Snapping the cord. It first happened with headphones as many of us ditched our favourite wired headphones for wireless ear cans and ultra-light earbuds. Now many brands are making a serious pitch for wireless chargers. Last year Apple rolled out the MagSafe charger along with its iPhone 12 family of smartphones and now Western Digital, one of the leading players in the consumer data storage space has just unveiled its first line-up of wireless chargers.
Most wireless chargers can typically do just one thing – charge your smartphone or other compatible device. The SanDisk Ixpand Wireless Charger Sync adds extra functionality. That’s one reason SanDisk is betting big on this device. It reimagines the functionality of a traditional wireless charger by adding data storage capabilities minus the wires. All you need to do is grab the SanDisk Ixpand Charger App (I tried this with an iPhone) and plug in the device.
The App is quite easy to use and gives you enough control over the stuff you want to backup. If you’re running out of storage for your images and would like to save on monthly subscription costs on iCloud or Google, the 256GB storage on this device should simplify your life somewhat. It allows you to free up data storage on your phone – your backup data will reside on the charger and is easily accessible on the App.
The charger on this device is a 10W wireless charger and works on all Qi compatible devices. I was able to charge an iPhone, a Samsung device as well as my AirPods Pro that also offers wireless charging. Charging speeds are quite quick – don’t expect the same speed as a 65W wired charger though. I was able to take my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra from about 60% to 100% in an hour. That’s quite acceptable for a wireless charger. I also like the high-efficiency power plug with a convenient 6-foot cable that’s in the box. The charging pad is elegantly designed and occupies about the same room as a large screen smartphone. It’s not the fastest wireless charger out there.
If charging speed outweighs the convenience of a device with dual functionality, then the Ixpand Wireless Charger 15W might be a better bet for you. This delivers 15W of fast charging and comes bundled with a SanDisk AC Adaptor and 4.5ft USB Type-C cable. The soft rubber ring (that helps protect phones from slipping) is a useful touch.
The SandDisk Ixpand Wireless Charger Sync is available in 256GB capacity and costs Rs 9,999 while the the Ixpand Wireless 15W Fast Charger is priced at Rs. 2999.
Also Read; Google Pixel Buds A-Series: Google Keeps It Simple And Smart
