Wireless charging might be steadily (if slowly) becoming a part of our lives, but it is still not the most convenient to use. Among the reasons for this is the fact that wireless chargers themselves tend to not only charge devices a trifle slowly, but are also inconvenient to carry along. Of course, there are some exceptions to this, but those tend to be on the expensive side. So if you want a wireless charging solution that is easy to carry around and is also reasonably quick, you will have to shell out a pretty penny. Which is why we are so impressed with the Portronics Freedom Fold. It manages to dodge both the portability and affordability bullets pretty well while charging devices wireless at a reasonable (but not insanely quick) speed. It was launched in 2023 at a price that was close to Rs 1499 but is now available at Rs 899, and at that time, it is a great option for anyone wanting a super portable wireless charger. A wireless charger that folds - and unfolds - and charges in both modes As its name indicates, the Portronic Freedom Fold is a wireless charger that folds up. But unlike some other chargers of the fold-type that tend to fold out and become a tray of sorts, the Freedom Fold comes in a folded form factor that is of about the size and thickness of a routine wallet. It weighs about 80 grams, and can actually be carried easily in a pocket if need be. It is made of PU leather with a textured fabric-like finish and the presence of magnets at the edges ensure that the charger does not open accidentally and stays shut. Speaking of which, the charger can also be folded out and then rearranged into the form of a charging stand that can also give you a hands-free viewing experience at a convenient angle. The best part is - it can charge a device when it is folded up as well as when it is in the form of a stand. In a nice design touch, there is a gap provided in the device to allow a wire to pass through the back of the charger to attach to the Type-C port on the charging pad, ensuring that the attached wire is not too visible and an eyesore. Incidentally, there is a 1-meter Type C to Type C in the box. The Freedom Fold can wirelessly charge devices at speeds of up to 15W, provided you use a charger of 20W or more with it. A very convenient (but not always super fast) wireless charging experience The portability and versatility of the Portronics Freedom Fold make it a very good option at its price point. The sheer convenience of being able to slip it into a jacket pocket and then folding out to become a stand gives it a distinct edge over most chargers in its price range. The charging experience on the charging pad of the Freedom Fold is a good one. You can charge a phone in portrait or landscape mode when the charger is folded and flat on a surface, and can charge a phone in portrait mode when the charger is in 'stand' mode, as the charging area is near the top. The good part is that the Freedom Fold is so stable in stand mode that we ended up using the device purely as a phone stand for hands-free calls or viewing videos and films. As the charger can juice up devices at speeds ranging from 5W to 15W, we were able to use it to charge TWS that supported wireless charging such as the AirPods Pro and the Nothing Ears (2) - although this works only when the charger is folded and flat on a surface. Charging speed is a bit of a mixed proposition, though. The Portronics Freedom has a maximum wireless charging speed of 15W, but that is only for Qi-supported devices. While that covers most Android phones, it charges iPhones at a much slower speed - of 7.5W, which means that even an hour of charging an iPhone 13 or above is unlikely to add more than 30-35 per cent. That said, something like a Nothing Phone (2), a Galaxy S24 or a Pixel 8 gets about 50-60 per cent in an hour, which is very handy indeed. Fits your pocket…in every sense! It may not be the fastest wireless charger around and not everyone will be a fan of the PU leather finish that it comes with, but what makes the Portronics Freedom Fold an excellent option is the sheer convenience it brings to the wireless charging table at an incredibly affordable price. Its form factor makes it very easy to carry around, it comes with a cable and best of all, it can work in two modes - flat and stand. All of this at a price of around Rs 850, which is about what you would anyway pay for a 15W wireless charger. A great option for anyone who wants the magic of wireless charging in a form factor and a budget that are pocket-friendly in every sense of the word!
