The Consortium claims any loss in usable power from this wireless charging is negligible.
There are quite a few benefits to this.
For one, it cuts down on power cord clutter.
Look, Ma, no cord.Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
It also means theres less danger from power cords fraying or shorts from any exposed wiring.
WPC claims Ki should still work fine if you accidentally spill water on the charging surface.
Like Qi2, Ki uses NFC communication to tell the charging unit how much juice to give.
GIF: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
If your rig is half-on or half-off, it wont accept power or recognize the plate underneath it.
Theres some versatility with Ki.
The other option is for mountable charging stations that homeowners can install underneath their countertops.
Its rated to work through up to 3.8 cm, or 1.4 inches of stone or synthetic counterspace.
Ki wont work through any metallic countertops.
A movable plate may also be more versatile than one built into a countertop.
I like having my food processor off to the side, able to move it when necessary.
We also need to wait for companies to get on board.
Golden told usseveral companies were already working on creating their own Ki-enabled devices.
First on board seems to be appliance maker Midea with its upcomingCelestial Flexseries.
That includes a blender, steamer, and kettle, though theres currently no information on availability or price.
The WPC still needs to release specifications for this fall.
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