Skip to main content

Cut the Cord: This Wireless Charging Pad Makes Apple Look Ugly

Grovemade Wireless Charging Pad
Image used with permission by copyright holder
It’s been said that true progress is the ability to simplify. And we believe it. That’s why our de-cluttered sensibilities swooned over Grovemade’s latest release: a gorgeous Wireless Charging Pad that is the best wireless charger we’ve seen in years.

“When designing something to be simple and clean, it’s about the material choices you make,” says Sean Kelly, Lead Product Designer at Grovemade. “With the Wireless Charging Pad, the materials speak to their function and you can remove unnecessary adornments.”

True that.

Grovemade Wireless Charging Pad
Image courtesy of Grovemade Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Wireless Charging Pad features a solid stainless steel base and soft natural cork top available in light and dark finishes, hand-sanded to sit flush in the final design. It holds a 5watt power rating and the candy red power cord wraps cleanly under the doc when not in use. i.e. no excessive cord clutter. (There’s nothing so aesthetically frustrating as a clean tablespace littered with white wires.)

We’d now go as far to call Apple, Samsung, and Qi’s wireless charging pads as unsightly (ok, ugly is the real word) in comparison to Grovemade’s charging design.

Grovemade Wireless Charging Pad
Image courtesy of Grovemade Image used with permission by copyright holder

That’s because instead of a plastic-looking, awkward puck, the Wireless Charging Pad is elegant in its use of premium natural materials. The ¼-inch stainless steel base provides the weight the Pad needs to stay in place during use throughout the day, and visually contrasts the soft natural cork top. Cork also creates an ideal resting surface for phones while efficiently conducting a charge, while emitting a visual warmth to your deskspace.

But really, we’re not surprised its Grovemade who innovated such a simplistic yet visually ace wireless charging pad. After all, this Portland-based workshop of designers and craftspeople are behind this Japanese-inspire Minimalist Knife and neat Desk Shelf System. All releases, including the Wireless Charing Pad, share the ethos of clean, handcrafted goods made from natural materials.

Dilly Dilly to that.

Jahla Seppanen
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Born and raised off-the-grid in New Mexico, Jahla Seppanen is currently a sports, fitness, spirits, and culture writer in…
Everything we know about House of the Dragon season 2
The House of the Dragon season 2 trailer has us hyped
Emma D'Arcy in House of the Dragon season 2

Since 2011, Game of Thrones has cast a large shadow as one of the best HBO shows ever. The prequel series, House of the Dragon, also proved to be a massive hit when it premiered on HBO and Max in 2022, and it only became more popular as the weeks went on.

Now, fans are preparing for what House of the Dragon season 2 will bring. The season officially puts the realms at war between the rightful Queen of Westeros and her half-brother, who has essentially stolen the throne out from under her to become the new king. But there can only be one ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, and it's going to lead to one of the most destructive wars in the history of men and dragons. To prepare viewers for the battles to come, we're sharing everything we know about House of the Dragon season 2.
Why is there a civil war in House of the Dragon season 2?

Read more
The Night Agent season 2: Everything we know so far
We'll get you ready for The Night Agent season 2!
Luciane Buchanan and Gabriel Basso in The Night Agent.

The Night Agent may not be everyone's choice to be among the best shows on Netflix, but it's in the top ten for us! The Shield creator Shawn Ryan adapted Matthew Quirk's spy action thriller, The Night Agent, for Netflix in 2023, and it proved to be a hit out of the gate. By Netflix's internal metrics, it's the sixth-highest viewed series in the history of the platform.

Those kind of numbers mean that a second season was inevitable, and Netflix made it official just over a week after The Night Agent premiered. Since the series is back in production, the details about what's coming up on the show have started to trickle out. To help you stay on top of this series, here's everything we know about The Night Agent season 2.
What is The Night Agent about?

Read more
The 10 best Dominican cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024
Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

Every seasoned cigar lover has a preference for where their cigars come from. Cuban and Cuban cigars are the more obvious choices, but there is also Nicaraguan tobacco, Central African, Indonesian, Mexican, Ecuadorian, and Dominican. Some tobacco is even grown in the United States. Each region has a distinct flavor profile that adds a little something extra to the tobacco grown locally, as well as the cigars made there. The Dominican Republic is prized by many connoisseurs because of exactly this -- a rich, unique profile that enhances Dominican-grown cigars. That's in no small part due to the fertile soil and thriving climate of the region, which is ideal for tobacco growth and cultivation. If you've never tried a Dominican cigar, you're in for a real treat, there are some fantastic options out there.
The best Dominican cigars I've tried

Out of all the cigar guides I've put together so far, this one was one of the more interesting experiences for me. I had a great time trying out Dominican cigars, and I've definitely come away with an appreciation for blends made in the region. I'd also like to point out that Corey Suarez helped recommend some of these. If you haven't tried the JR Cigars or Cigars.com concierge service yet, you really should. Here's a little more about all of the best Dominican cigars I've tried:
Ashton Symmetry

Read more