Nendo launches mobile battery that you charge with your hands

Prolific Japanese design studio Nendo has released a hand-generated portable charger to power-up your phone in a black-out situation.
Founder Oki Sato has long looked to the many natural disasters in his native Japan to inspire his problem-solving design. For the Denqul charger, Nendo has again partnered with hardware company Sugita Ace; after the success of two prior collaborations themed around disaster relief, including a portable toilet, and an emergency kit filled with supplies.
Now, Nendo and Sugita Ace have turned their attention to the troublesome thought of loosing power on your mobile phone, when faced with no electricity, and no access to emergency services. The designers considered solar panels, before deciding upon using hand-generated centrifugal force to produce electricity.
The Denqul stick pulls out to double its size and bends into an L shape, which can be easily swung and rotated. A lithium battery is positioned on the tip to maximise the centrifugal force, utilising the weight of the battery (often thought of as a disadvantage in hand-held chargers) as leverage.
Of course, the device – which also plugs into the mains – can be used for everyday charging, too. As such, Denqul is imbued with Nendo's signature minimalist aesthetic. It's available in three muted, matte colour finishes, and comes with a charging dock-cum desk tidy, handy for standing your phone and cables in.
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Nendo website
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Elly Parsons is the Digital Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees Wallpaper.com and its social platforms. She has been with the brand since 2015 in various roles, spending time as digital writer – specialising in art, technology and contemporary culture – and as deputy digital editor. She was shortlisted for a PPA Award in 2017, has written extensively for many publications, and has contributed to three books. She is a guest lecturer in digital journalism at Goldsmiths University, London, where she also holds a masters degree in creative writing. Now, her main areas of expertise include content strategy, audience engagement, and social media.
-
Willy Chavarria: ‘We’re still so stuck in fashion‘s old guard’
As part of the August 2025 ‘Made in America’ issue of Wallpaper*, we invited three creative powerhouses to comment on the state of the States. Here, award-winning American fashion designer Willy Chavarria speaks on creative resilience, uniting with activist groups, and shaking up fashion’s old guard
-
Six Indian artists reframe the ladies compartment of a Mumbai local train
An exhibition by Method (India) at Galerie Melike Bilir in Hamburg explores a gendered space
-
Frank Lloyd Wright’s The Fountainhead – a shining example of Usonian design – is now on the market
This quintessential Wright home – built in a vibrant mid-century neighbourhood – was named after a novel inspired by the architect