Annually, new merchandise enter the ring attempting to be one of the best 3-in-1 iPhone dock. The Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock is a worthy contender with 25W of wi-fi charging and a smooth profile, however it has one main hindrance.
This Dock Can Cost Wirelessly at 25 Watts
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
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The secret for brand new, premium iPhone docking stations is Qi2 25W. That’s the most recent official spec for gadgets to wirelessly cost as much as 25 watts. The unique Qi spec began at simply 5 and seven.5W earlier than getting bumped as much as 15W and now 25W.
Pace is the primary function of this gadget. In that case, you will want an iPhone 16 or later to completely make the most of the quicker charging with Apple gadgets.
Personally talking, when the max pace of Qi2 was 15 watts, I might by no means go for it over a cable and a strong energy adapter. However now that the highest pace has been boosted to 25 watts for all Qi2 25W equipment, not simply MagSafe ones, I’m rather more inclined to make use of this wi-fi choice.
The UltraCharge Professional 3-in-1 is among the first gadgets to help Qi2 25W, which makes it a bit novel and fascinating. As anticipated, once I connected my iPhone, the charger went to work instantly. It was dependable in charging every time I used it.
One different merchandise to notice round pace that may most likely go unnoticed by most individuals. There’s a 45W compact energy adapter and material USB-C cable included within the field. What’s uncommon right here is that it is a highly effective charger in a compact dimension. Belkin charges $30 for it in the event you purchase it individually. It might be an important energy adapter to convey whereas touring, while you’re away from the UltraCharge Professional 3-in-1.
Whether or not you see this included energy adapter as an additional worth, making the $130 value extra palatable, or not, the inclusion of this energy adapter continues to be very good.
The Design and Operate Should not Be Ignored
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
The pace is important to this gadget being helpful at a desk, however that facet is so much much less crucial in the event you solely use it bedside, for in a single day charging. In that case, it’s the useful design of this unit that’s nice.
Whereas there are not any actual hidden options about this product, I like how easy and apparent all the pieces is. For instance, the cellphone charging level hinges from 90 levels to mendacity flat. The watch charger within the again is raised sufficient so that almost all bands ought to have loads of room. Even the AirPods charger is adequately subtle that in the event you by no means use it, it’s not a visible distraction.
Its minimal footprint makes it excellent for any-sized nightstand. It’s just a little greater than the 2023 BoostCharge 2-in-1 mannequin, however total, the UltraCharge Professional 3-in-1 is compact and simple to orient in any route.
Be Conscious, There is a Fan!
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
That brings me to a barely regarding a part of the UltraCharge Professional 3-in-1, its lively cooling function, which Belkin calls ChillBoost. Mainly, there’s a fan inside the primary charging level that the corporate says is there to assist optimize the high-speed charging speeds.
ChillBoost is listed as having the ability to cool a tool by 12 levels (Fahrenheit). The trade-off is that the fan can create a high-pitched hum. The sound is noticeable from just a few toes away. Even worse, is that once I put my ear near pay attention, I might hear it always various in pace and creating totally different noises, fairly than a gentle white noise.
The fan noise is audible, however it’s not overly loud. I attempted to measure it with a decibel meter, and yard work from exterior prevented me from getting a studying. At night time, in a lifeless quiet room, the sound could also be so much for some individuals. Essentially the most unlucky half is when it spins at uneven speeds, which might make the fan appear erratic.
The excellent news is that you just don’t want to make use of the ChillBoost whether it is bothersome. There’s an off swap on the again of the charger. I used to be informed by a consultant that ChillBoost just isn’t crucial for the charger to succeed in its full 25W functionality. With out the fan turned on, it could take just a few extra minutes to cost from 0 to 50% battery than the marketed 25 minutes.
So then why would you need it? Effectively, comparatively, different wi-fi chargers do make the again of the telephones actually sizzling. I by no means obtained that very same warmth stage from the UltraCharge Professional 3-in-1.
Ought to You Purchase the Belkin UltraCharge Professional 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock?
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
Belkin recurrently has essentially the most intriguing multi-device chargers, and the UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock is solely the most recent model. It adopts the most recent Qi expertise to supply 25 watts of energy for appropriate telephones and a refreshed design. It’s debatable whether or not it is the best possible, however it’s actually one among them. It is nice in most methods. Fortunately, if the cooling bothers you, it may be turned off. If it isn’t annoying, you then’ll get a much less sizzling cellphone.
