Getting a little tired of waiting for Apple’s elusive AirPower wireless charger to make an appearance? You might want to skip it altogether and go with the Nomad Base Station Apple Watch Edition. Besides good looks, support for wirelessly charging multiple devices and an integrated charger for your Apple Watch, the Nomad option has the added advantage of actually… existing.
Plenty of (Wireless) Power
Nomad’s new Base Station Apple Watch Edition is based on the company’s Base Station Hub, a Qi wireless charger with integrated USB-A and USB-C charge ports. If you don’t have an Apple Watch, this is the wireless charger you’d be more interested in.
The Base Station Apple Watch Edition adds an MFi-certified Apple Watch charger, losing the physical ports to go with an all wireless charging approach. Beneath its charge pad are three Qi-certified 7.5W charge coils. The multiple coils combined with a generous pad surface (roughly 6.5 x 3-inches ) means you can charge up to three devices simultaneously, without having to fuss particularly about positioning.
Solid and Luxurious Design
Instead of a basic mat or a puck, the Nomad Base Station Apple Watch Edition is more of a statement charger. It’s not just functional, it looks luxurious.
The slim body is aircraft-grade aluminum in a gunmetal gray finish. The charge surface is covered with padded black leather. Rubber feet keep it from moving around. The Apple Watch charger is horizontally positioned and equipped with a magnet so the smartwatch can be used in nightstand mode. Minimalist LED lighting on the front edge indicates charge status, and in a nice touch it automatically dims at night. The Nomad Base Station Apple Watch Edition looks right at home on your nightstand, but its premium design makes it suitable for anywhere you’d like a wireless charging station, including on a desk.
The only downside I found was a power adapter that’s on the large side. However, since it replaced two existing adapters — one for my Apple Watch charger and the other for my iPhone charger — that can be forgiven.
An Easy Recommendation for Apple Fans
As a Qi-certified charger, the Nomad Base Station Apple Watch Edition isn’t limited to Apple devices. But it’s designed to let Apple fans charge all their wireless devices in one spot, including the Apple Watch. And it does so in a very elegant fashion.
The new Base Station Apple Watch Edition is available for $119.95 from Nomad.
Disclosure: Nomad provided a Base Station for evaluation but had no input into this review.
