Quick review
The good
The not-so-good
New iPhone owners looking to get the most out of their bedside charging with Qi2 and Apple Watch support might want to look at Belkin’s UltraCharge Pro, a 3-in-1 that covers pretty much everything.
What is the Belkin UltraCharge Pro?
Apple’s MagSafe standard has been around a while, back since the early days of the iPhone range we use today. It launched with the iPhone 12, evolved in recent years with Qi2, and now the two are practically the same: MagSafe is the variation on the iPhone, and Qi2 for Android.
But the principle remains the same: use a magnetic ring to hold your phone and other devices to a wireless charger in the exact place it needs to be, all to keep the power flow as efficient as possible.
That means recharging at either 15W or 25W, depending on the phone and charger, while also potentially handling other devices.
We’ve seen Belkin’s Qi2 chargers before, and this model continues more of that great work, providing a Qi2 charger on a tilting plate, an arm with a fast-charging Apple Watch fob, and a base for any other small device, namely a pair of AirPods you might be rocking with your phone.
What does it do?
And so like other MagSafe chargers, this one will recharge your iPhone, an Apple Watch, and any other small wirelessly charged gadget, typically a pair of AirPods or some other modern pair of earphones.
Handy, too, since Apple just released a bunch of iPhones, a few new Apple Watch models, and even a new pair of AirPods. Timely.
Does it do the job?
Using the Belkin UltraCharge Pro is easy: unbox it, set it up by plugging the power pack in, and you are good to go.
You simply attach your phone using the magnetic pad, rest your Apple Watch on the charger, and leave your wirelessly rechargeable earphone case on the base beneath it all.
It’s pretty much like its predecessor, just made a little more modern.
Seeing these things change over the years, it’s nice to see Belkin’s approach to solid design has really just grown inwards. The durability is still there with strong polished metal arms and plastic coming together nicely, albeit in a more compact shape than we’ve seen from the older models.
Aside for the welcome shift in size, Belkin’s move to using a magnetic pad that tilts means you have ways to leave your iPhone.
Stand it up like normal and it’ll just look like a phone stand, but push it flat and it becomes more difficult to lean over and see in the middle of the night, providing a roof to the earbuds charging beneath.
Belkin also includes a little fan switch on the base of the UltraCharge Pro, allowing you to turn on a low-power fan to cool your phone as it stays on the charge. It’s a neat feature, though one you may not use, and is really dependent on how hot your phone gets.
That tilting magnetic stand also means if you’re using the UltraCharge Pro as a stand to watch things on your phone in bed, you have more angle control for viewing, which can only be a good thing.
What does it need?
While the Belkin UltraCharge Pro works well for iPhone, it can feel lacking for a world where Android also supports Qi2.
You can get a Qi2 charging case for the Galaxy Fold 7, and Google’s Pixel 10 range supports Qi2 natively with or without the Pixelsnap cases. We snapped our Pixel 10 Pro XL to the Belkin UltraCharge with ease, and it charged as we slept, and did this with the Fold 7, too. That’s great.
What’s less great is that the watch charging fob is just for the iPhone, meaning if you’re a Galaxy or Pixel owner, that’s one less useful aspect.
It would be amazing if Belkin sold replaceable fobs that could be disconnected on the arm with ease, such as one for the Pixel or another for a Galaxy Watch.
Or even if it wanted to support every ecosystem, leave the Apple Watch fob in place and include a spare USB-C port to let an Android owner easily plug in their wearable charging fob with ease.
These are simple approaches for a world where magnetic charging can be applied to both ecosystems, not just one over the other.
Right now, the Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 stand is basically an iPhone owner’s charging stand. But it didn’t need to be that way, given Qi2 is universal.
Is it worth your money?
If you are an iPhone owner and you’re looking for a clever iPhone charging stand that looks as premium as the iPhone you rock, it’s difficult to look past the Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1. It’s a lovely and elegant bedside stand.
For $219.95, the charging stand definitely looks as good as an iPhone owner probably expects, though as far as being friendly for every Qi2 phone — specifically those with an Android — the UltraCharge doesn’t quite make sense. Android owners would probably be better off looking at the 2-in-1 Belkin made last year.
In terms of size, we still think Anker has the edge with its Cube charger, a model that misses out on Qi2 but makes up for it in by being about the most compact charging stand ever, while Twelve South and Journey both offer creative takes on chargers, as well.
Yay or nay?
There are plenty of solid options in the premium iPhone stand space, and Belkin’s UltraCharge Pro just adds another.
While the package could be improved for Android owners, particularly as Qi2 is a lot more universal than MagSafe was, this charger is one of the best options for the modern iPhone owner.
It’s an easy choice if you have a recent phone and Apple Watch in your life, though Android owners might want to look at something else.
