Wireless charging hasn’t yet gained real traction with consumers yet, but many manufacturers continue to push the feature in their devices. For example, wireless charging is one of the highlight features of the Galaxy S6, with Samsung including both Qi and PMA wireless charging, the two competing standards in the field. Now Samsung is going even harder on wireless charging thanks to IKEA.
Samsung announced last month that it’s teaming up with furniture maker IKEA to create a line of wireless charging furniture, and today IKEA gave us a good look (PDF) at all of the new products. The furniture will launch in the U.S. in late spring 2015, and the line includes all kinds of furnishings so that you’re never far away from a charging pad. Some of the products in the collection include the SELJE nightstand for $59.99, the VARV floor lamp for $119, and the RIGGAD work lamp for $79.99.
In addition to offering furniture will built-in wireless chargers, IKEA is going to sell straight-up wireless charging pads. Options will include the NORDMÄRKE single pad for $27.99 and the triple pad for $64.99. Finally, IKEA has created JYSSEN, a $29.99 wireless charger that’s round and can be built into any existing piece of furniture, allowing you to equip your old furnishings with a taste of the future.
While Samsung and IKEA are partnering on this wireless charging collection, you don’t necessarily need a Samsung product to use the furniture. The collection uses Qi wireless charging, so they should be compatible with any Qi smartphone, and IKEA is even planning to sell an iPhone case that will enable Qi charging.
IKEA stores are quite as prevalent as other stores that also sell home furniture, like Target or Walmart, and so IKEA’s wireless charging furniture may not kickstart the wireless charging revolution. It will get the technology in front of more people, though, which could help push wireless charging along and get more consumers to adopt it or at least be aware of it.
What do you think of IKEA’s wireless charging furniture?
