This New Tech Turns Any Countertop into a Wireless Charger
When those annoying iPhone charging pads first debuted, the idea of placing your phone on a surface to freely charge sounded revolutionary.
You did have to place them perfectly on the pad... but even Starbucks began installing these into their tables back in 2015, and Corian offered charging surfaces, both partnered with Powermat (spoiler: this cumbersome version didn’t stick).
Now? The limits of those small charging spots are a thing of the past thanks to technology company FreePower, which debuted its countertop innovation—FreePower for Countertop—at the 2024 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Vegas. FreePower says it can turn any stone countertop surface into a charging pad. And the company says its now in partnership talks with leading home builder Taylor Morrison.
Yes—kitchen counters, bar tops, bathrooms, custom furniture—it can all charge a homeowner’s device, whether it’s Apple, Google, or Android. The company says any Qi-enabled device, which includes smart phones, some smart watches, and some headphones.
FreePower’s promise is “Never think about charging again,” and it’s resonated across the industry with its list of awards for its countertop version, from KBIS’s Best in Show award, the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) Innovation Award honoree, and World’s Most Innovative Companies 2021 by Fast Company.
Does FreePower sound familiar? Before its fresh debut of FreePower, the company was called Aira, where it pitched to the investors on Shark Tank (spoiler: they secured a deal with three sharks).
The company also developed free charging solutions for cars and produced products for other companies. One of those companies includes Tesla, which FreePower worked with to develop its Tesla Wireless Charging Platform back in 2022, and a second-generation charger in 2023.
How FreePower for Countertop Works
Okay, now their track record is impressive, but when it comes to the FreePower for Countertop, the technology consists of six layers embedded during fabrication. Online, the company claims the process is fast, “as straightforward as cutting a sink,” and uses the same tools.
Underneath the stone countertop is a system of copper coils used as the foundation for the wireless power transfer. What follows is the “Charging halo,” which projects light up through the stone to show users where they can charge.
But no, this isn’t like the pesky aforementioned charging mats. A small portion of an iPhone can be in this halo for it to charge. A lot more flexibility. After the halo comes the structurally reinforced mounting system, which mounts FreePower into the stone. And the halo lighting function is entirely optional, so the charging area can disappear completely.
There’s a bit of fun to be had with the halo. Users can adjust the brightness and color of the light, plus sounds. FreePower can be embedded into engineered stone, natural stone, and wood, but the company recommends translucent quartz.
But, good things come to those who wait. The company says FreePower for Countertop is in high demand and must be pre-ordered. Upon allocation, FreePower must certify your fabricators, then contractors can freely use FreePower.
The minimum price with fabrication and installation is $795, but the countertop charger itself is priced at $429.
