Carved Wireless Charger Review

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Most wireless chargers do their best not to be noticed. They’re inconspicuous stands or little circles. Some furniture companies are even working them into their tables and couches. But Carved wanted to do something a little different. They wanted to make a charger that stood out. A beautiful statement piece when dormant, and hidden while in use. That’s where the new Carved wireless charger comes in.

I’ve used many wireless chargers, including Carved’s first generation wireless chargers. In fact, I was going to write a review for them before the company discontinued them for their second generation chargers. This is now their third generation, and, while it’s the best, is it worth the price? Let’s take a closer look.

 

Disclaimer: Carved sent me this unit for review. Despite this, I kept the full cost in mind during my review to remain as relatable as any other Leaf and Core review.

Hardware

The Carved wireless charger is almost impossibly thin, thanks to the bulk of the electronics being in the USB connector. The pad itself only houses the charger’s lone coil. That coil is capable of 15W charging. That’s double the speed the iPhone XS can charge at, and even more than most Android devices can handle. “Fast Charging” is often considered over 10W, so this is a little future-proof.

The charging pad is about 4mm thick (0.16″), and 8.5cm by 5.4cm, or 3.37″ by 2.12″. That makes it smaller and much thinner than any smartphone. You can actually hold it against the back of your smartphone while using it without noticing it very much.

Moving the electronics to the USB plug means you’re limited to the charging cable. It’s your only cable. That cable is 38″ long, or 96cm. It’s standard for included charging cables, which are usually about a meter long. However, this cable cannot be detached, it’s a vital part of the charger, and houses the electronics for the wireless charging pad.

Why So Small?

Carved kept their charger small and thin for a few reasons. First, the footprint. As it turns out, a large pad can make the location of the coils hard to find. You may put your phone down, pick it up later, and realize that the device hasn’t been charging. With a small footprint, you know where the coil is. This makes putting your device down with confidence easier.

So you might be wondering why you’d want a super thin charging pad. Does it matter? It’s not like you’re holding this in your hand, right? A thin charger is certainly more portable, so you can bring it on trips. But the real benefits of that thin pad is its ability to charge through a large area. Because the top is thin and the coil is the lone electronic part in the charger, there’s no large air gap between the coil and the top of the charging pad. This means you can still charge with a thick case. Even if you have the thickest Otterbox case, you’ll still be able to charge. In fact, Carved tested it with a notepad and a thick case.

Finally, that thinness comes down to appearance. It’s not some bulky plastic thing on your desk or coffee table, it’s a thin piece of aluminum, wood, and resin. It makes a statement. When you put your phone down on it, it completely disappears, your phone seemingly hovering a few millimeters above the surface of your table. Pick it up, and you have a piece of handcrafted art on your desk.

Why Single Coil?

Many of my chargers have two or three coils. Multiple coils means you have a larger charging area. However, they also take up more space, which would have made the charging pad larger and thicker. They also generate more heat and noise. This was the problem with Apple’s AirPower, which was canceled because Apple apparently couldn’t figure out how to put so many coils in the charger. It comes down to managing costs, keeping the device small and thin, and reducing heat. This comes at the trade-off of a much smaller charging area. Still, you’ll know exactly where this charging area is thanks to the size of the charging pad.

Appearance

These chargers are all one of a kind. The electronics parts are the same and the aluminum is as well, but the top part of the pad is a combination of wood burl and resin. This creates a beautiful swirled pattern with wood and shiny resin. It looks natural and beautiful, and no two are alike. In fact, even on Carved’s website, you have to pick the charger you want because they’re all different. You can sort by the colors you’re interested in then pick your favorite design. They’re all beautiful, resin and wood look incredible together, but no two look alike.

This is really just a beautiful charger. I’ve been trying to hold off on subjectivity until the sections below, but it’s hard not to here. It’s really just a gorgeous charger and will look great on anyone’s desk, nightstand, or coffee table.

What I Like

Beautiful Designs

My favorite thing about this has to be the design. Each charger is handmade with unique wood burl and resin. It’s a fantastic look. I have jewelry (from Carved) made from wood and resin, and frequently get compliments on it. It really stands out. Someone usually asks about my Carved chargers when they see them for the first time. This new one is smaller and thinner than ever, and is sure to turn a few heads.

Super Portable

This is also portable. It’s thin, it’s light, I can easily slip it in a backpack or suitcase for a trip and bring it anywhere, and it doesn’t take up much room on a nightstand or desk. I recently needed a hotel room for a friend’s wedding. I was able to put this on the nightstand to charge up my phone without taking up much space or dangling a long cable anywhere. Plus I was able to use the same charger for my iPhone and my AirPods.

Coil Location and Size

Thanks to the small footprint, it’s not often that you’ll miss the coil. Sometimes you will, especially when you first get it. This is because there’s only one coil, and you’ll have to get your phone’s coil over it to charge. The thing is, these coils are only about two inches in diameter, and you don’t know where they are in either device. You can sort of figure it out, but it’s some guesswork until you get used to it. Is it a problem? Actually, not really. Due to the size, it’s less problematic than other circular chargers I’ve used. It’s actually easier to charge my AirPods and iPhone with this than it is my other circular wireless chargers. The wireless charging stands I have are easier, because they always line up when you put your phone down, but this also means your device must always be propped up. You may not want that at night.

I thought this would be a complaint of mine, but, thanks to the slim and narrow size of this charger, it’s actually easier to get your phone in the sweet spot and start charging. I actually prefer it. Imagine that!

Heat Protection

Some wireless chargers I’ve used before have had poor heat protection. I noticed the case of my AirPods would get too hot to handle if I put them on the charger with a fast charging adapter. I tested the same setup with my fast charging adapter and my AirPods. No overheat. I’ll describe a different heat issue below, but at least this seems to have the sensors necessary to protect your electronics. Neither my iPhone nor my AirPods got hot or even too warm while using this, even while playing a video or charging the AirPods while the case charged.

What I Don’t Like

Durability

Carved shows that their cable can support up to 10lbs, but that’s not the metric we’d measure durability with. How many times can it be plugged in and removed, or how does the cable work after being coiled around the charger in a backpack? This is a very thin cable, and if it breaks, it’s done. The whole $60 charger is broken. I’ve only been testing this a week, but I can’t imagine this can last forever. It’s a very thin cable. Despite its portability, you’re probably going to want to put this somewhere in your home and keep it there. Because this is fragile, you’re not going to want to move it.

Cable Length

As for where you’ll put it, that’s a tricky story. Mine is sitting on my end table by my couch. The cable just barely reaches from my outlet to its place by my couch. My end table sits right next to my outlets. For many people, your plug is likely going to be too far away. You could put it on your desk in your home office or bedroom, but this kind of defeats the purpose of having a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. If I hide this away in my office, it’s something only I’ll ever see. I could perhaps use it at work on my desk, which is likely what I’ll do, but it’s a shame that this short cable can’t be replaced so I could use this anywhere.

USB Plug Heat

Of all my complaints, this is the biggest and the strangest. I had to delay this review to test this issue in a variety of ways. The metal portion of the USB plug gets very hot over time. Not hot enough to start a fire, at least not in my experience, but hot enough that you could burn your hand a little as you’re removing the plug from an adapter.

I noticed this with 5W adapters, 12W adapters, 5V, 9V, and everywhere in between. If I left my phone on the charger long enough it would make the USB plug very hot. I noticed this almost exclusively with my iPhone, and that’s likely due to it using fast charging. My AirPods did not generate this same heat, but they charge much more slowly.

None of this heat was felt elsewhere. The charging pad isn’t getting hot, my AirPods didn’t get hot, and my iPhone didn’t get hot. I’ve used adapters before that did not have adequate heat protection, and this does not seem to be a problem here. In fact, even as the metal part of the USB plug gets hot, the plastic part gets warm, at worst. There’s no burning or melted plastic smell.

I’ve noticed this before with other USB devices, however, it’s not common. Because the adapter doesn’t seem to be overheating, and everything seems to be fine, it’s probably okay? But I can’t tell what’s going on inside the cable’s electronics. Is there a short? Poor insulation? Too much resistance? It’s hard to tell. All I can say is that if you get one and charge your device for any length of time, do not unplug this close to the adapter. You could hurt your hand.

The Verdict?

A friend of mine said the Carved wireless charger was the most beautiful wireless charger he had ever seen. I agree. It’s art as much as it is tech. But its tech game needs some work. I would have preferred a detachable cable, even if the detachable cable was proprietary to fit the thin charging pad. Anything would be better than attaching the entire worth of the charger to a lone cable or needing a USB extension cable to set it up on a table.

The heat issue is disquieting. I’m not comfortable with how hot that can get. Carved likely determined it’s safe, but I tend to worry. If you use an extension cable, this could make the connection point hot. I may only use this in the office, where I can closely monitor it at all times I’m using it, but I’m likely worrying over nothing.

If you’re interested in a beautiful charger to use as a conversation starter in your home or office, the Carved wireless charger is your best bet. You can pick one up here. It’s beautiful, easy to use, and unobtrusive. Just keep an eye on it. Easy with something that looks this good, right?

I think that if you think it looks beautiful, buy it! As for the heat? Consider using a lower wattage wall adapter or check it frequently. I think it’s a concern we can likely ignore, but I’d feel bad if I didn’t mention it.

The Carved charger is a beautiful one, and I’ll surely use it daily. It’s as attractive as it is functional, and that’s far more than most wireless chargers can say.