Review: Belkin Ultracharge Pro 3-in-1 25W WIZ040

Belkin has almost become synonymous with accessories for mobile phones and computers. They offer everything from phone cases and cables to docking stations and hubs. And, of course, they have charging solutions ranging from power banks and car chargers to wall chargers and wireless chargers. They have recently expanded their range with a couple of models featuring Qi2 25W charging, and this tabletop model sits in the mid-price range.

Design

Belkin’s tabletop charger is significantly more compact than many other chargers. As the base sits behind the mobile phone, the charging station is immediately much narrower. Belkin describes it as foldable, which could be interpreted as meaning you can fold it up and take it with you when travelling. However, this simply refers to the fact that the mobile phone charging pad can be folded 90 degrees, so the charger takes up slightly less space in height. The stand is made of metal and feels very sturdy.

 

Usability and performance

It’s somewhat inconvenient that the watch is located behind the mobile phone. Especially if you want to check the charge level from time to time. It’s also easy to forget it’s there, so you end up running around looking for it. However, the compact size is handy if you plan to keep the charger on your bedside table rather than on your desk.

Our meter showed that the Belkin Ultracharge Pro drew 14.6 volts and 1.6 amps whilst charging our iPhone. That’s 23.5 watts, which, with a small deduction for the fan, should still be over 20 watts. It’s not reasonable to expect full power, but it’s still well above the 15 watts that previous charging solutions have been able to deliver.

Conclusion

If you want to be able to charge all your gadgets, including an Apple Watch, desktop chargers can easily take up too much space. Especially if you plan to keep it on your bedside table. In that case, you might want to consider putting the watch behind your mobile phone to save space. The Belkin Ultracharge Pro feels well-built and features active cooling to prevent your mobile phone from overheating. The price seems reasonable for a 3-in-1 charger with the fastest wireless charging standard.