Charger and mobile battery maker CIO has announced that six of its products — four under the main CIO brand and two under its sub-brand CIO Mate — have won the iF Design Award 2026, one of the world's most prestigious industrial design awards[1]. The winning lineup includes the MugWarmerⅡ smart mug with a built-in ceramic heater and the SMARTCOBY ULTRA SLIM 3K, a magnetic mobile battery only 4.98 mm thick — products that highlight CIO's distinctive gadget-forward design language.

What the iF Design Award Is, and Why It Matters for CIO

The iF Design Award is one of the longest-running and most authoritative international design awards, founded in 1954 and headquartered in Hannover, Germany[1]. It is organized by iF International Forum Design and selects outstanding industrial product designs from around the world.

For the 2025 cycle, roughly 10,000 entries were submitted from 68 countries and regions, and the winners were chosen after rigorous review by a jury of 129 design experts[1]. Within that field, CIO captured six awards — four from its main CIO brand and two from CIO Mate. For a mid-sized gadget maker focused on chargers and mobile batteries, winning six awards at once is a meaningful validation of the overall design quality of its lineup.

Four Awards Under the CIO Brand: Smart Mug, Ultra-Thin Battery, Waterproof Speaker, and More

The four CIO-branded winners share a common theme: packing several features into a single device while keeping the design adaptable to everyday scenes[1].

The MugWarmerⅡ is a set consisting of a mug with a built-in ceramic heater and a base unit that powers the heater and also charges a smartphone via Qi2[1]. Paired with the companion app, the temperature can be set in 1°C increments and the warming time in 1-minute increments. The base doubles as a Qi/Qi2 wireless charger for compatible devices. A separately sold 20 W USB charger is required for operation. The retail price is 6,980 yen including tax[1].

The SMARTCOBY ULTRA SLIM 3K is a magnetic mobile battery designed to be as thin and light as possible, measuring just 4.98 mm thick and weighing around 82 g[1]. It supports MagSafe-compatible Qi wireless charging, USB-C wired charging, and pass-through charging, and is also compatible with Apple's Find My network. With a 3,000 mAh capacity, it positions itself as a "top-up" battery that can stay attached to an iPhone with minimal bulk. The retail price is 8,980 yen including tax[1].

The Portable Bath Speaker is an IPX7-rated waterproof portable speaker[1]. A built-in magnet lets users attach it to magnetic surfaces such as unit bath walls or refrigerators, and it supports wireless charging. The compact, palm-sized body delivers up to 8 hours of continuous playback on a full charge. The retail price is 5,980 yen including tax[1].

The SMARTCOBY SLIMⅡ Wireless2.2 SS5K is a mobile battery built around a semi-solid-state cell from a Tier 1 battery manufacturer[1]. It is Qi2.2 certified and supports wireless fast charging up to 25 W, with wired output up to 30 W. At the time of the announcement it is listed as "in preparation for sale," meaning it has yet to hit the market[1].

Two CIO Mate Winners: The Multi-Port "Mate Tap" Power Strip Series

From sub-brand CIO Mate, two models in the Mate Tap multi-port power strip series were selected[1].

The Mate Tap 001 is a multi-port power strip with three AC outlets, two USB-C ports, and one USB-A port[1]. USB-C delivers up to 20 W, supporting fast charging for smartphones. Total output is 1,500 W, and the model is offered in six colors at an accessible 2,180 yen including tax[1].

The Mate Tap 002 keeps the same three AC outlets / two USB-C / one USB-A layout, but adds a retractable cord-reel USB-C cable inside the body[1]. It also supports 20 W fast charging, with the added convenience of pulling out the cable when needed and snapping it back when not in use. Total output is 1,400 W, again with a six-color lineup, priced at 3,980 yen including tax[1]. It is well suited to desks and entryways where users want to keep cable clutter under control.

What the Lineup Says About CIO's Product Direction

CIO was founded in 2017 around the concept "build an exciting future with multifunctionality and the latest technology," and it focuses on in-house development of chargers, mobile batteries, and related smartphone accessories[1]. Looking at the six winning products together, the company is clearly leaning into the latest standards — semi-solid-state cells, Qi2.2 — while also pushing into lifestyle-driven categories like a bath-friendly waterproof speaker or a ceramic-heated mug.

CIO Mate operates with a more accessible-price ethos, expressed as "feel a slightly more exciting tomorrow, casually," and is built around colorful, lower-priced products[1]. The two Mate Tap wins demonstrate that even entry-level power strips can earn international design recognition when the design is taken seriously.

Summary

CIO took home six iF Design Award 2026 wins this cycle: four from the CIO brand (MugWarmerⅡ, SMARTCOBY ULTRA SLIM 3K, Portable Bath Speaker, SMARTCOBY SLIMⅡ Wireless2.2 SS5K) and two from CIO Mate (Mate Tap 001, Mate Tap 002). Prices range from CIO Mate's 2,180 yen up through CIO's 6,980–8,980 yen gadgets, spanning both leading-edge technology like semi-solid-state cells and Qi2.2 and lifestyle-oriented products such as the waterproof bath speaker. With around 10,000 entries from 68 countries and regions in this year's awards, the fact that CIO managed to take six wins across both its main brand and sub-brand provides outside validation for the design strength the company has built up over the past few years.

Source:https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000625.000043212.html