Provides: Wireless iPhone charging, protection Colors: Black Developer: Dexim Minimum Requirements: iPhone 4 Price: $79.90 Availability: Late March 2011
dexim is a company that makes use of cool technologies, and often does so at a price lower than many competitors. For instance, dexim has a Super-Juice Power Case that is similar to that of Mophie’s Juice Pack Plus but for a little less money. Still, regardless of price, the point is that dexim makes some good iDevice power products. And as you’d expect, the Frixbee is one of them.
The dexim Frixbee is their product meant to fill the inductive charger market. Basically, it’s built so you can simply set your device down on a surface to charge it without needing to fumble around for wires. It’s extremely similar to the Powermat chargers you’ve probably seen for a while now. However, dexim gives you the case, charger, and necessary wires all for around $80, while other companies often charge $80 for the charger alone.
Setting up the Frixbee is fast and easy. You basically plug the mat into the wall using the power cord it comes with, put the case on your iPhone, set the iPhone down on the mat, and you’re done. the iPhone simply begins to charge so long as it is on the mat in the right orientation. I make that emphasis because sometimes getting the device to recognize the iPhone can take a try or two. the mat is built such that each side is a separate station, meaning you can charge two iPhone 4s at once. This also means the iPhone must be centered on the mat such that the mat and the case can appropriately sync up with each other to charge the device. that said, there is a small magnetic force that helps to align the two.
A big part of this system is obviously the case. Since the system relies on a link between the case and mat, the case will need to stay on your phone to use the product. Luckily, it’s a lot smaller than many of the other cases I’ve seen used with these systems. While it’s certainly smaller than the Mophie or even dexim battery cases, it seems to be smaller than many of the inductive system cases as well. In fact, it’s at a size such that I don’t really mind using it day to day.
But there is one annoyance. the case is constructed in two pieces: a smaller top piece that comes up and then a bottom that the phone slides in to. In my experience with the case, the top part doesn’t snap on very strongly and can fall off with small tugs or something that might happen in your pocket. the case does, however, have a small USB port on the bottom so that the iPhone can be charged and synced with a computer while in the case.
I’ve also confirmed with the dexim PR that they do plan on offering different cases for this product. While they aren’t sure of a timeline yet, I’d imagine they’ll announce some sort of iPod touch and iPhone 3G/3GS cases, too.
All in all, it’s a pretty good product for charging iPhones. the charge time is quick enough that you aren’t sitting around for unreasonable periods waiting for your device to charge, and it’s much quicker to simply set the phone down on the mat rather than try to find a plug for it. yet it would be nice if the mat was a tad bit bigger to allow more of the phone to sit on it instead of hanging off the edge. Also, if it’s quiet enough in the room, you can hear the small magnets or something in the device clicking around as they charge. It’s not disturbingly loud or annoying, but is certainly noticeable at times.
As I said, though, it’s overall a very solid and good product if you want a nice, not-too-expensive inductive iPhone charger.