Tushar BurmanOct 15, 2021 1:52:05 PM
There is no shortage of phones with wireless charging capability these days; some will even reverse charge other devices placed on it. There’s no denying that a wireless charger comes in handy in your home or office, and they also join their wired counterparts when it comes to charging speeds. However, SanDisk does not rely on high wattage wireless charging. The iXPAND Qi-compatible wireless chargers stick to the basics and even include a power brick in the package.
What are you?
There really isn’t much to talk about. The iXPAND chargers are Qi-compatible, ie they can charge Android or iOS-based phones that are compatible with the standard. They are plain-looking pieces of plastic that should blend in seamlessly with your decor, save for the dangling cord that is still needed for your “wireless” charger. They’re also relatively light, so I’d probably double-stick them on my desk if I really wanted to have a charging base around my desk.
The iXPAND chargers are Qi compatible. Image: Tech2 / Tushar Burman
The iXPAND wireless charger is a round, simple Jane pad with a diameter of about 10 cm and a rubber O-ring on the top so that your device does not slip. The Wireless Charger Sync, on the other hand, is a larger, diamond-shaped pad with a concave surface that is slightly larger than an iPhone 13 Pro. It has built-in 256 GB memory for automatic device backups. It is less comfortable to use and requires more care when putting the device on. The charger comes with a nice 24W SanDisk fast charger with a USB-A connector and a 1.5m USB-A to USB-C cable that powers it. The sync version strangely comes with a proprietary charging brick with a round DC jack. It’s also strange that the less fancy version supports 15W wireless charging, while the Sync only provides 10W.
In use
With cloud computing and storage ubiquitous, I find it difficult to justify the need for wireless charger sync. The idea is for the charger to save your photos, videos, and contacts by itself. It does this via an accompanying mobile app and connects to your phone via Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi. Data is transferred over Wi-Fi, so you need to have the charger within range of your network for everything to work. This was the first red flag for me as Wi-Fi is rarely the fastest way to transfer hundreds of gigabytes of data. In fact, the iXPAND app recommends taking multiple overnight charges into account, during which the sync will continually back up your data to completion.
The Wireless Charger Sync has integrated 256 GB memory for automatic backups of devices. Image: Tech2 / Tushar Burman
The sync is compatible with iOS and Android devices via the accompanying apps. Android devices back up almost everything in the Google Cloud, while Apple devices do so in iCloud. Via WiFi. Constant. And if you run out of space just increase your subscription and buy more like I did. My 400 GB iCloud account already exceeds the 256 GB included in the Wireless Charger Sync. However, if you are in control of your backups and need to keep them on your premises then there is probably a use case for this device. The Sync also inexplicably has a large, purple LED on the side of the charger, most of which is hidden by the bezel. There’s no way to see it unless you actually look under the bezel at the right angle. Huh?
All of this means that the charger is a complicated device. It has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios as well as some processor to get its job done. It occasionally needs firmware updates, as it did when I first used it. I’m not sure I want that much complexity in my wireless charger for redundant function. In fact, at some point Bluetooth broke out and my backup stopped after just ten files. I couldn’t bother to continue from there.
In real use, the Wireless Charger Sync is a complicated device. Image: Tech2 / Tushar Burman
The simpler 15W wireless charger is a lot less dramatic, but also a lot more convenient to use. I like its grippy rubber ring, which gives me a nice, positive feeling when I put my device on it. There’s a dirt-simple blue / red LED that turns blue when charging, flashes red when an incompatible device is on, and points straight up for you to see. It’s a bit small and can be hidden by the charger, but better than the generally invisible one on the Sync. It also loads faster than its more complicated sibling. I prefer it to Apple’s own MagSafe charger because it stays on the desk as I want to use a wireless charger.
verdict
The iXPAND Wireless Charger is available from Amazon at the time of writing for 2,699 rupees with the included 24 W charger, while the Wireless Charger Sync is available for a staggering 9,299 rupees for the 256 GB variant (also 64 GB and 128 GB -Variants) available is available). The standard wireless charger is easy to recommend as a package as it comes with everything. If you’re considering buying the Wireless Charger Sync, I’d like to be invited to the same cruise parties that you are.
