Do you want a wireless charger that can not only charge your iPhone, but it can also charge
your Apple Watch and AirPods all at the same time, while looking good on your bedside table?
Well, Belkin’s latest wireless charging pad has all of those characteristics and the
best part is that it is right available now.
Let’s get started.
What’s going on everyone?
It’s Mike from tech247.tv.
Bringing you the best in technology unboxing and reviews to help you make informed buying
decisions.
Here on the channel we do the analysis of the various bits and bytes that transcend
technology only to find their way into your pocket.
So, if you like product reviews like this video, you should consider subscribing because
we do this every week and I think you’re going to like it.
If you’re like me, you probably have a nightly ritual where you go around to the various
places in your house making sure that all of your electronics are plugged in and charging;
ready for use the next day.
The last thing I do before going to sleep is placing my Apple Watch and iPhone on their
respective chargers on my nightstand.
To that end, I’ve been waiting for Apple to release AirPower, so I can consolidate
a few different devices on my nightstand into a single unit.
The premise of AirPower is great: It’s a single piece of hardware that will wirelessly
charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods in a cleanly designed package that is visually
appealing.
Unfortunately, it’s almost 14 months since it was previewed and there’s no sign of
AirPower outside of a few mentions of it in product brochures.
Belkin announced the Boost UP Wireless Charging Dock for iPhone + Apple Watch in September
2018 and it’s now exclusively available for purchase at the Apple Store.
The Good
Design –
One of the aspects that I really like about this charger is the clean design aesthetic
that it has.
The unit is available in either a glossy white or glossy black finish.
There are soft touch accents everywhere you would expect to have them:
Along the bottom of the charging dock so it doesn’t slip off your bed side table
Across the top of the charging unit so it doesn’t unnecessarily scratch the bottom
of your phone
And on the back of the charging pad so your phone will rest genteelly against it.
The white will be absolutely less prone to fingerprints and dust, but I can’t really
see someone constantly moving the unit around once it’s on their nightstand, so the black
version shouldn’t collect too many fingerprints in the glossy areas.
There’s also a green LED along the left side of the charging pad that will illuminate
while the device is charging.
The LED is dimly light and I would not consider it bright.
Belkin even thought to put a plastic stopper on the device-side of the AC adapter so that
it’s less likely to get pulled out due to tension.
Nice touch, Belkin.
Nice touch.
Functionality:
The dock can not only fast-charge your iPhone at 7.5 watts, it can also intelligently charge
your Apple Watch, and still have enough power left over to charge another device via the
5w USB A port on the back unit.
This makes the product more flexible and a more attractive solution compared with AirPower.
The rear-side USB A port can be used to charge your AirPods, an iPhone or Android device,
or even an iPad.
Two of the more interesting aspects of the Boost Up is that it comes with a 3-year warranty
out of the box and Belkin will repair or replace a device that is damaged as a result of using
the charger.
The fact that Belkin is offering up to a 3-year warranty and the equipment protection differentiates
them against their competitors.
The Bad
All of the design, convenience, and peace of mind comes with a price tag of $160.00
Now, some of you might balk at the thought paying this much money to charge your phone
which is understandable because relatively speaking, $160 is a lot of money in some places.
Let me put the cost into a different perspective.
If the charger is $160 and it has a useful life of at least three years, that means the
unit will cost you about $53 per year to own this piece of equipment.
Now, you’re probably going to use it at least once per day and at that rate, it’s
$0.14 per day to own this.
That’s a pretty good deal, right?
Now, that’s not to say the Boost Up from Belkin is perfect.
The wall plug is just a comically large.
I mean, I know it’s going to be out of sight behind a nightstand, but many people have
a narrow clearance between their nightstand and the wall making this a less than ideal
without using an extension cable making this a less than ideal solution.
Along the same lines as the wall charger is that it is proprietary meaning that you cannot
simply use a charger lying around your house.
Conclusion:
All-in-all, the Boost Up charging dock allows me to consolidate several pieces of hardware
into a single unit that has good design, it does exactly what I expect it to do, and is
backed with an extensive warranty.
I would give this 4 out of 5 stars with the real drawbacks being the size of the wall
plug and the cost being just a bit too high.
I would have liked to see this priced $10 cheaper at $149 because it’s just a little
more palatable of a number.
If you’re in the market, I think that the Boost Up is definitely worth your consideration.
Let me know in the comments below if you pick one of these up.
Hit like, hit subscribe, and consider sharing this video if you found it useful.
I’ll talk to you in the next one.