For those of us who were already alive and aware when the original Macintosh made its bow on January 1984, seeing any vintage design that is inspired by this classic is always nostalgic. We’ve been seeing a resurgence of all kinds of vintage-inspired designs on more modern gadgets and devices to blend the old and the new. elago is one such brand that has been coming up with more nostalgic magsafe and old-school Mac inspired accessories to go together with your iPhones, AirPods, Apple Watch, etc. This latest one is sure to appeal to the classic Mac lovers.
Designer: elago
Click Here to Buy Now
The MagSafe MS M4 Charging Stand is a charging stand for your iPhone that brings back the classic retro design of the Macintosh. It also helps reduce clutter on your table when you need to juice up your smartphone and of course do it in nostalgic style. It is made from premium silicone so it should be able to protect your device from scratches and even the spot on the desk where you will be placing the charger. It also adds a grip to to the surface that it’s resting on and has ventilation holes so your device won’t overheat.
You will need to have your own MagSafe charger which will be attached to the charging stand which then allows you to attach your iPhone in place. As it’s charging, you will also be able to use it to take phone calls and do video calls as well. It is also compatible with the StandBy mode that turns your device into an ambient smart display if you’re already sporting iOS 17. It is compatible with the iPhone 12, 13, 14, and 15 series. If you’re not using the charging stand, it still looks cute sitting there on your table with the mini Macintosh design complete with the classic cursive “hello.” greeting.
The charging stand doesn’t have any other new additional feature aside from being a stand that charges your iPhone or a stand to hold your device if you’re using it for calls or video conferences. But if you’re looking for something cute and nostalgic, then it’s something that you’d want to add to your collection. And at just $28.99, it’s not that of an expensive addition.
If you have several devices that you want to charge at the same time, your desk can look like a tangle of wires and other charging paraphernalia. I am not the neatest person when it comes to my desk so that’s not such an uncommon or uncomfortable situation for me. But for those who are a bit concerned with how their work area will look, wireless charging is probably the best solution to avoid such clutter. If you have several devices though, you might also need several wireless charging pads, unless you get one that can charge multiple gadgets at once.
Designer: Courant
For Mac users, Courant is an accessory maker that they constantly look to (if they can afford premium devices though). The MAG:3 is their latest MagSafe wireless charging device and this time it looks like a minimalist valet tray for your iPhone, AirPods, and other small items that you can place there to make your side table or desk more organized. It is available in both leather and linen finishes and in several colors for each so you can choose which one best fits your current work or home aesthetic.
The tray is made up of a 7.5W output wireless charger pad for your iPhone, a 5W, non-magnetic Qi wireless charger pad for other compatible devices like Airpods, and a 10W USB-C output at the back part to power other devices like your Apple Watch or another USB-C compatible device. There is also space for things like your wallet, watch, keys, eyeglasses, and other small things that you may need to place beside your devices so you won’t forget any of them before you leave your house or your office.
The carbon-neutral Belgian Linen finish is available in camel, charcoal, and natural colors while the gold-rated Italian Leather finish has the saddle or black color options. It is now available to pre-order on the Courant website but since Black Friday deals are almost upon us, you get a discounted deal for a limited period in case you want to save a few dollars.
In a way, the birth of the hub can be credited to the birth of the laptop. Laptops have basically strived to condense the functionality of a desktop into a portable form, but in the process, have also surrendered a few key features like key ports and the ability to upgrade storage. Multiport hubs were designed to compensate for those shortcomings, but as laptops grow more and more powerful, the demand for powerful hubs have gone up too. Meet DockNova, a 10-in-1 hub that packs all the features most power-users need, from support for 8K displays, 2.5G ethernet, 100W power delivery, and the ability to mount SSDs up to 4 terabytes. All this fits in the size of a hub no larger than a Snickers bar, with a gorgeous aluminum body and a clear plastic front facade, and a nifty button that lets you remotely black-out your external display to protect parents and managers from catching you browsing the web instead of working or studying.
Designer: DockNova
Click Here to Buy Now: $109$159 (30% Off) Hurry! Only 60 hours left!
The DockNova opts for the ‘transparent’ design trend that’s been gaining popularity rather slowly and steadily in the past year. It sports an aluminum chassis, but comes with a clear facade that lets you see the PCB underneath, making it an instant tech-nerd favorite. The clear plastic cover lets you admire the ports, modules, chips, and other elements of the DockNova, while the base of the hub has screws that let you open it up to mount an SSD on the inside.
The transparent design pretty much reveals all of DockNova’s key ports. From the regular USB-A ports and SD card readers to more powerful ports like the ethernet port, the 8K-compliant HDMI port, and a whopping 100W power delivery USB-C port for charging your laptop. The DockNova packs two USB 3.2 Gen2 ports for thumb drives and charging regular devices via USB cable, but for higher-speed data transfer or faster charging, it houses one full-featured USB-C port and another power-delivery port capable of lifting weights up to 100W. That means you can directly hook the DockNova into your laptop and connect your charger into the DockNova itself, transferring power through the hub without blocking an extra port on your laptop.
Aside from charging your laptop, the DockNova also helps connect it directly to the internet through a 2.5G Ethernet port that gets high-speed internet to your machine. Card readers allow you to collect data dumps from DSLRs, drones, and other devices that store information on SD cards, and the DockNova’s rear has space to mount an M.2 (NVMe or SATA) SSD up to 4 terabytes in capacity, turning the hub into a data transfer behemoth aside from a charging beast!
However, the DockNova’s most interesting feature is connected to its HDMI port. The hub’s HDMI has support for displays up to 8K in resolution (albeit with a 30Hz refresh rate), or even 4K@120Hz, making it perfect for hooking up external displays for gaming, video editing, graphic design, or media consumption. Speaking of media consumption, the DockNova also packs its own display killswitch that lets you black out the display from the hub itself. This is especially useful when you’re watching Twitch or YouTube and your parents or manager sneaks up on you to see what you’re doing. You could have work running on the main display and entertainment on the secondary display, and DockNova lets you black out the latter on demand. Perfect for when you don’t want to share private projects with your colleagues, don’t want bosses and parents finding you chilling instead of working, and no, we’re not going to recommend anything to do with adult websites. We’re not. Nope.
Being USB-C, the DockNova works with more than just your laptops. It supports Windows and Mac devices, but also works with Android phones, iPads with USB-C ports (perfect for the Pro range), and even the latest iPhone 15 Pro. Additionally, it also works with Linux devices, ChromeOS devices, PlayStations, Xboxes, and handheld controllers like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch, allowing you to transfer data across devices with ease, connect bigger displays or wired ethernet ports, or even upgrade your device’s storage thanks to the add-on SSD slot. The DockNova is available at a discounted $109 and ships globally starting December 2023.
Click Here to Buy Now: $109$159 (30% Off) Hurry! Only 60 hours left!
Click Here to Buy Now: $109$159 (30% Off) Hurry! Only 60 hours left!
We call this time of the year Techtober because of all the new technology that releases around this season. New iPhones, new Apple Watches, new Pixel hardware, and if we’re lucky, some hardware from Meta, Nothing, Microsoft, Amazon, and Samsung. Techtober is great because suddenly you’ve got an entire catalog of new phones, watches, tablets, TWS earbuds, and other tech to choose from… but from one gadget enthusiast to another, it’s just as important to buy great charging accessories to go with your new gear too. Instead of relying on your old charger to juice your new device, here’s a conclusive list of great chargers and charging accessories from the folks at ADAM Elements. Whether it’s 2-in-1 charging docks, MagSafe gadgets, or power bricks running on cutting-edge GaN technology, this list has them all. So if you’re on the market for the latest phone or watch, make sure you’ve got a cutting-edge charging accessory to match your new tech!
Mag 3 Magnetic 3-in-1 Foldable Travel Charging Station
You’ve got compact chargers, and you’ve got the Mag 3 – perhaps the smallest, most utilitarian 3-in-1 MagSafe charger for your iPhone, AirPods, and even your Apple Watch. Designed for portability, the Mag 3 has a foldable design that makes it fit right in your pocket (imagine fitting 3 chargers in your pocket), making it the perfect pick for travel enthusiasts. The entire device is made from metal, giving it a slick, robust overall appearance that supports/docks all your gadgets with ease.
Whether you prefer your iPhone charged vertically or horizontally, the Mag 3 ensures a secure magnetic connection, allowing seamless messaging and video viewing. Plug the Mag 3 into an outlet and it outputs up to 20W across all its charging zones, allowing you to simultaneously charge your iPhone, AirPods, and even your Apple Watch… and don’t worry, features like Foreign Object Detection and Over-current Protection keep your devices safe while they’re juicing up.
Click Here to Buy Now: $87.2$109 (20% off with coupon code “20YDMAG3”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!
Mag 4 GaN 30W 4-in-1 Power Charging Station
For people looking to pack power into a petite product, the Mag 4 packs a GaN semiconductor that allows it to deliver high power outputs in a compact design. Although slightly larger than its predecessor, it does pack much more power with an output of 30W and the ability to charge not 3 but 4 devices concurrently, while being compact enough for your office desktop, nightstand, or living room side table. The GaN charging brick features a flip-open wireless charging top that lets you magnetically mount your iPhone on it (activating Standby Mode in the process) while revealing yet another charging dock for your AirPods right underneath.
The Mag 4 additionally offers two more ports (one USB-C and one USB-A) to plug your devices into, letting you charge other gadgets you may own like an iPad, a Nintendo Switch, or your headphones. The GaN construction manages power efficiently in a compact design, while the Mag 4 itself has a slew of safety features from overheating and surge protection, to an overall fire-resistant design that keeps your gadgets protected. Additionally, a 3-year limited warranty makes it a reliable choice for powering your devices.
Click Here to Buy Now: $59.25$79 (25% off with coupon code “25YDMAG4”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!
OMNIA CX2 Magnetic Charging Car Mount
The coolest car-related Apple thing after CarPlay, the OMNIA CX2 is a nifty MagSafe car charger for your iPhone. Working with iPhones 12 and above, the OMNIA CX2 ensures your iPhone snaps in place effortlessly thanks to the MagSafe ring, initiating up to 15W of fast charging on the go.
The CX2 boasts a compact design crafted from Zinc alloy, and even features a built-in LED light for night-time visibility. Whether horizontal, vertical, or angled, your iPhone stays in place, charging, while you navigate the roads. Additionally, the overheating protection ensures safety for both your device and vehicle, making it a reliable companion on any journey.
Click Here to Buy Now: $39.2$49 (20% off with coupon code “20YDOCX2”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!
OMNIA M2+ MagSafe 2 +1 Wireless Charging Station
The OMNIA M2+ MagSafe 2 +1 Wireless Charging Station is not just a regular charger, it’s a minimalist powerhouse that charges as many as three devices at the same time. Armed with an incredibly slick design, the OMNIA M2+ occupies a tiny amount of real estate on your tabletop surface, but can simultaneously juice your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. A 15W MagSafe charging hub on the top lets you effectively snap your iPhone either in landscape or portrait and have it charge immediately (iOS 17 will even allow the iPhone to go into Standby mode while it charges).
Right underneath it is also a dedicated charging mat for your AirPods, with a 5W output, and a USB-C port on the side of the M2+ lets you hook an Apple Watch charger to complete your charging setup. The OMNIA M2+ is MFi certified, which means it charges your gadgets at the highest possible wattage for a true fast charging experience, handling them all together in one elegant solution.
Click Here to Buy Now: $79.2$99 (20% off with coupon code “20YDOM2P”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!
OMNIA A1+ Apple Watch Magnetic Wireless Fast Charger
Although paired best with the M2+, the OMNIA A1+ is a highly compact Apple Watch charging puck that’s about the size of an AirTag. Tailored to Apple’s MFW standards, this diminutive yet powerful gadget fast charges your Apple Watch Ultra and S7/S8/S9 Series. Plug it into a powered USB-C port, and the strong magnet ensures your watch is securely in place for an optimal charge. Its compact design makes it a great accessory to have with you on the go, along with a PU strap that lets you attach the A1+ to a keychain for easier convenience.
Click Here to Buy Now: $35.1$39 (10% off with coupon code “10YDOA1P”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!
The secret that most companies don’t tell you is that fast charging to 100% actually benefits them rather than the consumer. Sure, you save 10-15 minutes every time you use a fast charger to charge your phone or other device instead of a normal one, but charging at high wattages degrades your battery’s lifespan faster too. A phone that holds its charge for 2 years now begins wearing out faster in 1 year, and that’s great for companies because they can then sell you the newer model… often with an even faster charger!
Leo is a clever little product that prevents that from happening. Sitting between your phone and the power outlet, Leo understands your battery’s health and charges it in a way that keeps it healthier for longer. It optimizes charge speeds to ensure you don’t degrade your battery, ensures you don’t always charge your phone to 100% (that harms the battery too), and automatically pauses charging when you leave your phone plugged in overnight to ensure your battery performs at its best capacity even 2-3 years after you buy a phone… or any battery-powered device for that matter.
Designer: Jaime Camarero
Click Here to Buy Now: $58$85 (31% off). Hurry, only 2/1115 left! Raised over $200,000.
All batteries degrade over time, losing their ability to hold energy the way they previously would… An iPhone right out of the box has a battery that needs charging once a day, but a year or two later, the same iPhone needs to be charged an average of thrice a day because it gets discharged faster. Leo was designed to prolong that eventuality, allowing your Lithium-ion battery-powered gadgets to last longer than ‘they were planned to’. Touted as a Battery Life Extender, Leo simply ensures your battery doesn’t get overcharged every time you plug it in. Designed to work with your smartphones, tablets, headphones, game controllers, handheld consoles, drones, or pretty much any gadget with a built-in battery and charged through a USB cable, Leo manages its power requirements to give you a balance between a ‘full battery’ and a ‘healthy battery’.
Set a Charge Limit – Maintaining your batteries within the range of 10% to 90% can significantly extend their lifespan.
Adaptive Charging Speed – Leo charges at a slower, more sustainable rate when you have the time, such as during the night.
Leo does this using a few clever tricks. All you do is add Leo between your device and its charger (so the power passes through it) and it begins working instantaneously. For starters, it makes sure you don’t always charge your gadget to 100% (which can degrade your battery’s health in the long run). Instead, it sets an optimal charge limit of approximately 90% for all your USB devices, which on itself can increase the lifespan of your battery by a lot.
Ghost-mode Button to Fast-charge to 100% – Simply hold the button to swiftly override Leo and switch to fast charging. This way, there’s no need to unplug Leo.
It also manages those wild 60W to 120W charging speeds touted by most Android makers, setting a power cap to your charger’s power delivery. Sure, that means you don’t get those fast charging speeds, but that also means your phone’s battery lasts for as much as 50% longer than it previously would. In a hurry and want to fast-charge your device? A simple button on Leo helps disable it temporarily so you don’t need to unplug it to fast-charge your phone.
Optimized Night Charging – Leo takes a break at around 80% during night charging, effectively reducing the duration your batteries remain at a high charge percentage and voltage.
If you’re one of those folks who plugs their phone in overnight, Leo ensures it doesn’t constantly get charged for those 7-8 hours while you’re asleep. During night charging, Leo takes a break at around 80%, further reducing the duration your batteries remain at a high charge percentage and voltage. You don’t need to toggle through any settings to activate any of Leo’s features – it intuitively reads your battery’s charging protocol, managing the charging process accordingly based on your device, your charger, and the time of the day.
Universal USB-C Connector – Leo’s adaptability enables implementation on both the charger side and the device side.
Roughly the same size as a USB thumb drive (with an eye-catching light strip running vertically), Leo is designed to work with a wide range of USB-C devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, gaming devices, e-readers, headphones, and other accessories. Its compact form factor allows it to easily act as a bridge between chargers and gadgets, without adding to the clutter of your wired charging solutions. It adapts autonomously based on the device and the charger you’re using, instantly adjusting charging protocols to match your device.
Overall, Leo’s broader pitch is to end (or at least drastically prolong) planned obsolescence. We’re all too familiar with headphones dying out after 1-2 years of using them, or a smartphone not having an ‘all-day’ battery life after a year. While a lot of that boils down just to the fact that lithium-ion batteries aren’t designed to last forever, a portion of it can also be attributed to companies engineering obsolescence into their devices so they can sell newer models every year. Simply by ensuring your products last 50% longer than they originally would, Leo helps drastically cut down e-waste while also saving you money in the long run.
Recycled plastic, Modular & Long Lasting Design – The cable is modular and easily replaceable to ensure longevity since even the best cables can wear out over time.
Its sustainable ethos extends to every part of its design too, from the fact that it comes made using recycled plastic to the fact that it even runs OTA updates to ensure that it stays up to date with charging protocols of new devices that launch in the future. If you’re interested in deep-diving into the analytics of your device batteries, Leo will even offer an optional app that lets you measure the battery health, charging status, and charging cycles of the various devices you plug into it. The app also enables the aforementioned OTA updates to keep your Leo on the cutting edge of battery technology.
On paper, Leo’s $58 price tag justifies itself pretty well. Even if it increases your battery’s overall lifespan by 10-20% (as compared to its touted 50%), that effectively means your gadgets last for at least 4-6 months longer than their intended 2-year life cycle. Account for the fact that each household has approximately 5-10 battery-powered USB gadgets, and that translates to hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars in savings per year because your devices are effectively lasting longer. Sure, that’s great for the planet… but it’s even greater for the pocket! Each Leo ships with its own USB-C to USB-C cable (with a max 100W output if you ever want to toggle fast charging) and comes with a free, optional smartphone app that’s available on both Android and iOS devices.
Click Here to Buy Now: $58$85 (31% off). Hurry, only 2/1115 left! Raised over $200,000.
Armed with a whopping 40,000mAh battery that can charge your phone from 0 to 100 more than 10 times, and a built-in LED light that can run for 8 days on a fully charged battery, this new power bank from ROMOSS really pulls out all stops. Understandably larger than your conventional power bank, the ROMOSS Quick Charge Pro is about the same size as a smart speaker. It comes with a handle that makes it easy to carry around, has two USB-A ports, a Lightning USB-C port, and another bi-directional USB-C port that lets you either charge a fourth device, or charge the power bank itself. The Quick Charge Pro outputs a maximum 65W, and is the second in ROMOSS’ line-up of power banks which also include an Air, Max, and an Ultra that output 30W, 100W, and 200W respectively.
Designer: ROMOSS
A control panel on the top features the Quick Charge Pro’s ports and its two-button interface that let you switch the power bank on or off, and toggle the front-facing light that has three brightness modes. The two USB-A ports let you charge regular devices around you, while the USB-C ports offer much more power output, allowing you to fast-charge phones and tablets, as well as juice your laptop. GizmoChina reports that the power bank can charge “the iPhone 14 Pro (7.3 times), Huawei Mate 50 (6.4 times), MacBook Pro 14 (M1) (2.0 times), and iPad Pro 11 (5.0 times),” making it a hefty-yet-powerful battery-pack to have for the power-hungry.
The bright lamp gives the power bank yet another feature to make up for its large size. The Quick Charge Pro’s 148Wh battery isn’t rated for air-travel, but it’s perfect for camping trips, hikes, night-time backyard shenanigans, drive-in movie dates, or just having around the house during a power outage. The lighting system is bright and works well as a lantern, with three brightness settings and a whopping 8-day life on a fully-charged battery. ROMOSS’ Quick Charge Pro comes in three colors – Clear Water Green, Misty Silver, and Midnight Black, and is currently available only as a China-exclusive for 319 yuan ($43), but here’s hoping for a global release too…
Not all of us are minimalists, so why should we choose desks that force us to be minimal? If you got caught up in the Marie Kondo craze and bought a compact desk only to realize you’ve got more stuff to put on it than you originally imagined, the Peg-Mag System is a clever way to quickly 2x your desk space without splurging on a new desk.
Designers: Bhagvanji Sonagra & Bhavin Dabhi from UDLAB Products, USA
Click Here to Buy Now: Set for $199 $425 (54% off). Hurry, only 4/33 left!
Peg-Mag System
The Peg-Mag System combines three clever strategies to help you maximize your desk’s space and potential. The first is a balcony-like Desk Extender that attaches to the side of your table, giving you an extra shelf that cantilevers off your table. Designed to hold a significant amount, the extender is perfect for books, stationery, speakers, or even a fairly heavy gaming rig or CPU. The extender clips onto virtually any desk, and also comes with a rail for attaching a pegboard slider, which is the Peg-Mag’s second strategy.
Peg-Extension System
The pegboard slider is an adaptable, adjustable vertical platform that lets you hang objects on it instead of having them clutter your desk. Each extender comes with two pegboards that attach onto the rails and slide left to right, letting you move them around based on your convenience. The pegboards themselves support a host of attachments, letting you hang headphones, cables, controllers, and a bunch of other objects for ease of access.
MagOrg Desk Mat
Finally, the Peg-Mag System’s third strike comes in the form of a Creative Desk Mat that has a built-in laptop stand, integrated wrist-rests for your keyboard and mouse, elastic organizers for stationery, and a dedicated 15W charging pad for your smartphone. Combined, all three elements turn your desk’s boring plain tabletop surface and turn it into a bastion of functionality. The extender, pegboard, and mat aren’t simply desk accessories… they’re like power-ups that turn your desk into the pinnacle of productivity!
Rail Based Moving Mechanism
The entire setup is expertly designed to fit into the gaps and voids left by your current cramped desk setup. The extender module uses a set of clamps to securely affix onto the side of your desk. It’s location-agnostic, so you can snap it either to the right or the left side, depending entirely on where you want your extra storage. Once clamped, the desk’s heavy-duty metal architecture can hold anything as light as a few books to as heavy as a CPU rig. You don’t need to stash your expensive computer under your table anymore. Attached to the clamps is a slider rail on which fits the Peg-Mag’s pegboards. Styled similar to pegboards available at IKEA, these are made from strong molded plastic, and come in a pair of two vertical boards that attach to the rails and slide to and fro. Place them wherever and move them around when you need to, the pegboards come with positionable holders that are perfect for hanging things that would otherwise occupy space on your desk – cables, headphones, or your gaming controller.
Peg-Mag’s creative desk mat is where the company’s design-forward thinking shines through. A winner of the New York Product Design Awards, the desk mat is envisioned with a modular design, so you can build your own mat based on your requirements and your size constraints. The mat itself is made up of multiple mini-mats that all serve their own purpose. The modules attach to each other magnetically, letting you add or subtract elements to fit the size of your desk. The broader mat is perfect for your keyboard, mouse, and notebook, but Peg-Mag also offers purpose-built add-ons like a laptop-stand mini-mat, a wireless charging mini-mat with a 15W output that you can just place your phone or AirPods on, and elastic-based organizer mats to secure notepads, stationery, styluses, etc. into. Finally, dedicated cushioned rests for your wrists snap onto the bottom, giving you a comfortable resting area for your hands as you frantically work or game.
What the Peg-Mag so cleverly does is look at your desk, outline the problems, and propose incredibly practical and easy-to-implement solutions. Is your desk small? An extender should help. Need space for cables and controllers? How about a nifty pegboard. Want to declutter your space further? A creative mat with modular attachments provides the perfect canvas to organize your life. The entire Peg-Mag System starts at a discounted price of $199, including the extender, two pegboards, and the entire creative desk mat. However, the extender and pegboards are available individually for $149, while the creative desk mat can be procured separately at $125. The system’s flexibility means you can buy the parts and components you need, upgrading your desk in a way that’s resourceful, user-friendly, and more importantly, non-destructive.
Click Here to Buy Now: Set for $199 $425 (54% off). Hurry, only 4/33 left!
At CES 2023 we saw the Wireless Power Consortium’s (WPC) Qi2 wireless charging standard announcement and wondered when were we going to see gadgets with this technology. Now, just in time for the iPhone 15 announcement in under two weeks’ time, Belkin has revealed a couple of new accessories at the IFA 2023 technology show that’ll employ the emerging standard. More probably than not, Apple’s next smartphone will come loaded with the new wireless standard.
The accessories maker known for its proactive development of Apple-certified products has introduced these next-generation wireless chargers for the Apple ecosystem as well as supported Android devices. With Qi2 destined to become the global standard in wire-free charging, Belkin has the upper hand already.
Designer: Belkin
Both of these accessories get a very unusually long name – one being the BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Pad to Stand and the other dubbed BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2. Belkin has confirmed that both these accessories will juice up MagSafe-equipped iPhone with Qi2 standard at 15W.
The BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Pad to Stand is for people who prefer the goodness of a wireless charging pad but with the ability to flip upwards so that the phone screen stays well in view for watching content. The accessory comes with a non-slip material to keep the device in place and the dual thermal protection system prevents any chance of overheating that can damage the battery in the long run. The pad is slated to arrive in September for a price tag of $40.
Then there is the BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2 for gadget freaks who frequently charge their array of devices in tandem. Two of the pads on this accessory are Qi2 and MagSafe compatible while the third is a standard USB-C Apple Watch charger on the side. Both of them will charge compatible devices at 15W speeds while the third one is limited to 5W speed. The pad will go on sale later this year for price of $130, and the Apple Watch attachment costs extra.
Other than this, Belkin has also revealed the BoostCharge Pro Universal Easy Align Wireless Charging Pad that is Qi-compatible and charges gadgets at 15W speed. This one also gets the non-slip grip material and two thermal protection systems to prevent overheating.
With 24GB of RAM and 240W ultra-fast charging, the Realme GT5 240W looks mighty tempting if not for its limited availability and plain appearance.
Smartphones are more than just devices these days, becoming more like lifestyle choices and extensions of ourselves. That said, it’s impossible to separate the specs from the design because even the most beautiful phone will fall flat if it ends up being unusable anyway. In fact, people do buy phones primarily for their features, with aesthetics and ergonomics coming a close second, especially for those who’d slap on a protective or decorative case anyway. Realme’s newest wonder could very well satisfy this kind of user, cramming in the latest and greatest that mobile technology has to offer, so we had to give the Realme GT5 240W a good test run to see if it can truly rice to the challenge despite its rather unremarkable appearance.
Designer: Realme
Aesthetics
It’s hard to ignore a shift in the smartphone market that has made consumers more aware of how design plays an important role in the overall experience of their smartphones. They no longer just want a slab of glass and metal that seemed to be cobbled up in order to house the hardware inside. They want phones that give a positive visual impact, make them stand out, or more closely express their style and interests. Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a stylish smartphone, Realme’s latest flagship might not be to your taste.
The most distinctive part of smartphones is their backs, and here the Realme GT5 seems to take a page from different smartphones, creating a mishmash of designs that feel a little incongruous. The sandblasted metal texture looks like a blast from the past, while the large camera bump seems to be an overgrown version of the Google Pixel’s “visor” design. Even the fancy “Pulse Interface Design 2.0” LED light that strangely frames a Qualcomm Snapdragon logo is reminiscent of the Nothing Phone’s now iconic Glyph Interface gimmick.
It’s not that the Realme GT5 240W is unattractive. It is admittedly distinctive in how its camera bump spans the entire width of the phone rather than just one side, but it’s an underwhelming design nonetheless. When you consider how Realme has released many beautiful, unique, and creative designs over the past years, you come to expect a bit more from the brand, especially when it involves the flagship GT line. Fortunately, this phone has other things going for it beyond its somewhat plain looks.
Ergonomics
A phone’s design isn’t just about its appearance. Every part and every design element has an impact on both the phone’s performance as well as its usability. Put too many powerful components inside and you risk burdening the hands of your users. Arrange them in the incorrect way and it might also feel a little unbalanced.
The Realme GT5 240W is a little of both. At 205g, it is a bit on the heftier side, though not exactly by much compared to other devices on the same premium tier. It is, however, a bit top-heavy, thanks to the design of the camera bump and the components that are located there. Adding features always comes with a price, especially when they’re a bit more on the inessential and decorative side. This could result in lower confidence when holding the phone, pushing owners to slap on the opaque and unappealing case that Realme ships inside the box.
The one advantage of the phone’s wide camera design is that it will lie balanced on a flat surface like a table, unlike other phones with bumps only on a corner. The phone won’t wobble no matter how hard you tap on the phone when it’s lying on its back. Additionally, you might even be able to use that protrusion to your advantage when holding the phone, letting one of your fingers rest beneath it to prevent the phone from sliding off.
Performance
Although the Realme GT5 240W looks unremarkable at first glance, it is one of those things that definitely deserves a deeper look. That’s because, despite its modest appearance, this phone is filled to the brim with high-end features that are easily accessible, at least if you reside in a specific market. The Realme GT5 240W is, at its heart, a premium flagship smartphone and it has the guts to prove it, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is actually just the tip of the iceberg.
This particular model boasts a whopping 24GB of RAM, a feat that so far only one other smartphone has managed to pull off. It’s no surprise, then, that the phone performs smoothly without any hiccups, deftly taking anything we throw at it. CPU, GPU, and memory all work in harmony to deliver a fluid interface and flawless user experience, even considering how loaded Realme UI can be. As for data storage, there’s an equally astounding 1TB inside which makes any argument about microSD cards moot.
The Realme GT5 240W also has a gorgeous and bright 6.78-inch 2772×1240 AMOLED display capable of 244Hz refresh rates and 2,160Hz high-frequency pulse-width modulation (PWM) dimming. What these figures mean in practice is that, depending on the app or content, the visuals you’ll get will be smooth as butter. With dual speakers with Dolby Atmos, this phone becomes an entertainment powerhouse for videos, music, and especially games. The one catch is that we found the phone to get a little too warm for comfort, and that’s just when playing Fortnite with medium settings at 60Hz. Performance at that level was quite impressive, but you might want to pay more attention to the heat it generates.
This particular phone’s killer feature can be seen from its name. While the regular Realme GT5 already has super-fast 150W charging, this one nearly doubles that to 240W. In just 5 minutes, we got from 60% to 100%, which is one of if not the fastest on the market. Of course, you’ll have to use the large charging brick it comes with to reach that record speed, but it’s going to be worth it if you really need to top up quickly.
Where the Realme GT5 240W shines least is in the one aspect that a lot of smartphone buyers consider to be the next most important thing: the cameras. The trio is led by a 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor, which takes very good shots with plenty of detail when under bright light. The other two, however, are nothing to write home about, with a 112-degree 8MP ultrawide and a 2MP macro camera completing the team. They take OK photos, given the right conditions, but they’re a huge step back from the performance of other flagships in the market.
The phone runs realme UI 4.0, the company’s customized experience built on top of the current Android 13 release. It is as you would expect, given the target Chinese market, which means loads of customization options and bloatware. There is no Google Play Store, of course, but users in that region are already used to that situation anyway. The phone will most likely take a different route when or if it launches in global markets, though some aspects, like the presence of pre-installed apps, won’t be changing. The Realme GT5 also features the company’s newest “Pulse Interface Design 2.0,” which is basically a way to have colorful LED light notifications on the back of your phone.
Sustainability
Realme is one of the few smartphone brands that has a laudable stance on sustainability. It has a clear vision and target for becoming a more environmentally conscious company and has taken concrete steps towards that goal. It has even launched phones that made use of more sustainable materials, though those have been limited to a few special editions.
Unfortunately, none of those marks can be seen on the Realme GT5 240W, whether in terms of materials used or even the phone’s durability. There is no formal dust and water resistance rating, so it might not inspire confidence in using the phone everywhere. The packaging is fortunately minimal but, thanks to its ultra-fast charging tech, every box will ship with that large charger. It’s not like Realme is the biggest offender, but it definitely has a lot of opportunity to rise to the challenge and outpace other brands when it comes to establishing a Greener Tomorrow.
Value
The Realme GT5 240W is, without a doubt, a premium smartphone, even if you might have misgivings about its not-so-premium looks. It can definitely walk the talk and more, especially with 24GB of RAM and an insanely fast 240W charging. What makes the phone exceptional isn’t just the specs but the fact that it isn’t demanding for an extremely high amount of money. In fact, it only costs 3,799 RMB for all these features, which is around $520, give or take.
The phone would have almost been perfect if not for the simple fact that it isn’t available anywhere outside of China, at least not at the moment. There’s a chance it could reach some global markets, but major ones like the US are often still out of the question. You might be tempted to import one, but the total cost of ownership, plus the Google-less software, makes it a very poor investment overall.
Verdict
Smartphones have started to become as much fashion accessory as they are tech gadgets. They have started to appeal to the more design-conscious masses while rushing to compete for the next head-turning trending look. The Realme GT5 240W seems to stand out by not standing out, looking rather plain and almost forgettable if not for the features it carries underneath that “ordinary” skin.
Fortunately, the phone is worth a lot more than its looks, carrying some of the greatest hardware available to smartphones today. It’s hardly perfect, especially in the camera department, but with a powerful processor, an overly generous 24GB of RAM, and a blazing 240W charging speed, you will be getting your money’s worth, and it won’t even cost you that much. Presuming, of course, you can get your hands on one.
Apple’s always had an incredibly locked ecosystem, limiting how other products integrate with its devices. Other wireless mice don’t have the smoothness of the Magic Mouse, other TWS earbuds don’t have Spatial Audio, and other styluses don’t boast of the same features as the Apple Pencil… but ZAGG’s Pro Stylus 2 comes incredibly close. Designed to work with both the iPad as well as the iPhone, the Pro Stylus 2 feels familiar in your hand given its slim design. It also has precise fine tip for accurate drawing, palm rejection to ensure your hand doesn’t accidentally tap the screen as you sketch or write, tilt recognition to alter your stroke style when you hold the stylus at an angle, and magnetic wireless charging that lets you snap the Pro Stylus 2 onto the side of your iPad Pro or even a Qi charger to juice its battery. The $75 stylus also has extra features in the form of a dome-shaped on-off switch on top, which also doubles as an IBM ThinkPad-style touch-sensitive ‘nub’ for navigating canvasses and scrolling pages…
Designer: ZAGG
A lot more colorful than the original Apple Pencil, ZAGG’s Pro Stylus 2 almost seems like the iPhone SE of styluses. It’s eye-catching, affordable, and gets the job done. It looks and feels just like Apple’s own Pencil, making it easy to use without that learning curve. The pointed tip is perfect for sketching, taking notes, and navigating pages – but don’t expect pressure sensitivity, a touch-sensitive grip, or that new hover feature on the iPad Pros. Instead, you could expect the accuracy you’d get from a pencil-shaped stylus, with the added functionality of being able to tilt it to affect your brush pattern. The Pro Stylus also snaps right to the side of the iPad Pro like Apple’s own writing instrument, and has the added benefit of being able to work with iPhones too.
A button on top is what sets the Pro Stylus 2 apart. Working like the nub found on old-school IBM laptops, it lets you navigate pages and scroll using your thumb (as shown above). It also serves as an on-off switch, allowing you to power down the stylus to conserve battery power. Moreover, the stylus powers down on its own with 15 minutes of inactivity, helping increase the stylus’ battery efficiency. Either way, the battery lasts a whopping 6 and a half hours on full charge… and if you ever run out, the Pro Stylus 2 snaps right to the side of an iPad Pro to charge, or even rests on any Qi charging dock to juice its battery.
Charge the Pro Stylus 2 by attaching it to the side of the iPad Pro
The Pro Stylus 2 looks quite similar to the Apple Pencil except for the fact that it comes in 5 different colors instead of the Pencil’s singular white finish. The tips are replaceable, allowing you to change colors as well as replace the pointer if and when it wears out. It starts at $75, undercutting the 2nd Gen Apple Pencil’s $129 price tag by a cool $54. Obviously, it misses out on some crucial features like pressure sensitivity and the hover ability too, but for someone looking for a multipurpose stylus with the right amount of basic functionality (and that sweet magnetic charging feature), ZAGG’s Pro Stylus 2 might just be the perfect alternative to Apple’s own offering. Oh, and it also comes with a 1-year warranty too!
