1 min readIt might not be as flashy as a new laptop or processor, but one of the most low-key delightful gadgets at this year’s Computex was Piodata’s iXCharger.
While the iXCharger might not look all that different to the many USB-C fast chargers in the market, it comes with two big advantages. The first is support for up to 140W GaN fast charging. The second is that it features up to 2TB of built-in storage. The idea here is that this setup uses the excess bandwidth offered by USB 3.1 to allow for seamless data transfer while you’re charging up your device.
During a demonstration on the show floor, accessing the storage seemed as simple as bringing up your file explorer of choice and clicking on the drive. Even if the file transfers here aren't as fast as an SSD, the experience is indistinguishable from that of a more traditional USB stick. You’re just getting fast charging as an added bonus.
This novel spin on portable storage hasn’t come entirely out of nowhere. Piodata might not have the most friendly of names for its products, but it’s been working towards this setup for a few years now. The previous iXflash cube was essentially a small USB-based gadget that you could plug into your phone to automatically back up its contents while it charged. The iXCharger builds on this by integrating high-wattage fast charging and a set of interchangeable travel plugs.
There’s no word yet on whether the gadget will make its way to Australian shores but a Piodata representative estimated the cheapest models should start at around $80 USD so importing one isn’t exactly going to put you into debt.
Putting that ambiguity (and the cybersecurity possibilities) to one side, it’ll be interesting to see how long it takes other accessory brands like Belkin to pick up on the idea and put out their spin on the concept. Even the fastest of wired chargers eventually reaches a point of diminishing returns and nobody says no to a few extra gigabytes.
