Qi Wireless Charging System Review : QiStone+ PowerBank and KoolPad

SLIGHTLY PRICEY BUT A PEBBLE FULL OF CONVENIENCE

The smartphone revolution gave us a lot of things, instant, pocket size access to the entire world’s repository of knowledge, free messaging and of course, the selfies. But one thing that the revolution didn’t bring with it is a good battery life. The powerful phones are always fuel hungry and sometimes don’t even get past a 24-hour mark. Well, a company called Fone Salesman is in town, and they have a magic stone for all your worries.

Introducing the QiStone+ (Pronounced: Chi.) It is a wireless charging powerbank which comes in a pebble shaped exterior.



It is quite a looker, something that will adorn your workspace. A soap bar size and rough finish make it easy to hold and carry around. The exteriors remind you of the back surface of the OnePlus One 64 GB variant.

There isn’t a lot going on the surface of the QiStone+. You have 4 led lights which show the levels of charge left in the powerbank. Apart from this, there is another blue LED indicator which lights up when the device is charging.



The device has 4000 mAh battery inside and is capable of charging multiple devices at once. It has a MicroUSB for charging the QiStone while the USB port can be used for charging a device. The device uses the Qi charging protocol, and it works with devices like the Nexus 5 and LG G3, which are Qi compatible. The phones charge by simply placing it on top of the QiStone.

Using QiStone+, you can charge one device through the wireless mode while you can charge another device using the USB slot on the side. Talk about convenience. It automatically detects the phone on top and begins charging.

Now if you like the QiStone+ but don’t have a Qi enabled device, the company provides Qi adapters. We tried the one for the iPhone 5 that comes with the lightening port, and it worked great for us. You can use the sticky tape or can put the small flat adapter inside your back panel case. You just have to make sure that the phone is aligned right on the QiStone+, and it will start charging. You can also get an adapter for phones like the Note 3.

Our main concern with the powerbank is that the 4000 mAh battery wouldn’t last a power user for a long duration. We managed to get one full charge on the LG G3 and about one and a half charge on the iPhone 5. But for the average user, this will give a weekend long extension to a fully charged phone.

The QiStone+ powerbank comes at a price of $80 which is steeper than the competitors, but the wireless charging and its look make it worth it. You can get the Qi adapters for about $10-20.



Fone Salesman also makes the Koolpad, which is a wireless charger. It is different from others as you can charge the QiStone as well as your phone on top of it, and you can also charge another device using the QiStone+’s USB port.

Overall, the steepness of its price is consoled with its eye-appealing, natural pebble look and its ability to charge multiple devices at once. The OnePlus One and this device look like inseparable siblings, though the OnePlus One doesn’t have Qi Charging, so you have to use the USB port. The device will soon come to India through Amazon.in. So if you have a high-end phone and want a charging companion, the QiStone+ is a good option for you.

Tech specs

• Turns to “Sleep Mode” after 30 seconds of inactivity


• Capacitive Touch Sensitive “Wake” Switch


• Wireless Qi Transmitter on Top


• Wireless Qi Receiver on Base


• Wireless Charging Distance: 6-8mm


• Wireless Charging Efficiency: 74.7%


• Battery type: Li-ion Polymer battery


• Battery capacity: 4000 mAh


• Output: DC 5V, 1A


• Weight: 135 g


• Dimensions: 105 x 72 x 20 mm

GOOD THINGS

• Wireless charging


• Wireless discharging


• 4000 mAh


• Great looks


• Can charge two devices simultaneously


• Can charge while getting charged.

BAD THINGS

• Expensive compared to others


• Does not support all Phones

THE BREAKDOWN

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BUILD QUALITY

8

DESIGN

9

FEATURES

9

VALUE FOR MONEY

7