Tesla to restock sold-out wireless phone charger, cut price by $16
After quickly selling out of a sleek but underpowered wireless smartphone charger in late August, Tesla this week informed customers that the device will soon be back in stock at a roughly $16 discount.
Tesla is in the process of emailing customers who purchased the eponymous charger last month for $65, saying new shipments of the product are coming in and will be sold for $49 on the company's online store, reports The Verge.
According to the email, copies of which were posted to social media on Monday, the $16 price drop is thanks to a higher quantity second production run. Customers who bought the Tesla Wireless Charger when it first went on sale last month will be refunded the $16 difference for being "early adopters."
Tesla quietly introduced its Qi-compatible wireless charging device at the end of August. Described as a charging pad that "features the same design language used in our energy products, like Powerwall," the charger sold out within a matter of hours.
Along with inductive charging, the device integrates a USB-C plug for compatible phones, while a USB-A cable provides a means to recharge the pack. With a 6,000mAh battery cell and wireless module that outputs 5W of power, the Tesla Wireless Charger is easily outperformed by cheaper, more capable products. As AppleInsider noted last month, RAVPower's HyperAir battery pack boasts a 10,400mAh cell and 7.5W wireless charging capabilities for $50.
Still, Tesla's brand appeal is sure to give the wireless charger a boost when it goes back up for sale in the near future. The company did not specify a restock timeline, but the recent emails suggest that date is soon approaching.
Tesla is in the process of emailing customers who purchased the eponymous charger last month for $65, saying new shipments of the product are coming in and will be sold for $49 on the company's online store, reports The Verge.
According to the email, copies of which were posted to social media on Monday, the $16 price drop is thanks to a higher quantity second production run. Customers who bought the Tesla Wireless Charger when it first went on sale last month will be refunded the $16 difference for being "early adopters."
Tesla quietly introduced its Qi-compatible wireless charging device at the end of August. Described as a charging pad that "features the same design language used in our energy products, like Powerwall," the charger sold out within a matter of hours.
Along with inductive charging, the device integrates a USB-C plug for compatible phones, while a USB-A cable provides a means to recharge the pack. With a 6,000mAh battery cell and wireless module that outputs 5W of power, the Tesla Wireless Charger is easily outperformed by cheaper, more capable products. As AppleInsider noted last month, RAVPower's HyperAir battery pack boasts a 10,400mAh cell and 7.5W wireless charging capabilities for $50.
Still, Tesla's brand appeal is sure to give the wireless charger a boost when it goes back up for sale in the near future. The company did not specify a restock timeline, but the recent emails suggest that date is soon approaching.
Comments
And besides, if I'm bringing a portable power pack why would I be willing to lose efficiency by charging "wirelessly"?
Any time you connect anything to anything there's a potential security risk that could be exploited, and by using a power transfer method with minimum transference of data you are limiting the potential damage; as well as making it a heck harder/more costly to target you.
In the past people have been able to sell, give away or just drop chargers/batterypacks in desirable locations to then be able to gain access to passwords/accounts/data from people. Using a wireless charger (based on the QI standard) you lower the risk of being hacked even if you do use an unknown device.
Then again, you could just use any ol' wired thing if you are able to simply not connect the datawires at all. (I believe http://syncstop.com/ to be a commercial product that does just that.)
It's better for everyone with a healthy level of competition.
EDIT: Ooops, could'a shown it was them but I guess it was Cheech and Chong. Perhaps I had a bit too much fun in the 70's?
Nah...
You forgot to mention how high priced your insurance is, and I certainly hope the you have another vehicle available just in case you have to take your Model 3 in for service or repair.
Camry's never had those problems.
I do hope electric cars succeed. But we've gotten really good at making gasoline powered ones.