Ember also came with a proprietary charging base that only worked with its mugs, while Ohm has a wireless charging pad. The Ui3 mug has a metal base that is heated by Ohm’s dual wireless charger. It works like an induction hob to heat up mugs at 22 watts but can also charge phones, AirPods and other small gadgets that support Kiwi wireless charging at up to 15 watts. This dual use helps reduce clutter on my desk, and I often use the pad to charge a few more when my drink runs out.
As the temperature outside begins to drop, it’s nice to have a consistently hot mug of coffee on hand. Importantly, unlike amber, Ohom Ui3 is virtually indistinguishable from ordinary mags. It’s like the Goldilocks mug I’d pick up from the cupboard because it looks nice and sturdy, holds the right amount, and is pleasant to sip from.
The Ohom Ui3 comes with a USB-C cable that’s only 5 feet long and a power adapter. The LED on the front pulses purple when it’s heating your drink and blue when it’s charging the gadget. Although the charging base can work as a regular Qi wireless charging pad, you can’t use other Qi pads with the mug. The pad gets a little hot to the touch when in use but not dangerously so, and it cools down quickly.
Of the boil
As much as I like the Ohm Ui3, there is room for improvement. The charging pad is ugly, with a safety warning on top telling you not to place any other metal objects on it and, oddly enough, not to try to charge your phone wirelessly. While the former safety concern makes sense, I can’t help but wonder who needs a second warning. It’s a shame, with such a cute and unobtrusive mug, that the pad can’t emulate a regular coaster (many wireless charging pads do).
Image: Simon Hill
