Samsung's new UV device charges and disinfects your phone

UPDATE: July 7, 2020, 1:58 p.m. CEST Originally launched only in Thailand, the UV Sterilizer has now been announced globally. Price and product name vary by market, Samsung says.

Your smartphone is probably teeming with germs, which is especially problematic during a global pandemic.

Now, Samsung Thailand (via SamMobile) has a pretty elegant solution — a portable device that both charges and disinfects your smartphone with UV radiation. You can also use it to disinfect other items such as smart watches, earphones, and even glasses.

The company claims the UV Sterilizer kills up to 99 percent of bacteria in 10 minutes. We've looked into the topic of sanitizing your smartphone with UV light, and found it to be a good option, though there is no proof yet that it kills the new coronavirus.

Phones as big as the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G will fit, as will the Galaxy Fold.

On the charging front, the UV Sterilizer is a Qi wireless charger with up to 10W of output. It also has an LED on/off indicator and automatically shuts down when you open the lid.

The Samsung UV Sterilizer will be available in Thailand from July 1 for the price of 1,590 baht ($51). There's no word on international availability.