Review: Belkin's 3-in-1 Boost Charge Pro Offers Hassle-Free 15W MagSafe Charging for iPhone 12

[alexjholland]

Here is how I would improve this:
1. Make the white parts black.
2. Make the chrome-like plastic a neutral wood.
3. Lower the price.
4. Center the charger plug so it can either be run out the back or placed on a grommet for a wireless appearance.
5. Remove the LED as all three devices already tell you if it's charging.
6. Get rid of the 'dip' in the base.
7. Add support for 2 pairs of airpods.
8. Lose the BELKIN branding on the front.

* Here's how I'd turn this into a custom product that suits my individual preferences.

 

[alexjholland]

I don't know why anyone's comparing this to the Magsafe Duo.

• Belkin looks stylish on your desk and is utterly useless for travel.
• Magsafe Duo is practical for travel and looks like total crap.

Totally different use cases.

Buy the Belkin for your desk and sling the Magsafe Duo in your travel bag.

Or - if you don't want to spend $300+ on chargers - decide which is more important.

 

[gammamonk]

Here I am with my $5 Qi charger from Target doing just fine...

 

[4jasontv]

Sounds like you can make one yourself and get things going. See you on shark tank!

* Here's how I'd turn this into a custom product that suits my individual preferences.

Naw, you are right $150 for plastic chrome with visible wires that doesn't actually fit the items it was built for? What a great design. Someone really had their eyes open when they sent this to fabrication. They better be careful though because Huffy might accuse them of stealing their design.

 

[ghostface147]

WatchOS 4.3 added support for vertical-orientation nightstand mode ... unless you're talking about something different?

I didn't know that...thanks.

 

[JulesK]

I'd be interested in something like this if I didn't already have a constellation of various watch/iphone chargers around the house. Yes, it's expensive, but it looks nice and would be a real plus to have an all-in-one solution that could serve you for years. But if Apple decides that MagSafe isn't the long term answer, then it's yet another obsolete device. OTOH, for $75 I'd take that chance.

 

[dmk1974]

$150 is ridiculous!

I bought these two for my wife and I a couple weeks back. Work fine for us so far with our iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watches. Only about $30 each.

Powlaken Wireless Charging Station, 4 in 1 Charging Dock Station Compatible with Apple iWatch Series SE 6 5 4 3 2, AirPods Pro 2 and Pencil, Fast Wireless Charger for iPhone 11, 11 Pro Max, XR, XS

Powlaken Wireless Charging Station, 4 in 1 Charging Dock Station Compatible with Apple iWatch Series SE 6 5 4 3 2, AirPods Pro 2 and Pencil, Fast Wireless Charger for iPhone 11, 11 Pro Max, XR, XS

www.amazon.com

Wireless Charger, 24W Wireless Charging Station Compatible with iPhone 12/12 pro/ 12 mini/11/11 Pro Max/Se/X/,Adjustable Charging Stand for iWatch SE/6/5/4/3 Airpods 2/ Pro with Fast Adapter

Wireless Charger, 24W Wireless Charging Station Compatible with iPhone 12/12 pro/ 12 mini/11/11 Pro Max/Se/X/,Adjustable Charging Stand for iWatch SE/6/5/4/3 Airpods 2/ Pro with Fast Adapter

www.amazon.com

 

[AirunJae]

I'm interested in something like this, but that price point is just a bit steep for what I want to pay. But hey, at least the charging device comes with a charger in the box ?

 

[alexjholland]

Naw, you are right $150 for plastic chrome with visible wires that doesn't actually fit the items it was built for? What a great design. Someone really had their eyes open when they sent this to fabrication. They better be careful though because Huffy might accuse them of stealing their design.

Consumer products are typically designed to offer a 'decent' experience for a wide range of people.

Whereas a specialist product that 'delights' a small niche of users is significantly less profitable.

A. Lower net sales/revenue.
B. Lower margins per unit due to basic unit economics.

Hence, Apple's declining interest in developing 'pro' products.

 

[jz0309]

$150 for an aftermarket charger ... and the watch cannot be put in nightstand mode ... no thank you.

 

[azentropy]

Looks nice, but not $150 nicer than my current setup.

 

[Johnny907]

Typical belkin device: twice as expensive as it should be.
That’s a hard pass.

 

[4jasontv]

Consumer products are typically designed to offer a 'decent' experience for a wide range of people.

Whereas a specialist product that 'delights' a small niche of users is significantly less profitable.

A. Lower net sales/revenue.
B. Lower margins per unit due to basic unit economics.

Hence, Apple's declining interest in developing 'pro' products.

And which one of those groups do you think Belkin is trying to target with this product? I don't understand who buys Belkin products. They are indistinguishable from other gibberish-named imported accessories in everything but price. I have tried a few of their products and not only do they stop working just as fast as the imports they have so many compromises they are frustrating to use while they do work. My favorite terrible device they made was their 'premium' USB hub that would fall off my desk by the weight of it's own cable.

 

[jclo]

A lot of reviews for this have dropped today. No one else seems to have expressed the concerns of the Apple Watch attaching at a skewed angle. Dodgy model for MacRumors or have Belkin commented on this?

I want to offer an update on this, and I'm going to update my review too. I have a 40mm aluminum Apple Watch and I noticed this issue when testing. I haven't seen the same thing in AI's video nor did 9to5Mac mention it, so I tested with a larger 44mm Apple Watch and this does not happen. It does happen with my stainless steel 40mm Apple Watch, to a lesser degree. I think it's a weight/balance issue with the smaller watches. If you're going to use it with the 44mm Apple Watch, it looks like this isn't going to be an issue.

With my smaller watch it doesn't really bother me too much, but it's noticeable for sure that it flips to the side when I nudge the charger to take my iPhone off.

 

[mattaaron]

If you’re complaining about the price, Belkin obviously didn’t make this for you... there’s far cheaper alternatives. But for those that don’t mind paying a premium for this luxury, this is great news and glad to finally see a release date. I’m looking forward to buying this when it comes out in a couple days!

Anything to get me away from various cables for all those devices. I hate I’ve got to use power strips in almost every room there days.

And I think the magnetic idea is way ahead of its time, really excited to see all devices everywhere to adopt this practice.

 

[jclo]

For 150 dollars I would want my watch to sit straight on the charger.

See my update! I don't want to mislead anyone and it looks to me like the minor flipping I saw is only an issue with the 40mm watches.

 

[4jasontv]

If you’re complaining about the price, Belkin obviously didn’t make this for you... there’s far cheaper alternatives. But for those that don’t mind paying a premium for this luxury, this is great news and glad to finally see a release date. I’m looking forward to buying this when it comes out in a couple days!

Anything to get me away from various cables for all those devices. I hate I’ve got to use power strips in almost every room there days.

And I think the magnetic idea is way ahead of its time, really excited to see all devices everywhere to adopt this practice.

The issue, for me at least, isn't that its $150 for a charger. My issue is that it's $150 for $10 worth of parts. If it was made with premium materials, removed the branding, actually hid the cable, and made it work correctly with the devices it was designed for than $150 would be a steal.

 

[jmgregory1]

This is definitely one of those items that will appeal to people who want a clean desk or bedside table for charging their iPhone 12, Watch and AirPods. My wife HATES having two sets of cords on her bedside table for iPhone and Watch (she keeps her AirPods in her office), so she’s going to get one (that I’ll buy her as a surprise). I’m the same way - it’s ridiculous to have to have multiple cords and plugs cluttering the table just to charge our devices. I’m surprised that Apple didn’t design something like this vs their weird folding duo charger. The stand style charger allows your iPhone and Watch to glanceable much easier, compared to flat / puck chargers.

 

[827538]

I plan on getting this later this year when I upgrade to the next iPhone and MacBook. Bit pricey but it's a very cool way to charge and organize my devices. Looks much better in black.

Would like to see a single version of it just to charge the iPhone that I could keep next to my desk.

 

[alexjholland]

The issue, for me at least, isn't that its $150 for a charger. My issue is that it's $150 for $10 worth of parts. If it was made with premium materials, removed the branding, actually hid the cable, and made it work correctly with the devices it was designed for than $150 would be a steal.

You're surprised that a $150 product is made with $10 parts?

Prepare to be surprised about most things that you own.

At some point you may wish to research these topics:

• Manufacturing supply chains
• Product Research and Development
• Intellectual Property

 

[4jasontv]

You're surprised that a $150 product is made with $10 parts?

Prepare to be surprised about most things that you own.

At some point you may wish to research these topics:

• Manufacturing supply chains
• Product Research and Development
• Intellectual Property

Condensing text aside, you didn't answer my question.

 

[alexjholland]

And which one of those groups do you think Belkin is trying to target with this product? I don't understand who buys Belkin products. They are indistinguishable from other gibberish-named imported accessories in everything but price. I have tried a few of their products and not only do they stop working just as fast as the imports they have so many compromises they are frustrating to use while they do work. My favorite terrible device they made was their 'premium' USB hub that would fall off my desk by the weight of it's own cable.

This product seems clearly marketed at anyone who values aesthetics and has bought into the iOS ecosystem.

Say... any of the thousands of people who instagram photos of their 'clean/minimalist' desk setup.

That would be me... except I live between several countries, so I have to buy several of any desk product (unless it folds up).

If this Belkin stand folded then I'd happily pay $200 for it.

 

[4jasontv]

This product seems clearly marketed at anyone who values aesthetics and has bought into the iOS ecosystem.

Say... any of the thousands of people who instagram photos of their 'clean/minimalist' desk setup.

That would be me... except I live between several countries, so I have to buy several of any desk product (unless it folds up).

If this Belkin stand folded then I'd happily pay $200 for it.

How is it marketed at people who like aesthetics? It looks like something that is sold by a dozen other sellers with names like ETEKMAX. It's asymmetric, doesn't fit 2 of the 3 apple products it charges, and fails to hide the cable that clean desks are looking for.

It seems clearly marketed at anyone who wants something new even if it's less attractive and functional than what they already have.

 

[xgman]

Would really like to know how it works with non-magsafe cases?

I'd say not well enough to be sure the phone won't be slipping out and falling constantly. I don't like being forced into a magsafe case to use this.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Prices are equal when you factor in cost of the 20W charger. Also I’d much rather have a charging stand and not lie my iPhone flat while charging. Lastly this unit will allow you to remove your iPhone with one hand. Can’t do that with the MagSafe Duo.

You can pick up your phone one-handed with the magsafe duo. There’s a tiny gap between your phone and the folding mechanism where you can easily lift it with one finger.