Charging Stations & Docks

Over the past dozen or so years, I have reviewed hundreds if not thousands of products. One of my favorite aspects of this is when a product I previously reviewed gets better and I get a chance to cover the newer version. I also appreciate multi-function devices. I have so many gadgets already so the more functions a single device can perform, the better, as long as there are no compromises. This is the case with Pitaka's Air Omni (starting at $119). While it is available on Kickstarter, and I hesitate to recommend crowdfunded projects because of the uncertainty, Pitaka is a well-established, longtime Apple accessory maker and this product is real, as Pitaka sent me a review unit to try.

I'm always looking for the perfect wireless charging accessory, and with so many gadgets to charge, one thing I look for is the smallest footprint possible. Fortunately, Moshi sent me the SnapTo Magnetic Wireless Charger $49.95) to try, and it offers something impressive, no footprint. That's because it uses a combination of magnets to keep your phone in contact with the rubberized charging pad, plus an optional swiveling wall-mount that attaches via the included 3M adhesive strips.

I like it when products do double or even triple duty. The less I have to clutter my desk or travel bag with, the better. The team at RapidX agrees and sent me their MyPort ($79.99) to try. It's a 10,000 mAh portable battery pack, which is enough to charge an iPhone several times, or you can charge a couple of items thanks to the USB-A and USB-C port and built-in Qi wireless charging pad.

If you love hiking in the mountains, camping and fishing at a favorite lake, or just going for a walk in the woods, you likely already know that time in nature does a world of good for both physical and mental health. Researchers at the University of East Anglia performed a meta-analysis of more than 140 studies completed in 20 countries that objectively confirms these subjective impressions. Exposure to wild spaces reduces the production of stress hormones, lowers pulse rate and blood pressure, decreases sleep disturbances, and increases happiness, well-being, and even creativity. For many people, spending time in the great outdoors, whether for an afternoon or weeks at a time, means a break from technology. But there are so many practical benefits of having your phone with you! So before you escape to the woods to eat roots and berries and forget human speech, think about adding some of this essential camping gear and equipment to your packing list. While you're at it, check out our collection of travel, hiking, plant identification, and bird apps.

I have been a fan of Pitaka's iPhone cases and car charger for some time. The company has a unique design combining aramid fiber (which looks like carbon fiber) and metal and magnets to not only look good but also to keep your phone and accessories connected, in place, and fully charged. But if you want an extra battery pack to carry with you, Pitaka also has the MagEZ Juice ($89.99), which Pitaka sent me to try.

I keep restocking portable battery packs because the kids borrow and don't return them. Then I'll clean around the house and find discharged battery packs strewn around the house. Now, the ChargeHub HomeBase Power Bank Docking Station ($59.99) that Limitless Innovations sent me may be my saviour. The portable battery charging dock is a compact base that has four slots for the included aluminum battery packs, each offering 4,000 mAh of power, which is impressive given how slim they are.

The folks at iHome make a wide variety of iPhone accessories, particularly speakers... so many that I give them a hard time for resorting to cryptic naming schemes. The iBTW281 ($79.99) alarm clock phone charger that they sent me to try is just one example. Fortunately, I speak "iHome," so I can translate the "BT" to Bluetooth and the "W" to Wireless. That gives you a good idea of what this "Dual Alarm Clock Speaker System + Dual Charging" device (that's the long name) does!

While kids may flock to PopSockets, the colorful collapsible stand that you may have seen on the back of people's iPhones, there's an alternative that may appeal to kids as well as older folks who need to keep a secure grip on their mobile devices. I had the opportunity to try the CLKR Phone Grip and Stand (starting at $14.99) as CLCKR sent me some versions to try. Like a PopSocket, they can attach to an iPhone or you can buy iPhone cases with the CLCKR built in. I tried both.

I recently added a dashcam to my car, so I'm running out of USB ports. Fortunately, Moshi sent me the QuikDuo Car Charger (starting at $24.95) to try. I tried the higher-end model, which has a USB-A port and a USB-C port. The entry-level model has two USB-A ports. The USB-C option is great for my iPhone as I can use a USB-C to Lightning cable for fast charging (up to 50 percent in 30 minutes!). The other USB-A port is fine for my dashcam, which runs off microUSB.

If you already own a set of AirPods that do not have built-in wireless charging, don't despair. Pitaka sent a review unit of its Air Pal ($99). It comes in two finishes; the premium uses Aramid fiber, which looks like carbon fiber. The Air Pal adds Qi-based wireless charging to non-wireless charging AirPod cases Additionally, there is a built-in battery pack delivering up to three charges. This is great for traveling.

I have a lot of Apple gear (iPhones, AirPods, Apple Watches) but limited space, so I was glad when X-Doria sent its Defense Vertical Wireless Charger (starting at $39.99) to try. It is sold in two versions, a compact vertically-oriented stand for just a Qi-enabled smartphone or a wider version with an extra pad for AirPods (or even a second iPhone). That version also has an extra USB port so you could add your own cable to charge an Apple Watch, etc.

I am always on the lookout for the ideal way to charge all of my gear, which is typically made by Apple. The folks at Pitaka may have the answer. Their upcoming AirTrio and AirQuad (starting at $119) is currently a bargain on Kickstarter; and while crowdfunded projects don't always come to fruition, Pitaka is an established manufacturer and I've reviewed its other items before. The company sent me an AirQuad to review, so I can confirm that it's real. And it's really nice.

I travel a lot, so I'm always looking for the perfect portable charger. I think I may have found it with the Powerstation Hub ($99.95), which Mophie sent to me to review. It checks so many of my boxes. First, it has a 6,000 mAh battery. That's typically enough to either charge an iPhone twice or top off four devices. Mophie claims 36 hours of battery life, but that depends on the devices that are plugged in. The hub can charge up to four devices at once, via two USB-A ports, a USB-C port, and a built-in Qi wireless pad. The USB-C port supports power delivery for fast charging with 18 watts of power while one of the USB-A ports supports 15 watts and the other supports 5 watts. The Qi wireless charger uses 5 watts.

My whole family has Apple Watches so I'm always looking out for the best way to charge them. On the go, the Keychain Charging Dock for Apple Watch ($38.99) that Choetech sent me to review is my favorite. It's small, essentially palm-sized, but it houses 900 mAh of extra battery life and includes its own Apple Watch magnetic charging mechanism. The charger itself charges via microUSB so that's another cable to remember to bring.

I had already recommended the UD-CAM USB-C dock from Plugable, in part because it was so compact, so I wasn't sure what the advantage of the UD-CUBE ($79.95) would be until Plugable sent me a review unit. As small as the original model was, about the size of an Apple TV, this new model is even smaller. It's about the size of wedding ring jewelry box.

I love the juxtaposition of natural materials with the latest high-tech gadgetry. Veelink sent me their Bamboo Wireless Charger with Organizer ($27.99) and it's a great example of such a combination. At first glance, it looks like a natural wooden desk organizer, and it should because that's what it is. There's a slightly angled container with a wide opening to house pens, scissors, highlighters and more. But next to that container is an even more slanted stand to rest your iPhone on. But it doesn't just rest there, it charges your Qi-enabled smartphone, even in a case as thick as 5mm.

In the overcrowded world of external battery chargers, designers have to make their product stand out from the competition with innovative approaches or dramatic increases in battery charge capacity. It appears that Kenu baked those two important aspects into its latest all-in-one powerbank, the BingeBank ($59.95). Read on to see how it compares to the multitutde of other portable battery chargers on the market.

It's hard to make a wireless charger that is distinctive, but Just Mobile sent me its AluBase Wireless Charger (starting at $39.95) to try and it does a good job. Like most of Just Mobile's products, it makes nice use of aluminum. It also has rubber on both the bottom and the top to make sure that the AluBase doesn't slip and that your phone, if naked, doesn't get scratched up.

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