02 Feb
Blog

Belkin Boost Charge Pro review: My favorite bedside charger

The Belkin 3-in-1 Charger can charge your phone, Airpods and Apple Watch at the same time.

Belkin Boost Charge Pro

RRP $149.99

"The Belkin Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 Charger can charge all your devices at the same time, and it looks good doing it."

benefits

  • Solid, durable construction

  • Strong magnetic attachments

  • Charges three devices simultaneously

  • Pop up watch charger

  • Fast charge for Apple Watch Series 7

disadvantage

  • The plug is way too big

  • No other USB ports

  • Expensive

I've spent the last four years looking for a great bedside charger. When Apple launched MagSafe on the iPhone 12, that search became a little more focused. When Mophie introduced his snap ring adapter That can make basically any Android phone MagSafe compatible, this search has been laser focused. Now the search might be over: The Belkin Boost Charger Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad is about as close to perfection as I've come yet.

draft

This is a flat slab covered in a soft-touch silicone finish that's a bit difficult to keep clean. It measures 9 inches by 3 inches by 0.8 inches, so it's quite large. There are three charging areas: a MagSafe charger for your phone, a charger for your Apple Watch, and a charger for your AirPods, which is really just a Qi charger. I used it primarily to charge my Anker Soundcore Liberty Pro 3 earbuds, but occasionally to charge a second phone. There's a single LED light that shows when your AirPods are charging, but there aren't any other LED light indicators since your phone and smartwatch presumably have their onscreen displays.

The MagSafe charging plate for the iPhone is slightly raised for a good, solid connection. The Apple Watch stand folds up so you can charge either vertically or horizontally, depending on your preference. The Apple Watch holder is also adjustable depending on what size Apple Watch you have. It can be raised if needed to make room for the case, which is an important design flourish. The magnets on both the MagSafe charging puck and the watch charger are very strong and won't let either device slip.

strong contact

The Belkin 3-in-1 Charger can charge your phone, Airpods and Apple Watch at the same time.Adam Doud/Digital Trends

That's really all there is to it. The Belkin 3-in-1 Boost Charge Pro works well, the magnets are solid, and you can charge as much as you need. I like this device (and MagSafe in general) because the magnets keep my phone and watch connected even if I nudge them at night. Sometimes I'd rather have a phone stand that keeps my phone upright so I can read or check notifications, but on a bedside table it's a good compromise. Once I put my phone on the charger I shouldn't be looking at it anyway. The watch folds up so I can use it as a small watch if needed, and that's good enough.

The plug occupies three outlets on my power strip, which isn't ideal.

The main benefit here is that the Belkin Boost Charge 3-in-1 Charger has been updated to support both Apple's 15-watt wireless charging for iPhones and fast charging for the Apple Watch Series 7. I personally have an Apple Watch SE, so I can't take advantage of that particular feature, but maybe you can.

The Belkin 3-in-1 charger's power plug seems to be a lot bigger than it needs to be.Adam Doud/Digital Trends

How the charging pad gets its power is not ideal. The Belkin Boost Charge uses a cylinder plug that twists into the base to lock it in place. That's fine, but I'd always prefer a USB-C port so it's easier to travel with. The power supply at the other end is also huge. The plug occupies three outlets on my power strip, which isn't ideal. I actually picked some up One foot extension cord to mitigate that. It makes my power strip a little messier, but at least I get my plugs back.

Not perfect

Another thing I would have liked about this charging stand is additional USB-A or USB-C connectors on the side. The base is thick enough to accommodate both types of connectors and given the size of the connector it would be nice to be able to connect other accessories. You might be thinking, "This thing already charges your phone, watch, and earbuds, what more could you ask for?" That's a perfectly fair point, so it's an forgivable oversight.

The Belkin 3-in-1 Boost Charge Pro charger works well, the magnets are solid, and you can charge as much as you need.

All of this comes at a rather high price of $150, which is certainly on the high side. The addition of fast charging for the Apple Watch Series 7 is nice, and it could be argued that with this charger you don't need the extra power brick you would need to buy for your Apple Watch charger. Still, it's difficult to justify the rather steep cost, especially given Amazon's preponderance of three-device chargers. It's a very clean and good-looking charger with some attractive add-ons, but whether it's enough to justify that much money depends largely on your situation. If you have the available desk space and the right devices to make use of it, this could be a nice addition to your charging arsenal.

The Belkin 3-in-1 Charger's Apple Watch charger flips up so you can charge your watch vertically or horizontally.Adam Doud/Digital Trends

Prices and Availability

The Belkin Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 Charger is available on the Belkin website for $150. Orders have already started shipping.

Our opinion

All in all, this is a very expensive charging accessory. But it deserves that price with the ability to charge three devices simultaneously and with the support for fast charging on the 7 Series. There's no shortage of three-device chargers available at a fraction of the price of other retailers other than the Belkin Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 is solidly built, with strong magnets and fast charging. The plug is a bit bigger than I'd like to see, and I'd rather have a USB-C cable with a charging brick than a barrel charger and a giant plug. But beyond that, this is a simple, understated design that will look good with just about anything in your home.

Is there a better alternative?

This combination of features is hard to find, especially since fast charging is a new concept for the Apple Watch Series 7. So while there's no shortage of great wireless chargers, objectively many of them won't be any better. Remarkable is the Ampere Unravel Wireless Charger, which can also charge three devices simultaneously and fold into a compact cube. But the maximum is 10 watts per charger. The Belkin Boost Charge Pro gives you plenty of power.

How long does it last?

I have no concerns about the durability of this device. There are some minimal moving parts, but otherwise this thing is a solid brick. However, the proprietary barrel loader is a concern. It snaps into place, which is nice, but its shape and the tight confines it's in mean that if it breaks, you'll have to go to Belkin for a replacement. However, Belkin covers most of its devices with a two-year warranty, which should be some consolation.

should you buy it

If you want a good-looking, fast wireless charging trio of pads, then yes. This isn't the cheapest option, but it guarantees to get your Apple devices up and running as soon as possible. Of course, that only applies if you need to charge three devices. The target customer has a MagSafe iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. If you don't have all three (or at least a set of earbuds that charge wirelessly) then this is probably too much charger for you.

Editor's Recommendations



25 Sep
Blog

Lenovo Smart Clock 2 Review: Your Smart Bedside Companion

The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is a great upgrade.

Lenovo Smart Clock 2 in the test: Your smart companion at the bed

RRP $ 70.00

"The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is a great advancement of the Smart Clock product line that offers a lot of functionality and added value."

advantages

  • Full color LCD screen

  • Smart design

  • Base plate with USB-A and Qi charging function

  • MagSafe Compatible

  • Great value

disadvantage

  • No video streaming

  • Tricky touchscreen

  • Limited configuration via app

Lenovo produced the first Google Assistant smart display in 2018 and has been in this category ever since. While Google traditionally focused on the kitchen with its smart screens, Lenovo turned to the bedroom, first with the Smart Clock, then the Smart Clock Essential, and now that Smart watch 2.

It's true that Google’s newest Nest Hub (2 on your bedside table without the creepy "Sleep Watching" sign. Who's the king of the bedroom?

Simple, intelligent design

Lenovo hasn't evolved much of its design through the various iterations of its smart clocks. It still uses the same woven fabric cover on the outside, with an LCD screen on the front. This is a 4 inch LCD that is a bit small but is more than enough for a watch face. There are a variety of watch faces to choose from, including your Google Photos if you want. The touchscreen is a bit fussy and sometimes cannot register touches or perform the swiping movements that the operating system depends on.

For the same money, you could buy an alarm clock, a Nest Mini 2, and a Qi charging plate, and you still wouldn't get all of the features that the Smart Clock 2 brings to your bedside table.

The latest addition to this generation of Smart Clock is on the bottom. Together with the Smart Clock you receive a base plate with USB-A connection for charging another device and a MagSafe-compatible Qi charging plate for wireless charging of your smartphone. The charging plate charges with 5 watts, 7.5 W or 10 W and contains a magnetic circuit that you can touch on your MagSafe-compatible phones. MagSafe is a nice addition as it reduces the risk of accidentally taking your phone off the charger while you sleep.

The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 can charge your smartphone wirelessly.

Speaking of knocking things off the plate, the clock is intelligently designed so that the power cord plugs into the clock itself and copper contacts on the underside connect and power the plate. This way the clock works without a base depending on how much space your bedside table has. Speaking of magnets, the clock also attaches to the base with magnets, which makes it pretty secure.

In addition, there are volume buttons on top of the clock and in between there is a touch sensitive area that you can use to stop or snooze your alarm clock depending on the configuration. Of course, you can also tell Google to take a nap or just stop your alarm clock. A mute switch on the back deactivates the microphone for the Google Assistant.

As for the sound quality, it's pretty good. A pair of 3W speakers will power the alarm clock and the music you play with it. There is very little bass at the lower end, but the rest of the sound range is adequately represented. It's roughly what you get from a Nest Mini 2.

Swipe and gestures

While you use the Google Home app to configure WiFi, its location in your home, and various video and audio services, most of the device setup is done on the device. Android Things powers the watch and is full of gestures and taps to configure everything you need. Most commands can be performed using “Hey Google” commands, such as: B. Setting alarms, adjusting the volume and switching on the night light.

Other options come from swiping from the bottom of the UI, while others come from swiping down from the top. The frustrating part is that these gestures aren't particularly intuitive, and most people don't use Android Things enough for these gestures to become second nature.

While I would never advocate a separate app for just one watch, I would like to see more features built into the Google Home app.

Your watch face also has a kind of ticker that you can swipe through to play music, view your reminders and calendar entries, set an alarm, and much more. Once you get used to it, it works pretty well, but the majority of my interactions with the watch came from the Google Assistant, which is both good and bad. On the one hand, it's great to go to bed and tell Google to set an alarm. On the other hand, it can get frustrating when you ask for an alarm clock at 7:15 am and it replies, "7:50 am, you got it!"

This is nothing new to the Google Assistant, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating. Most of the time it works with no issues, but when there is one, it's annoying. I would also like to have more control over the watch, which is available through an app. While touching is a great way to manipulate settings, reaching over and touching the watch isn't a great experience. While I would never advocate a separate app for just one watch, I would like to see more features built into the Google Home app. It would be nice if you could set an alarm or adjust the dial there, for example.

No Netflix allowed

Finally, I have to admit that I was torn by this detail whether it is positive or negative, but this watch has a full color screen that cannot play video. What about it? You can stream audio to the watch, which is nice, but since there is a full color LCD screen, why can't I throw a movie to sleep? Perhaps this is just too little of a potential use for the watch, but it appears to be an oversight.

On the other hand, maybe I shouldn't want Lenovo to allow me to watch a movie on a 4-inch screen. I understand, and maybe Lenovo will save me from myself by lack of compatibility. I can't disagree with the point. But I think overall I'd rather have a choice.

Our opinion

The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 has a full color screen.

This is a nice update to the Lenovo Smart Clock line of devices. The pallet accessories in particular are our favorite. The Google Assistant is a great way to wake up and start routines. I would like a bigger screen, video capabilities, and a more intuitive user interface, but those omissions don't detract from the overall experience much.

You get loads of utility and functionality for $ 70. Not only is this a good product, but it is also a good value.

Is there a better alternative?

There isn't much competition in this area yet, but the next competitor actively battling for a spot on your bedside table is the Nest Hub (2nd generation). This device costs a little more, but adds portable sleep tracking to the package, which is sure to be compelling. It also offers video streaming capabilities and a bigger screen. If you want these additions, the Nest Hub (2nd Generation) is probably better off. However, if you don't mind not playing videos, or you want a smaller screen or a qi charging plate, this is a great pickup.

If you're completely completely unaware of the Google ecosystem, or are more connected to Amazon's, the Echo Show 8 or Echo Show 10 are both great choices. It all depends on your preferences.

How long it will take?

The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is well made and solid with a fabric cover. I don't expect any problems with this device in the long run. It has a one-year limited warranty available on Lenovo's support website.

Should I buy it?

Yes, this is a great pickup for the price. In fact, there is no clear winner between the Nest Hub (2nd generation) and this one. If you want a little more, you pay a little more. For the same money, you could buy an alarm clock, Nest Mini 2, and Qi charging plate and you still wouldn't find all of this device's features on your bedside table.

Editor's recommendations