IKEA to integrate Qi charging in some furniture starting in April 2015

Everyone's favorite build-your-own furniture store IKEA has just announced a partnership to start integrating Qi charging for devices into some of its furniture. Starting in April 2015, IKEA will offer bedside tables, lamps and desks with Qi charging built in, meaning you won't need to drop any extra cables or charging bases to keep your phones topped up. Jeanette Skjelmose, Business Area Manager Lighting and Wireless Charging, had this to say:

"Through research and home visits, we know that people hate cable mess. They worry about not finding the charger and running out of power. Our new innovative solutions, which integrate wireless charging into home furnishings, will make life at home simpler"

In addition to a lineup of furniture, IKEA will also start offering its own line of standalone Qi chargers for those who want to add wireless charging to their lives without buying full sets of furniture. There will be a variety of nice-looking Qi charging pads (including wood ones), as well as an insert that you can drill a hole into a current desk or table to add.

While Qi charging has already become the go-to way to charge up devices for many, full integration into furniture could push that further into general adoption. IKEA says that the new lines of products with Qi inside will be available in Europe and North america first, with a global rollout coming later.

Press release:

New collection: wireless charging makes life at home more convenient

IKEA launches the first of a new design collection integrating wireless charging of mobile phones and reading tablets into beautiful and functional home furnishing. The new solutions, turning bedside tables, lamps and desks into charging spots, will be available in Europe and North America from April, 2015, followed by a global roll-out.

The IKEA Wireless charging collection is part of a long term commitment called Home Smart in which IKEA strives for new innovative solutions for a better life at home. When developing the Wireless Charging collection, new but available technology has been used to meet people's needs of outlets and chargers beyond the fixed ones in homes or work environments.

"Through research and home visits, we know that people hate cable mess. They worry about not finding the charger and running out of power. Our new innovative solutions, which integrate wireless charging into home furnishings, will make life at home simpler", says Jeanette Skjelmose, Business Area Manager Lighting and Wireless Charging.

The technology builds on collaboration with the global certification standard Qi, offering a third party certification for wireless charging products. The new collection, turning bedside tables, floor and table lamps as well as desks into charging spots, was designed by among others David Wahl.

"We have created smart wireless solutions so you don't need to see the cables anymore. Many products can be charged at the same time, but you still have a beautiful wireless home", explains David Wahl.

IKEA launches design collections and unique collaborations every year that embody a passion to make life at home better. IKEA will move from releasing 1-2 design collections per year to around 10 per year.

Andrew Martonik

Andrew was an Executive Editor, U.S. at Android Central between 2012 and 2020.

26 Comments
  • The need to make it easy to plonk your phone down and not worry about alignment. The prefect scenario would be a coffee table or bedside table and the whole surface can be used. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Bit unrealistic. As long as there is a area of 3-5 coils I wold be happy. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Agreed. Most people can understand to place your device on a marked location. This guy obviously can't. Posted via Motorola Nexus 6
  • So sorry. Hoping for technology to improve is obviously offensive to you Posted via the Android Central App
  • No KY would be expensive and a waste to have the entire to table fitted with a coil.. Posted via Android Central App
  • No, it wouldn't be a waste of time, it'd be fantastic. With the newer QI standards one large coil could charge multiple devices anywhere on the table. Expensive yes, but so are a lot of things. Posted via who-gives-a-s***
  • That is a very douchey comment. Especially since he's right, it'd be a great way to do it. Posted via who-gives-a-s***
  • I can see a mass confusion coming along. People with IPhones will be wondering why they're phones won't charge. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Haha, lmao! Posted via the Android Central App
  • Lmao Posted via Android Central App
  • Hahaha good one Posted on my OnePlus One
  • IQiA
  • I see what you did there. Posted via Motorola Nexus 6
  • Please let this be the year manufacturers embrace wireless charging out of the box.
  • Won't happen. Carriers want cable sales. The markup is crazy Posted via Android Central App
  • Do you also have to build the Qi charger with sub par Chinese parts? Posted via Motorola Nexus 6
  • Too bad wireless charging is still slow, IMO wireless charging isn't ready for primetime. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Qi charging is more for keeping charge on your phone as you're sitting and working and occasionally checking it, not for rapid recharge or even normal recharge while you sleep or do some other activity that results in you not using the phone, like taking a shower. Posted on my OnePlus One
  • These are the reasons that are going to make it extremely hard for me to part with my Nexus 5. Sure, I could get a Qi adapter case thingy if I bought another phone.. But having it built in is just so god damn convenient. Thanks Obama.. I mean Ikea.
  • There are antennas that could be added to most phones for less than $15...
  • It will be interesting to see how (or whether) this helps shake out the wireless charging standards. Will there be user rage at IKEA for not being compatible with Starbucks or at Starbucks for not being compatible with IKEA?
  • I just hope that one of the designs is a stand-up model.
  • Was just thinking about this at work the other day. I have several unused grommets on the top of the desk that are for wires to pass through. If some one made a puck that set down in there and fit flush I would buy one.
  • OK wireless charging just got interesting to me. This actually makes sense to me versus the old way. I hope by the next WMC, I will be able to walk into my house and my phone starts charging automatically. (Without having to put it in a certain spot) Posted via my GALAXY NOTE 4
  • I like what I am seeing here. These are interesting concepts.
  • With the level of induction energy required for that our houses would likely cook us from the inside out.