Nomad Launches New 4-Port Wireless Charging Hub With Support for Fast Charging

[MacRumors]

Nomad today announced the launch of its new Wireless Charging Hub, which is designed to be the ultimate desktop hub for iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus users.

The top of the Hub is a wireless charging pad that offers up to 7.5W of wireless charging power for Apple's glass-backed iPhones, and underneath, there are four additional ports.

Three are USB-A ports meant for charging all kinds of devices, and one is a USB-C port that offers 15W of power for fast charging the iPhone X, 8, or 8 Plus with a USB-C to Lightning cable.

Ahead of the launch of the Wireless Charging Hub, I was able to spend some hands-on time with it. The hub a bit larger than the average wireless charger, but it doesn't take up too much space on my desk. The top, where the wireless charging coil is located, is covered with a rubber material that's designed to add a bit of grip to prevent the iPhone from sliding off from vibrations and bumps.

Five LEDs on the top of the hub let you know exactly what's plugged in and what's still charging. LEDs are green when charging has been completed and orange while power is still being delivered to one of your devices. There's an ambient light sensor that dims the LEDs in a dark room, which is a nice feature.

With support for 7.5W wireless charging, the hub offers the faster wireless charging speeds that were introduced with iOS 11.2, and if you need a lot of juice in a pinch, you can use the USB-C port to fast charge Apple's latest iPhones. USB-C fast charging with a USB-C to Lightning cable can charge your iPhone from 0 to 50 percent in a half an hour.

This is a 15W USB-C port (3A x 5V), so while it's suitable for your iPhone and other USB-C smartphones or devices, it's not enough power for a MacBook or MacBook Pro. Three other 2.1A USB-A ports are included so you can charge up all of your devices and accessories at once. The hub itself is powered by an adapter that plugs into the wall.

One thing to note -- the Wireless Charging Hub does not come with cables and it does not feature any built-in cable hiding mechanism, which is a negative. If you're using this on a desktop, you're probably going to want to purchase smaller Lightning cables to use with it, because it was a huge mess of cables on my desk with the 1m and 0.5m Apple cables.

Nomad recommends its 0.3m Universal Cables with micro-USB, USB-C, and USB-A, but I don't think most people are going to want to pay $30 per cable. Luckily, Amazon has options for affordable shorter iPhone cables that will work well on the desktop. Unfortunately, there are no Apple certified USB-C to Lightning cables that are shorter in length, so you'll need to use the standard 0.5m cable.

When paired with the appropriate cables, the Wireless Charging Hub is a convenient desktop charging accessory. If your iPhone just needs a bit of a top up, it's easy to plunk it down on the wireless charging pad, and if you need more power in a hurry, it's great having an easily accessible USB-C fast charging port.

This isn't a cheap accessory at $80, and you're going to want to make sure you have shorter cables if you want a neat and organized desktop, which can add an additional cost, but it does offer unmatched versatility and convenience if you don't mind the price tag.

You can purchase the new Wireless Charging Hub from Nomad's website for $79.95.

Note: Nomad provided MacRumors with a Wireless Charging Hub for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. This post contains affiliate links and MacRumors may earn commissions on purchases made using those links.

Article Link: Nomad Launches New 4-Port Wireless Charging Hub With Support for Fast Charging

 

[TheAppleGeek]

The charger is nice, but it's the wallpaper I want. Anyone know if I can find it?

 

[abrunson]

The charger is nice, but it's the wallpaper I want. Anyone know if I can find it?

Lol I made an account just to ask that same question.

 

[ff1xx]

The charger is nice, but it's the wallpaper I want. Anyone know if I can find it?

Its Broken Top mountain in Oregon US

https://www.imaiges.com/photo/broken-top-volcano-mountain-moon-66802

 

[maflynn]

This looks nice, I think I may take the plunge and it. I definitely could use it.

 

[TheAppleGeek]

Lol I made an account just to ask that same question.

Great minds think alike.

Its Broken Top mountain in Oregon US

https://www.imaiges.com/photo/broken-top-volcano-mountain-moon-66802

Much appreciated!

 

[hrrsn]

Found a better higher res version I found with some deep googling. - https://static.wixstatic.com/media/150e2f_b2d1418ee5e54a5a9d1f7b11c3789fda~mv2_d_4096_2730_s_4_2.jpg

Registered here to post it

 

[adamjackson]

$80 is cheaper than AirPower which will require we all buy a new AirPods case to benefit from it..this solution available today allows you to charge the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods (2 of which via cables) but it'll be faster charging than wireless. Looks great, thoughtful design for sure.

I've only seen one wireless charger w/ an upright dock though. Seems to be a dying design but bat my desk, I use the TwelveSouth Book Arc for iPad
GroveMade Walnut & Brass iPhone dock

@ Home at my bed-side, I use the Belkin Valet which charges Apple Watch + iPhone

In the car, I use a Pro Clip Mount again, upright and facing me.

I like having my devices facing me on the desk and not laying down but I remember a few years ago when Apple stopped selling the iPhone Dock for a couple of years, Phil Schiller was saying it wasn't coming back at the time and I thought "I guess I"m in the wrong here in liking docks"

Now that there's only one wireless charger that powers devices standing up, it seems that's the case.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Nowhere do I see the words "USB Power Delivery," so I'm not sure where they're getting the idea that USB-C, which is a connector standard, is going to magically charge a new iPhone rapidly.

Initially I thought the idea of having to plug in 5 different wall warts was ridiculous, until I looked for the 3rd or 4th time and saw that it comes with it's own DC adapter. So it's not as bad as it initially looks.

But, I'll stick to Apple and Anker, wired.

 

[mainer4101]

$80 is cheaper than AirPower which will require we all buy a new AirPods case to benefit from it..this solution available today allows you to charge the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods (2 of which via cables) but it'll be faster charging than wireless. Looks great, thoughtful design for sure.

I've only seen one wireless charger w/ an upright dock though. Seems to be a dying design but bat my desk, I use the TwelveSouth Book Arc for iPad
GroveMade Walnut & Brass iPhone dock

@ Home at my bed-side, I use the Belkin Valet which charges Apple Watch + iPhone

In the car, I use a Pro Clip Mount again, upright and facing me.

I like having my devices facing me on the desk and not laying down but I remember a few years ago when Apple stopped selling the iPhone Dock for a couple of years, Phil Schiller was saying it wasn't coming back at the time and I thought "I guess I"m in the wrong here in liking docks"

Now that there's only one wireless charger that powers devices standing up, it seems that's the case.

I use the Belkin bedside too, much better to have the phone upright for alarms. I wouldn’t mind something flat at the desk though, just throw the phone on there while I work (it just lays on the table anyway, might as well get a little charge while it’s there). But what I really want is to be able to plop my watch down as well if needed, and on something a little more practical than the (rumored $199) AirPower. I guess this plus another watch charger would still be less money, but it’s not as clean. Just got the 8+ so shopping around...

 

[Braderunner]

80 dollars?! They're crazy!

 

[jmgregory1]

I just got an email from Nomad touting how this new hub eliminates desktop cord clutter - but having 4 USB cords, plus a power cord going into/out of the hub doesn't sound to me like it's eliminating cord clutter.

Aside from that, I'm surprised that we're not seeing more stand-type inductive chargers hitting the market, as the hockey puck style certainly doesn't work for using an iPhone X, unless you're planning on being hunched over the puck when you want to use it (to look at and read notifications for example).

I've used an acrylic stand I designed back in 2011, made to hold both an iPhone and iPad side by side, with openings through the tray they sit on for the then 30pin plugs to fit in, so you could keep both devices plugged in and have them positioned so you are looking at them much like the screen of a laptop. Now with the X I have, I've simply double sided taped the Mophie charger to the stand and I now have a wireless stand that allows me to just glance at my X any time a notification pops up.

I'll likely design a new version and buy a raw charging coil to incorporate into a stand, but for now it's a great way to make using and charging my iPhone X.

 

[Kingofclouds]

Why all these LED lights on these pads that are sometimes used in the bedroom?! I don’t want a light show beside my bed. Not good design

 

[adamjackson]

I use the Belkin bedside too, much better to have the phone upright for alarms. I wouldn’t mind something flat at the desk though, just throw the phone on there while I work (it just lays on the table anyway, might as well get a little charge while it’s there). But what I really want is to be able to plop my watch down as well if needed, and on something a little more practical than the (rumored $199) AirPower. I guess this plus another watch charger would still be less money, but it’s not as clean. Just got the 8+ so shopping around...

I wish the Belkin dock was heavier so I could remove the phone with one hand.

 

[Agneev]

I modded the wallpaper for iPhone X. Here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/czjkh1ffme7zj86/Nomad_Wall.jpeg?dl=0

 

[Craiger]

Why all these LED lights on these pads that are sometimes used in the bedroom?! I don’t want a light show beside my bed. Not good design

I thought I remembered reading the Qi standard required lights indicating it was charging. This has ambient light sensors though so hopefully it's extremely dim in a dark bedroom.

 

[Smhunter1983]

Nomad today announced the launch of its new Wireless Charging Hub, which is designed to be the ultimate desktop hub for iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus users.

The top of the Hub is a wireless charging pad that offers up to 7.5W of wireless charging power for Apple's glass-backed iPhones, and underneath, there are four additional ports.

Three are USB-A ports meant for charging all kinds of devices, and one is a USB-C port that offers 15W of power for fast charging the iPhone X, 8, or 8 Plus with a USB-C to Lightning cable.

Ahead of the launch of the Wireless Charging Hub, I was able to spend some hands-on time with it. The hub a bit larger than the average wireless charger, but it doesn't take up too much space on my desk. The top, where the wireless charging coil is located, is covered with a rubber material that's designed to add a bit of grip to prevent the iPhone from sliding off from vibrations and bumps.

Five LEDs on the top of the hub let you know exactly what's plugged in and what's still charging. LEDs are green when charging has been completed and orange while power is still being delivered to one of your devices. There's an ambient light sensor that dims the LEDs in a dark room, which is a nice feature.

With support for 7.5W wireless charging, the hub offers the faster wireless charging speeds that were introduced with iOS 11.2, and if you need a lot of juice in a pinch, you can use the USB-C port to fast charge Apple's latest iPhones. USB-C fast charging with a USB-C to Lightning cable can charge your iPhone from 0 to 50 percent in a half an hour.

This is a 15W USB-C port (3A x 5V), so while it's suitable for your iPhone and other USB-C smartphones or devices, it's not enough power for a MacBook or MacBook Pro. Three other 2.1A USB-A ports are included so you can charge up all of your devices and accessories at once. The hub itself is powered by an adapter that plugs into the wall.

One thing to note -- the Wireless Charging Hub does not come with cables and it does not feature any built-in cable hiding mechanism, which is a negative. If you're using this on a desktop, you're probably going to want to purchase smaller Lightning cables to use with it, because it was a huge mess of cables on my desk with the 1m and 0.5m Apple cables.

Nomad recommends its 0.3m Universal Cables with micro-USB, USB-C, and USB-A, but I don't think most people are going to want to pay $30 per cable. Luckily, Amazon has options for affordable shorter iPhone cables that will work well on the desktop. Unfortunately, there are no Apple certified USB-C to Lightning cables that are shorter in length, so you'll need to use the standard 0.5m cable.

When paired with the appropriate cables, the Wireless Charging Hub is a convenient desktop charging accessory. If your iPhone just needs a bit of a top up, it's easy to plunk it down on the wireless charging pad, and if you need more power in a hurry, it's great having an easily accessible USB-C fast charging port.

This isn't a cheap accessory at $80, and you're going to want to make sure you have shorter cables if you want a neat and organized desktop, which can add an additional cost, but it does offer unmatched versatility and convenience if you don't mind the price tag.

You can purchase the new Wireless Charging Hub from Nomad's website for $79.95.

Note: Nomad provided MacRumors with a Wireless Charging Hub for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. This post contains affiliate links and MacRumors may earn commissions on purchases made using those links.

Article Link: Nomad Launches New 4-Port Wireless Charging Hub With Support for Fast Charging

FIVE SEPARATE CABLES!!!!!!!???? LOL GTFO

 

[fr3lm0]

$80 is cheaper than AirPower which will require we all buy a new AirPods case to benefit from it..this solution available today allows you to charge the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods (2 of which via cables) but it'll be faster charging than wireless. Looks great, thoughtful design for sure.

I've only seen one wireless charger w/ an upright dock though. Seems to be a dying design but bat my desk, I use the TwelveSouth Book Arc for iPad
GroveMade Walnut & Brass iPhone dock

@ Home at my bed-side, I use the Belkin Valet which charges Apple Watch + iPhone

In the car, I use a Pro Clip Mount again, upright and facing me.

I like having my devices facing me on the desk and not laying down but I remember a few years ago when Apple stopped selling the iPhone Dock for a couple of years, Phil Schiller was saying it wasn't coming back at the time and I thought "I guess I"m in the wrong here in liking docks"

Now that there's only one wireless charger that powers devices standing up, it seems that's the case.

There are tons of standup Qi chargers. Just search amazon and you’ll find dozens of them for as little as like $12.

 

[69Mustang]

I just got an email from Nomad touting how this new hub eliminates desktop cord clutter - but having 4 USB cords, plus a power cord going into/out of the hub doesn't sound to me like it's eliminating cord clutter.

Aside from that, I'm surprised that we're not seeing more stand-type inductive chargers hitting the market, as the hockey puck style certainly doesn't work for using an iPhone X, unless you're planning on being hunched over the puck when you want to use it (to look at and read notifications for example).

I've used an acrylic stand I designed back in 2011, made to hold both an iPhone and iPad side by side, with openings through the tray they sit on for the then 30pin plugs to fit in, so you could keep both devices plugged in and have them positioned so you are looking at them much like the screen of a laptop. Now with the X I have, I've simply double sided taped the Mophie charger to the stand and I now have a wireless stand that allows me to just glance at my X any time a notification pops up.

I'll likely design a new version and buy a raw charging coil to incorporate into a stand, but for now it's a great way to make using and charging my iPhone X.View attachment 747301

+1. A man after my own heart. Making stuff work with your use case and not the other way around. Kudos on thinking different.

 

[macduke]

Upgrade it to 29W USB-C charging and add an integrated Apple Watch charging puck and it will be worth the $80.

I feel like there is so much wasted space in this design. It's mostly empty underneath. Either make it thinner or put something useful in that area like a rechargeable battery, which would be pretty handy when traveling and a big reason for buying this. Right now I use a multi-port charger from Anker, which my wife affectionately calls "the squid."

 

[ActionableMango]

Now we can charge 5 devices with only 5 cables, when just last year that task would have required 6 cables!!!

What a magnificent time to be alive!

 

[mainer4101]

I wish the Belkin dock was heavier so I could remove the phone with one hand.

Ugh, agreed