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Each year, new products enter the ring trying to be the best 3-in-1 iPhone dock. The Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock is a worthy contender with 25W of wireless charging and a sleek profile, but it has one major hindrance.
- Output Power
-
25W, 5W, 5W
- Cable included
-
Yes
- Dimension
-
4.60 x 3.4 x 4.04in
- Smart Features
-
ChillBoost active cooling
Power your iPhone from 0-50% in just 25 minutes. Featuring ChillBoost active cooling technology, a proprietary technology that regulates device temperature during fast charging.
- Support for Qi2 25W wireless charging
- Sleek design
- 45W power adapter included
- Adjustable hinge
- May be able to hear active cooling fan
- Watch charger is not adjustable
Price and Availability
The Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 is available to buy now. It retails for $129.99 and comes in charcoal or sand colors.
- Output Power
-
25W, 5W, 5W
- Cable included
-
Yes
- Dimension
-
4.60 x 3.4 x 4.04in
- Smart Features
-
ChillBoost active cooling
- Qi-Certified
-
Qi2 25W
- Adapter Included
-
Yes (45W)
This Dock Can Charge Wirelessly at 25 Watts
The name of the game for new, premium iPhone docking stations is Qi2 25W. That’s the latest official spec for devices to wirelessly charge up to 25 watts. The original Qi spec started at just 5 and 7.5W before getting bumped up to 15W and now 25W.
Speed is the main feature of this device. In that case, you will need an iPhone 16 or later to fully take advantage of the faster charging with Apple devices.
Personally speaking, when the max speed of Qi2 was 15 watts, I would never opt for it over a cable and a powerful power adapter. But now that the top speed has been boosted to 25 watts for all Qi2 25W accessories, not just MagSafe ones, I’m much more inclined to use this wireless option.
The UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 is one of the first devices to support Qi2 25W, which makes it a bit novel and desirable. As expected, when I attached my iPhone, the charger went to work immediately. It was reliable in charging each time I used it.
One other item to note around speed that will probably go unnoticed by most people. There’s a 45W compact power adapter and fabric USB-C cable included in the box. What’s unusual here is that this is a powerful charger in a compact size. Belkin charges $30 for it if you buy it separately. It could be a great power adapter to bring while traveling, when you’re away from the UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1.
Whether you see this included power adapter as an extra value, making the $130 price more palatable, or not, the inclusion of this power adapter is still very nice.
The Design and Function Shouldn’t Be Overlooked
The speed is critical to this device being useful at a desk, but that aspect is a lot less necessary if you only use it bedside, for overnight charging. In that case, it’s the functional design of this unit that’s great.
While there are no real hidden features about this product, I like how simple and obvious everything is. For example, the phone charging point hinges from 90 degrees to lying flat. The watch charger in the back is raised enough so that most bands should have plenty of room. Even the AirPods charger is subtle enough that if you never use it, it’s not a visual distraction.
Its minimal footprint makes it perfect for any-sized nightstand. It’s a little bigger than the 2023 BoostCharge 2-in-1 model, but overall, the UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 is compact and easy to orient in any direction.
Be Aware, There’s a Fan!
That brings me to a slightly concerning part of the UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1, its active cooling feature, which Belkin calls ChillBoost. Basically, there’s a fan inside the main charging point that the company says is there to help optimize the high-speed charging speeds.
ChillBoost is listed as being able to cool a device by 12 degrees (Fahrenheit). The trade-off is that the fan can create a high-pitched hum. The sound is noticeable from a few feet away. Even worse, is that when I put my ear close to listen, I could hear it constantly varying in speed and creating different noises, rather than a steady white noise.
The fan noise is audible, but it’s not overly loud. I tried to measure it with a decibel meter, and yard work from outside prevented me from getting a reading. At night, in a dead quiet room, the sound may be a lot for some people. The most unfortunate part is when it spins at uneven speeds, which can make the fan seem erratic.
The good news is that you don’t need to use the ChillBoost if it is bothersome. There’s an off switch on the back of the charger. I was told by a representative that ChillBoost is not necessary for the charger to reach its full 25W capability. Without the fan turned on, it may take a few more minutes to charge from 0 to 50% battery than the advertised 25 minutes.
So then why would you want it? Well, comparatively, other wireless chargers do make the back of the phones really hot. I never got that same heat level from the UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1.
Should You Buy the Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock?
Belkin regularly has the most intriguing multi-device chargers, and the UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock is simply the latest version. It adopts the newest Qi technology to offer 25 watts of power for compatible phones and a refreshed design. It’s arguable whether it’s the absolute best, but it’s certainly one of them. It’s great in most ways. Thankfully, if the cooling bothers you, it can be turned off. If it’s not annoying, then you’ll get a less hot phone.
- Output Power
-
25W, 5W, 5W
- Cable included
-
Yes
- Dimension
-
4.60 x 3.4 x 4.04in
- Smart Features
-
ChillBoost active cooling
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