Zens’ new Qi2 charger is about as close as you get to plugging your phone directly into a wall

The €49.99 Wireless Charging Adapter turns a standard EU outlet into a magnetic charger for iPhones, with a USB-C port for a second device.

by Antonio G. Di Benedetto

Oct 17, 2024, 9:24 PM UTC

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

A wireless Qi2 charger plugged into a wall above a kitchen countertop, with a phone attached to it and a tablet charging via wired connection.

Image: Zens

Part Of

All the news on Qi2 wireless charging

see all updates

Antonio G. Di Benedetto is a reviewer covering laptops and the occasional gadget. He spent over 15 years in the photography industry before joining The Verge as a deals writer in 2021.

Qi2 chargers are quite prevalent these days and come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, so why not make one exclusively for Europeans with outlets above their kitchen countertops and a neat assortment of olive oils?

Zens may have figured out the key to a truly wire-free wireless charger with its new Wireless Charging Adapter. It’s a lot like most Qi2 / MagSafe chargers, capable of charging an iPhone at up to 15W, but it skips the usual wire between the outlet and magnetic pad to just plug directly into the wall.

What, you don’t color-match your charger and outlet covers to your wall? And you call yourself civilized?

Image: Zens

The €49.99 charger seems a little limiting if you don’t have the ideal outlet placement (and like the tiniest bit of a drop risk if you’re all butterfingers), but it’s also limited in availability since it only comes with EU plugs — for the time being, at least. Zens may not be the first to make a charger like this, but a quick search only pulls up a couple of examples from no-name brands that won’t charge as fast.

The Netherlands-based company doesn’t often shy away from making unique and single-purpose charging solutions, so it’s not terribly surprising to see it test the waters for such a quirky charger. And the Wireless Charging Adapter isn’t purely wireless, as it also offers a wired USB-C port to charge a second device, making it quite a different take on the typical 2-in-1.