Review: Elevation Lab's New iPhone CordDock Pairs the Stability of a Dock With the Convenience of a Cord

[MacRumors]

Elevation Lab has been working on docks for the iPhone for several years, ever since a dock Kickstarter project took off back in 2011.

All of that dock expertise has culminated in the simple, versatile CordDock, released in March. Priced at $39, the CordDock is similar in design to the ElevationDock 4, which quickly became my favorite dock after it came out last year.

The CordDock is like the ElevationDock 4, only better, and in my opinion, it's one of the best wired docks you can get for the iPhone. Much like its sister dock, the CordDock has a super small footprint -- it takes up minimal space on your desk.

The base is narrower than an iPhone, so the maximum amount of horizontal space it's going to take up is the width of your iPhone, and it's also less than two inches thick. It's tiny compared to most other iPhone stands, which is nice on a cluttered desk.

CordDock's small base might make it seem like it wouldn't be as sturdy as heavier docks, but it is thanks to a micro air-suction base that feels a little bit like magic. It's not sticky when you touch it, but when you put it on a hard surface, it adheres tightly enough to be super stable.

Micro air suction is strong enough that the CordDock stays in place even when you pick up the iPhone with a single hand, and that's not something that's true for other docks I own. I generally need to use two hands when I undock a phone -- one to hold the iPhone and one to hold the base down to detach it.

You will need to put the CordDock on a solid, smooth surface so it can get a good grip, but it's going to work well on a desk, night stand, countertop, or other location. I've tested it on wood, painted wood, metal, glass, and granite, and it's stuck to all surfaces.

It's also worth noting that it can be picked up and moved at anytime (just twist a bit as you pull). The dock's bottom suction doesn't diminish, and I haven't seen any damage from using it (or the ElevationDock 4, which I've been using for a longer period of time).

The CordDock is made from stainless steel and a reinforced polymer material, and that's perhaps the one downside -- its black exterior is not as fancy looking as some other docks that are made from materials like brushed aluminum. CordDock is small enough that it's not particularly noticeable if you're not a fan of the design, though, especially with the iPhone charging.

Elevation Lab designed the CordDock to work with a naked iPhone or an iPhone with a case, and it has two knobs at the back that let you adjust the depth of the space between the back mount and the Lightning connector.

I use a standard Apple case so I didn't have to do much adjustment, but rotating each knob will move it forward slightly for a tighter or looser fit. Elevation Lab says CordDock will work with cases up to 4mm, which covers all but the thickest cases (think Otterbox). There are also two removable magnetic pads under where the iPhone rests that can be swapped out for thicker or thinner versions, with two options available in the box.

Along with the two adjustment knobs, there's another feature that is unique to CordDock among its competitors -- the ability to pick up the iPhone from the dock with the cable still attached so you can use it while it's charging.

This works because the Lightning cable on the CordDock features two steel ball bearings built into the sides, while the head of the cable has two indents. The two ball bearings slot into the indents, allowing the cable portion to be pulled out with ease.

Pulling forward on your iPhone while it's attached to the CordDock unseats the cable and lets you pull the phone forward to use as you might use any phone attached to a charging cable. To put it back, you just need to line the Lightning connector portion of the cable up with the dock and give it a good push downwards. Elevation Lab's video demonstrates how it works:

Note that this functionality does not interfere with the one-handed iPhone removal feature. You can still disconnect the iPhone from the CordDock by pulling straight up rather than in a forward motion.

Bottom Line

As someone that owns multiple Apple devices and has used several of the popular docks on the market, the latest docks from Elevation Lab, including the CordDock, are some of my favorites.

The CordDock has a small footprint so it takes up little space on a desk, its sticky bottom means it works when you want to pick up your phone one-handed, and if you happen to need to use your iPhone when it's plugged in nearby, the clever detaching cord mechanism is handy.

If you prefer to charge wirelessly, the CordDock doesn't do that, but there are still benefits to wired charging, including much faster charging speeds that people are going to prefer over wire-free options.

At $39 the CordDock may be more expensive than some other options on the market, and it's a little less stylish than some aluminum docks, but its feature set makes it well worth the purchase price.

The Lightning cable attached to the CordDock is covered in an attractive braided chevron fabric, and at six feet long, it's a good length for allowing you to use the detachable feature of the dock. There's an included velcro cable wrap if you don't need the entire length of the cable.

How to Buy

The CordDock can be purchased from the Elevation Lab website or from Amazon.com for $39.

Note: Elevation Lab provided MacRumors with a CordDock for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Article Link: Review: Elevation Lab's New iPhone CordDock Pairs the Stability of a Dock With the Convenience of a Cord

 

[macduke]

That micro suction stuff is pretty crazy. I have ElevationLab's NightStand for Apple Watch which has that stuff and I could vertically mount it on the side of my bed headboard and stick my Apple Watch on there to charge over night. I had it that way for two years and it never fell off. We bought a new bedroom set that had nightstands so now it sits properly upright and still doesn't go anywhere. It is really like magic and it doesn't leave any residue or cause any damage. I'd like to know where I can just buy a roll of that stuff!

As for this product, I like the idea, but I've moved on to wireless charging. I have to keep an extra lightning cable on my nightstand using a cable holder on the back to charge my iPad Pro anyway so I just use that if I need to hold my iPhone X to charge while in bed. That being said, I can only remember maybe two times since launch that I've had to charge my iPhone X before bed so it's not something I often need to do because the battery is so good now.

 

[DotCom2]

It's FUGLY though.

 

[341328]

DOA. Unless you don’t have an iPhone with wireless charging.

 

[Starship67]

It's FUGLY though.

I second this, one of the ugliest accessories I've seen in a while.

 

[jclo]

It's FUGLY though.

Yeah, it's not the most attractive dock. With the iPhone on it, you don't see much of it. And it's so small that even without the iPhone it's not super noticeable on my table.
[doublepost=1523048378][/doublepost]

That micro suction stuff is pretty crazy. I have ElevationLab's NightStand for Apple Watch which has that stuff and I could vertically mount it on the side of my bed headboard and stick my Apple Watch on there to charge over night. I had it that way for two years and it never fell off. We bought a new bedroom set that had nightstands so now it sits properly upright and still doesn't go anywhere. It is really like magic and it doesn't leave any residue or cause any damage. I'd like to know where I can just buy a roll of that stuff!

As for this product, I like the idea, but I've moved on to wireless charging. I have to keep an extra lightning cable on my nightstand using a cable holder on the back to charge my iPad Pro anyway so I just use that if I need to hold my iPhone X to charge while in bed. That being said, I can only remember maybe two times since launch that I've had to charge my iPhone X before bed so it's not something I often need to do because the battery is so good now.

Yes! It works so amazingly well.
[doublepost=1523048486][/doublepost]

DOA. Unless you don’t have an iPhone with wireless charging.

This may be controversial, but I still prefer wired charging. It's faster, and I know that my iPhone is situated right to get power. More than once I've set my iPhone on the wireless charger on my night stand but I haven't had it sitting just right on the coil so I wake up with a dead phone. I try to check now, but it's an extra step I don't have to do with a corded dock, and if I pick up my phone in the middle of the night, it's a hassle to put it back right. I'm using a mix, but definitely not transitioning to all wireless yet.

 

[sven3]

Got mine last week, it's super small and works really well. Most functional Apple accessory I've had in a long while.

 

[Westside guy]

I like this. Having the phone upright and being able to pick it up without disconnecting makes it more useful if you use your phone for an alarm clock (or sound machine, like I often do).

DOA. Unless you don’t have an iPhone with wireless charging.

Most people don't update their phones every year, and the percentage who do keeps dwindling - so it's going to be a while before this is obsolete. Not to mention it's only $39.

 

[Doc C]

What happens when (despite their claims of longevity) the cord craps out?
Can it be easily replaced? or does it end up in the landfill?

 

[iMi]

They have been working on it since... 2011. Hmmm... okay?

 

[UnfetteredMind]

Thanks for answering the primary question I had, if it would stick to a wood surface (which is what my desk top is).

Do you have an iPad Mini (or even full-size iPad) to test to see how well it works? I realize it's an iPhone dock and that's primarily what I'd use it for, but I'm curious if it would work with the iPad as well.

 

[foobarbaz]

I hope they make a nice QI dock soon. I'm not going back to bullseyeing womp rats with the lightning connector.

 

[ajhenley]

Elevation Lab has been working on docks for the iPhone for several years, ever since a dock Kickstarter project took off back in 2011.

All of that dock expertise has culminated in the simple, versatile CordDock, released in March. Priced at $39, the CordDock is similar in design to the ElevationDock 4, which quickly became my favorite dock after it came out last year.

The CordDock is like the ElevationDock 4, only better, and in my opinion, it's one of the best wired docks you can get for the iPhone. Much like its sister dock, the CordDock has a super small footprint -- it takes up minimal space on your desk.

The base is narrower than an iPhone, so the maximum amount of horizontal space it's going to take up is the width of your iPhone, and it's also less than two inches thick. It's tiny compared to most other iPhone stands, which is nice on a cluttered desk.

CordDock's small base might make it seem like it wouldn't be as sturdy as heavier docks, but it is thanks to a micro air-suction base that feels a little bit like magic. It's not sticky when you touch it, but when you put it on a hard surface, it adheres tightly enough to be super stable.

Micro air suction is strong enough that the CordDock stays in place even when you pick up the iPhone with a single hand, and that's not something that's true for other docks I own. I generally need to use two hands when I undock a phone -- one to hold the iPhone and one to hold the base down to detach it.

You will need to put the CordDock on a solid, smooth surface so it can get a good grip, but it's going to work well on a desk, night stand, countertop, or other location. I've tested it on wood, painted wood, metal, glass, and granite, and it's stuck to all surfaces.

It's also worth noting that it can be picked up and moved at anytime (just twist a bit as you pull). The dock's bottom suction doesn't diminish, and I haven't seen any damage from using it (or the ElevationDock 4, which I've been using for a longer period of time).

The CordDock is made from stainless steel and a reinforced polymer material, and that's perhaps the one downside -- its black exterior is not as fancy looking as some other docks that are made from materials like brushed aluminum. CordDock is small enough that it's not particularly noticeable if you're not a fan of the design, though, especially with the iPhone charging.

Elevation Lab designed the CordDock to work with a naked iPhone or an iPhone with a case, and it has two knobs at the back that let you adjust the depth of the space between the back mount and the Lightning connector.

I use a standard Apple case so I didn't have to do much adjustment, but rotating each knob will move it forward slightly for a tighter or looser fit. Elevation Lab says CordDock will work with cases up to 4mm, which covers all but the thickest cases (think Otterbox). There are also two removable magnetic pads under where the iPhone rests that can be swapped out for thicker or thinner versions, with two options available in the box.

Along with the two adjustment knobs, there's another feature that is unique to CordDock among its competitors -- the ability to pick up the iPhone from the dock with the cable still attached so you can use it while it's charging.

This works because the Lightning cable on the CordDock features two steel ball bearings built into the sides, while the head of the cable has two indents. The two ball bearings slot into the indents, allowing the cable portion to be pulled out with ease.

Pulling forward on your iPhone while it's attached to the CordDock unseats the cable and lets you pull the phone forward to use as you might use any phone attached to a charging cable. To put it back, you just need to line the Lightning connector portion of the cable up with the dock and give it a good push downwards. Elevation Lab's video demonstrates how it works:

Note that this functionality does not interfere with the one-handed iPhone removal feature. You can still disconnect the iPhone from the CordDock by pulling straight up rather than in a forward motion.

Bottom Line

As someone that owns multiple Apple devices and has used several of the popular docks on the market, the latest docks from Elevation Lab, including the CordDock, are some of my favorites.

The CordDock has a small footprint so it takes up little space on a desk, its sticky bottom means it works when you want to pick up your phone one-handed, and if you happen to need to use your iPhone when it's plugged in nearby, the clever detaching cord mechanism is handy.

If you prefer to charge wirelessly, the CordDock doesn't do that, but there are still benefits to wired charging, including much faster charging speeds that people are going to prefer over wire-free options.

At $39 the CordDock may be more expensive than some other options on the market, and it's a little less stylish than some aluminum docks, but its feature set makes it well worth the purchase price.

The Lightning cable attached to the CordDock is covered in an attractive braided chevron fabric, and at six feet long, it's a good length for allowing you to use the detachable feature of the dock. There's an included velcro cable wrap if you don't need the entire length of the cable.

How to Buy

The CordDock can be purchased from the Elevation Lab website or from Amazon.com for $39.

Note: Elevation Lab provided MacRumors with a CordDock for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Article Link: Review: Elevation Lab's New iPhone CordDock Pairs the Stability of a Dock With the Convenience of a Cord

This is the accessory CarPlay users have been missing. And the style fits with most car interiors.

 

[pdaholic]

This is nice, but I’m a big fan of the watch/AirPod/phone combo docks. Really saves space on my desk and easy to drop devices in and charge.

 

[jclo]

Thanks for answering the primary question I had, if it would stick to a wood surface (which is what my desk top is).

Do you have an iPad Mini (or even full-size iPad) to test to see how well it works? I realize it's an iPhone dock and that's primarily what I'd use it for, but I'm curious if it would work with the iPad as well.

The mini works okay, but be cautious. This is a small dock that's really designed for iPhone. My 10.5-inch iPad Pro is too much bulk/weight for it. The dock falls over with an iPad.

 

[Doc C]

The mini works okay, but be cautious. This is a small dock that's really designed for iPhone. My 10.5-inch iPad Pro is too much bulk/weight for it. The dock falls over with an iPad.

It falls over even with the micro-suction?
That seems odd considering how tight it appeared to be in the video

 

[Euge]

DOA. Unless you don’t have an iPhone with wireless charging.

No wireless charging for my iPhone X. Popsocket and loopy case trump wireless. It doesn’t bother me a bit, and I bought a few of these docks and they work perfectly. It was actually hard to find a dock with some back support that didn’t come up too high and hit the popsocket. The removable cable is a plus and works great on the night stand.

 

[adamjackson]

"Pairs the Stability of a Dock With the Convenience of a Cord"

what does that mean? Don't all docks have cords? I have an iPhone and iPad dock in every room, in my car, at my office desk and an Apple Watch dock at my bed. heavy docks plugged into the wall are great and I have them everywhere. Why would you have a dock that doesn't have a charger? Why would you use a charger that isn't also a dock? Laying the phone down is really annoying. You can't see what's on the screen without picking it up.

 

[Euge]

"Pairs the Stability of a Dock With the Convenience of a Cord"

what does that mean? Don't all docks have cords? I have an iPhone and iPad dock in every room, in my car, at my office desk and an Apple Watch dock at my bed. heavy docks plugged into the wall are great and I have them everywhere. Why would you have a dock that doesn't have a charger? Why would you use a charger that isn't also a dock? Laying the phone down is really annoying. You can't see what's on the screen without picking it up.

If you read the article more carefully or watch the embedded video, you’ll see you can remove the phone from the dock with the cable still attached to the phone.

 

[jclardy]

As a developer, I'm sold. Just ordered one. This will be even better when pushing builds to my X because FaceID will work without me having to pick up the phone or lean over my desk.

 

[AngerDanger]

DOA. Unless you don’t have an iPhone with wireless charging.

It works with 15 iPhones including the only 3 that actually have wireless charging. That’s not DOA at all.

 

[Dozer_Zaibatsu]

Would be nice if actually were a _dock_, and you could attach, say, 3.5mm headphones to it, or a second pair of lightning headphones. Now that this is how Apple rolls.

 

[jimthing]

I recently tried their Apple Pencil dock, and the so called micro suction, erm, sucks.

Tried moving the dock, and the suction bit stuck to the table leaving me holding the rubber top bit. Then had to scrape the thing off my desk.

In a word, crap.

 

[ignatius345]

The mini works okay, but be cautious. This is a small dock that's really designed for iPhone. My 10.5-inch iPad Pro is too much bulk/weight for it. The dock falls over with an iPad.

Think it might suffice for an iPad Mini? The look is a bit... industrial? But the functionality seems awesome and I'm pretty tired of undocking being a two hand operation.

 

[SamuraiSam33]

I picked one up when I first saw it because I previously used an Apple dock connected to my desktop Mac to sync the phone. It held the phone at a nice angle to view the screen, but made using the phone while charging/syncing pretty rough. Had to keep the arm way out and swipe at an uncomfortable distance.

I have transitioned to wirelessly charging my iPhone X at my nightstand and in my car with a magnetic wireless charger, but I prefer syncing photos and music at my discretion with a cable instead of automatically. I also like to be able to use my phone at my computer, and upgrading to the CordDock allows me to keep my phone connected and charging while I'm at my computer, while letting me FaceTime on it at a perfect angle, or while triple-screening.

Then.. while anything is in progress... I can easily pick up my phone to do any task from jotting notes to swiping through Instagram, replying to messages, controlling my stereo or audio app (Sirius, podcast, etc) while staying connected. It's truly game changing, a massive update from the two-hands-on-deck, clumsy Apple dock. Being able to dock/undock as well as tilt out and in, all one handed, is incredibly convenient. Aside from my case, this is now my favorite iPhone accessory.