IKEA plans to release a new wireless charger next month that turns existing furniture items like a table into a charging bay for smartphones and other devices. The Swedish company already sells furniture with wireless chargers built in for seamless connections, but those options are somewhat limited in style and colors. Allowing customers to add wireless charging to their current furniture would no doubt be popular among those who don't need new furniture but do want to add charging functionality to their homes.
Over the past couple of years, IKEA has dipped its toes deeper into smart devices and wireless charging. For example, and in addition to furniture pieces that come with built-in chargers marked by a little '+', the company also sells surprisingly affordable charging pads in various colors and materials. The latter selection of products are all designed to sit on top of a surface.
To give the consumer a little more choice when it comes to wireless charging, IKEA has plans to release a new wireless charger that hides underneath the surface of furniture. The SJÖMÄRKE adheres underneath surfaces with two double-sided tape stripes or can be screwed into the material. The manual included on the product page does state charging support is limited to standard 5W charging with Qi 1.2.4, which likely means no device will get special treatment over others. The SJÖMÄRKE can be fastened under any surface that's between 3/8 and 7/8 of an inch thick and that's made out of anything except metal, as metal disrupts the wireless power signal.
How IKEA's Charger Works
Right where the power cord connects to the charger, there's a little LED light that will indicate connection success and if the temperature rises too much. This can be useful to keep an eye on, since the charger sits flush with plastic and wood during the naturally warming process of charging. IKEA also mentions that devices should never be placed directly on the charger considering it's built to work from a certain distance. One interesting thing to note is that, as the charger is designed to be placed under a surface, it may be a little difficult to find exactly where the charging spot is. A sticker is included to mark the charging area and it's recommended to measure how far in the charger's '+' symbol lies underneath. This will help users to pinpoint exactly where on the surface is the ideal charging spot.
Once installed and marked correctly, having a wireless charger can be incredibly useful. Whether placed under a nightstand, end table, or even smack dab in the middle of the kitchen table, having that added functionality can make a huge difference and further improve a smart home. IKEA is working towards promoting sustainability, and letting users add wireless charging to their existing furniture is likely to help in that cause to a degree. While the SJÖMÄRKE charger is already listed on IKEA's website, it is not available yet with the company currently aiming for an October release.
Source: IKEA