AirPower vs. Samsung Wireless Charger: How the Two Cord-Cutters Stack Up

Thought it might have been overshadowed by the launch of the Galaxy Note 9, Samsung also debuted its Wireless Charger Duo on August 9 during its UNPACKED 2018 event in Brooklyn. The base is capable of juicing up two devices simultaneously using the Qi Standard and it seems like a direct challenge to Apple’s upcoming AirPower.

This release comes only a month before Apple is expected to take the curtains off of its delayed wireless charger alongside this year’s trio of iPhones. Both devices are working towards a completely wireless future by eliminating the need for a tentacular mass of charging cables connected to your kitchen or bedroom’s outlets.

While there’s still some mystery surrounding the AirPower, Apple statements and leaks have revealed what users should expect when it hits shelves. And based on what’s being said the Wireless Charger Duo could give it a run for its money.

AirPower vs. Samsung Wireless Charger: How Many Devices Can They Handle?

Right off the bat, this is where Samsung could lose some footing. The Wireless Charger Duo only offers a propped-up and flat base for two devices. The former will let users see notifications at a glance when they place their smartphone down to charge, while the other is meant for other devices like the newly announced Galaxy Watch.

While Apple has shown the AirPower to be completely flat, it has also touted its ability to charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and a pair of AirPods simultaneously. According to an earlier Bloomberg report, making this feature a reality has proven difficult for Apple engineers and has been the main reason for the holdup.

It remains to be seen if the Cupertino-based firm can ship this by September, but as it stands the AirPower seems to be the more ambitious device in terms of being able to deliver a multiple charges simultaneously. But this could be offset by the Wireless Charger Duo’s speed.

AirPower vs. Samsung Wireless Charger: How Fast Can They Charge?

Each of the pads included in Samsung’s device has 12-watts of charging power, making it capable of quickly recharging any Qi-compatible device that supports fast charging. In March, the Galaxy S9+ received an update that enabled it to use 15W tetherless charging, suggesting that the Korean firm is focusing on charging speed over charging quantity.

There is still no word as to how much charging power will be packed into the AirPower, but based on what iPhones are capable of supporting it seems likely to be lower than Samsung’s power mat.

The iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X only support 7.5W wireless charging. Unless this year’s new line of iPhones up the ante, the AirPower will likely match Apple’s current flagship handset.

So even though Apple’s heralded wireless charger can hold more devices, Samsung’s could reduce the time they need to be docked.

AirPower vs. Samsung Wireless Charger: What About the Price Point?

The cost difference between these two devices could make or break which one booms and which one flops. The Duo is going for $119, while the future price of the AirPower is rumored to be a bit higher, around $149 according to a recent story by MacRumors.

At present, many Apple are already utilizing their phone’s wireless charging capability through the use of third-party charging mats. Many of these could in fact be Samsung’s very own, which have been on the market for years. The Duo looks a lot like Samsung’s way of stopping Apple from coaxing iPhone users to the AirPod by providing new capabilities with time-proven chargers.

While the AirPower might have the upper hand in one aspect, Apple might have to price it competitively to stand up to Samsung.