By Todd Bernhard on Thu, 12/27/2018
Like many Apple enthusiasts, I have a number of accessories that live on my nightstand and need to be charged. So that means my nightstand has a Qi-based wireless charger and an Apple Watch charging pad. Wouldn't it be nice if one charger could handle a couple of those items? Fortunately, Nomad sent me the Base Station ($119.95) to try.
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Like many of Nomad's gadgets, the charging pad has a soft leather surface, so even a naked iPhone won't get scratched. And they include three distinct Qi charging coils so you can be sure your phone will find a charging sweet spot, no matter where you lay it down. The Apple Watch charger is vertical, which means it supports Nightstand Mode and it will accommodate watches with closed loop straps, such as my Milanese Loop style. This is greatly appreciated, as many chargers that use a flat design will not work with such straps.
The Base Station has a minimalist design and footprint so it doesn't take up much space on your nightstand, which is probably limited. It's only sold in one color, which is probably fine, since you don't need to match it with your outfit; but I do like Nomad's blue and brown leather options for their cases and watch bands, etc. Finally, it uses a proprietary A/C power plug, which may be required to power the three coils and integrated Apple Watch charger, but it would be nice if it was powered by USB-C. That way I could connect it to Nomad's USB hub, which also has earned a place on my nightstand, to power my Amazon Echo Spot and other gear!
Pros
- Luxurious leather home for your phone and watch
- Integrated Apple Watch charging pad
- Minimal design and footprint
- Three Qi coils for variety of charging positions
- Accommodates Apple Watches with closed loop bands
Cons
- One color
- Pricey
- Uses proprietary A/C power plug
Final Verdict
The Base Station is not cheap, but when you consider it replaces multiple chargers, has three Qi coils, and includes the Apple Watch charger (instead of just hosting Apple's own cable) it is a good value.
