charged without the need for cables. Wireless charging uses an electromagnetic field to transfer energy between the charger and the device. The ARK can also be used with a supplied case to enclose the phone or a patch that's placed behind the phone's battery.
The ARK is by no means the only wireless phone charger to be developed, a point that Bezalel itself notes. The iQi Mobile charger recently raised over five times its Indiegogo target and WiTricity unveiled its charging system for the iPhone 5/5s at CES 2014. But Bezalel looks to be banking on the ARK's convenience, speed and battery-life to help set it apart from its competitors.
According to Bezalel, the ARK is able to charge phones 20 percent faster than other wireless mattresses and 5 percent faster than cable-charging from other battery packs. It will also reportedly provide the user with three full smartphone battery charges, and has a USB port for simultaneously charging a second device.
Bezalel also claims that lower heat release means the ARK is more efficient than other models and that, by tracking the charging status of a user's phone and its own internal battery, it can recognize when charging is complete and switch itself off, helping to conserve energy.
The ARK measures 3.54 x 3.54 x 0.78 in (90 x 90 x 20 mm) and weighs in at 5.99 oz (170 g). It contains a 5,200 mAh Lithium-ion polymer battery, with an LED indicator for battery level. Device support currently includes the iPhone 4/4s/5/5s, Nokia Lumia series, Samsung Galaxy S3/S4 and the Nexus 4.
The developers have turned to Kickstarter to bring the pre-production prototype to market, and the campaign has already passed its funding target of US$35,000. Early bird pledge levels are still available at $63 each, with shipping estimated to start in March if all goes to plan. No retail pricing details have been announced.
Watch the pitch video below for some more information about ARK.
Source: Bezalel, Kickstarter