Cygnett PowerBase Wireless Desk Charger
A SIMPLE, IPHONE-READY WIRELESS CHARGER FROM AN AUSSIE ACCESSORY MAKER.
THE ARRIVAL OF wireless charging in Apple’s iPhone 8/8 Plus and X has meant the tech is finally getting its moment in the sun, and we’re seeing more phone-accessory makers release their own chargers as a result, including this fairly nondescript unit from Melbourne-based Cygnett. Physically, there’s really not a whole lot to the PowerBase Wireless Desk Charger — the box included the disc-shaped charger and a USB cable, but you’ll need to BYO power adapter (ie. re-use the one that came with your phone). The charger itself is dead simple with no buttons or settings to adjust, just two thin status LEDs that glow blue when you’ve placed your phone on top to indicate charging. Depending on the phone, you may need to be fairly precise with its placement — we found there was a definite sweet spot, and if we moved our phone more than a centimetre in any direction, charging would deactivate. A rubber ring on the underside of the device does thankfully keep it firmly in place.
But while the charger’s easy to use, then, it’s not quite as fast as we would have hoped. The box promises “9V fast wireless charging”, but testing with a Samsung Galaxy S8, we found that wasn’t as fast as you’ll get via a cable — taking just under 3 hours to go from 5% battery to full, compared to around half that when directly plugged in (and able to charge up at up to 15W).
The ‘non-slip’ matte surface on which you sit your phone is also not particularly grippy — it’s a tough plastic that should wear well, but it’s relatively easy to knock your phone off it if you’re not careful.
The PowerBase Wireless Desk Charger gets the job done, then, but we still reckon Belkin’s Boost Up Wireless Charging Pad (see TechLife 67, page 66) is the best currently on offer. While it’s $20 more expensive, it includes a charge adapter and supports fast charging up to 15W, and the time-savings provided by the latter are worth the higher price in our book.