Skip to main content

This little ball of energy charges your phone without wires

ora pod charges your phone without wires wireless charger ball
Image used with permission by copyright holder
When you have to travel, you know that you’ll need a few items to make sure that your mobile devices don’t die, namely a charging cable and wall charger, so you can plug your phone into a power source. Now, one product will slim down this list and let you pack a bit lighter.

Meet the Ora pod. This device is a wall charger without wires, allowing you to charge your mobile products with just an electrical outlet. The Ora pod is a 5W power adapter that works with iOS mobile devices, as well as Android and Windows products that have a micro-USB connection.

Ora Pod Wireless ChargerIts functionality is in its spherical shape, which consists of two concentric parts that move in sequence. Its design allows you to easily cover and uncover the prongs and lightning or USB connector, no plugging or unplugging wires. Its design adjusts to fit cases up to 3.5mm in size, and an embedded light illuminates when a device is charging. The Ora pod also comes in a wide range of colors including gold, sky blue, and hot pink.

There are a couple drawbacks to the device. It looks like it would be hard to charge two devices on the same outlet, which could be a problem if space is scarce. Also, one reason we like our charging cables is that we can still use our phone when it’s charging. It’s not likely we’d crouch at the outlet to send a text message. Its small size does make it an attractive option for trips, though.

The Ora pod is now available for preorder for $40 on the official product website. After the manufacturing process is complete, it will be available for shipping across the U.S. and internationally to Canada, Japan, and Mexico at the end of the year.

Krystle Vermes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Krystle Vermes is a professional writer, blogger and podcaster with a background in both online and print journalism. Her…
iOS 16 lets you pair Nintendo Switch controllers to your iPhone
Two players play Nintendo Switch.

Apple forgot to mention one important detail about iOS 16 at its annual WWDC conference yesterday: iPhone users will be able to play games with their Nintendo Switch Pro and Joy-Con controllers.

iOS 16 won't be released to everyone's iPhones until fall, but it is currently out as a developer preview, giving devs ample opportunities to test out and discover some of the new operating system's quirks and exploits. Riley Testut, the developer behind the Delta emulator and AltStore, shared his discovery of iOS 16 natively supporting the Nintendo Switch Pro and Joy-Con controllers, although they show up as a single device. He reported that "they work perfectly with Delta," which emulates games from SNES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance.

Read more
Eve MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit and Blinds Collection join the Matter lineup
The Eve MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit being installed.

Eve is a prominent name in the smart home world, with the company responsible for a variety of devices covering everything from smart plugs and security cameras to smart light switches and motion sensors. Its catalog is growing even more enticing today, with the Eve Blinds Collection and MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit gaining Matter support.

The MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit will likely appeal to more customers, as it costs just $200 and works with most existing setups. Installation is as simple as removing your shades, placing the MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit through the roller rod, then reinstalling the unit on your windows. Blinds with a roller between 1.5 inches and 2.0 inches are compatible with the upgrade kit.

Read more
Philips Hue lights have a rare discount, but there’s a catch
A TV with ambient backlighting from Philips Hue.

One of the cool things about Philips Hue lighting is how much freedom it gives you over creating the perfect ambiance in your home. One of the cool things about buying Philips Hue products over at Best Buy right now is how much freedom Best Buy is giving you over what you buy to save money. Right now, when you buy two or more select Philips Hue smart lighting product in Best Buy's offer builder, you can save 15%. Tap the button below to start building your own bundle and see all of the products available. While they don't include the best smart light bulbs that Philips produces, you'll be amazed by the versatility of the lightstrips. Or keep reading for an overview of some of the top picks from the bundle.

What you should purchase from the Philips Hue offer builder
The place to start with this deal is the and the if you don't already have them. These are the devices that take your movies, music, and games and syncs them to your lights.

Read more