The Belkin BoostUp Special Edition
wireless charging dock charges three devices at once, although the
convenience comes at a price.
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| Belkin BoostUp Special Edition wireless charging dock |
Buy Now From Amazon.com
Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Dock for iPhone + Apple Watch + USB-A Port (Wireless Charger for iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, X, 8/8 Plus, Apple Watch 4, 3, 2, 1) - Black
We seem to be inching closer and closer to that perfect
multi-device charging dock. Our criteria has been simple — fast wireless
charging to accommodate between two and four of our daily devices. In
the past, we've examined both iterations of Nomad's Base Station which
came tantalizingly close.
Belkin's latest offering takes a different design approach and has
merits of its own but still comes just shy of what we would love to see.
The basics
Charging stations all integrate a lot of familiar functionality, as is
the case here. The Belkin BoostUp dock has two wireless chargers — one
for your iPhone, another for your Apple Watch.
There is an additional USB output on the back to allow for a third
device to charge, such as a second Apple Watch, another phone or an
iPad.
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Belkin BoostUp Special Edition wireless charging dock
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Belkin technically has two versions of the BoostUp dock available.
Each is identical in function but differ in design. We prefer the
Special Edition model which is available only from Apple or Belkin
itself and carries a slightly higher price tag. The Special Edition
version of the dock has an overall better aesthetic, in our opinion. The
bottom has a bit of gloss with a matte center where the devices rest.
The standard version looks a little chunky, with the Special Edition
model keeping things clean and sharp. The stand that holds the phone has
a simple metal pole to elevate the charging pad compared to the thick
back found on the standard model.
Either way, both come in white or black and look better than the bulk of cheaper alternatives found on Amazon.com
Stand up
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| Belkin BoostUp Special Edition wireless charging dock |
With the adoption of Face ID, flat charging stations have been a
hard sell. When you have your phone lying horizontal, it is impossible
to actually unlock it without inputting the passcode or picking it up.
That has made charging stands all the more convenient over charging
pads, especially bed side when you are near eye level with the phone.
Belkin makes that happen with the BoostUp wireless charging dock. The
iPhone on the left and the Apple Watch on the right are both oriented
the same direction, letting you glance at your phone or watch at the
same time. At night, we can see the time on our Apple Watch via
Nightstand mode and on our desk, we can unlock our phone to check
Twitter or fire off a quick Messages reply.
There is a minor downside to the vertical wireless charger, though,
proving you can't please everyone. By living up in the air, it is
impossible to charge anything but a phone or other taller
device. If you have a pair of earbuds that charge wirelessly or a
battery pack, neither can charge wirelessly and must be physically
plugged in.
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Belkin BoostUp Special Edition wireless charging dock rear ports
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The positive side is that Belkin did include a USB port around
back for any of these additional power draws. This is a standard USB-A
port rather than USB-C and is limited to 5W. 5W of power is going to be
plenty for wearables or other small accessories, but something like an
iPad Pro will take forever to top off at that rate.
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| Belkin BoostUp Special Edition wireless charging dock |
Quickly turning to the Apple Watch charger, the charging puck is
completely integrated so you don't have to provide your own, leaving it
free for taking on the go or charging in a second place. It also keeps
the design a bit more streamlined without the need to route your own
wire. The charging puck, like the wireless charger, is vertical which
allows it to work with any watch band.
Nearly there
The Belkin BoostUp Special Edition wireless charging dock, is
exceptional. It has a great design, fast 7.5W wireless charging, a
vertical orientation for easier use, and can charge three devices at
once.
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| Belkin BoostUp Special Edition wireless charging dock |
It is probably 90-percent of the way there towards our ideal
charging station. Preferably, we'd have a USB-C port rather than USB-A
and it would be at least 15W output to power all our gear at appropriate
speeds.
If you don't mind USB-A or don't have a power-hungry device for around back, then the only hurdle here is the price tag.
Where to buy