(Last Updated On: March 10, 2018)

With the release of the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 wireless charging became more popular and that really makes no sense when you consider that wireless charging has been available for many smartphones on the market for a few years now. That said, it does make sense at the same time as Apple is a major brand and many people use iPhones. Even though most of the time, Apple likes doing their own thing when it comes to their tech, they thankfully went with Qi wireless charging tech which is the type of that all wireless compatible smartphones use.

That said, wireless charging with the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 is a little different than just your regular Qi compatible smartphone. That’s because they’re able to charge faster wirelessly. This Belkin wireless charger that we’re reviewing is one the wireless chargers that you’re actually able to find within an Apple store and that’s because it’s able to offer faster wireless charging to the iPhone X and iPhone 8.

That said, in what others ways does this charger hold up and is it really worth getting?

Power

Output Charging:

Wireless charging is one of the slowest forms of charging and that is something that not too many people know. So if you want the fastest charging speed for your smartphone, then it’s best to do it with wired charging with portable chargers, wall charger or car chargers. When it comes to charging the iPhone X or iPhone 8 you’re actually able to charge them using Power Delivery, which is very fast.

When it comes to charging wirelessly in general, the standard charging rate is 5W or 5V/1.0A. There’s also Fast Wireless charging which are ones that are able to output 5V/2.0A, but Fast wireless charging is only compatible with Samsung smartphones.

This Belkin wireless charger sits between standard and Fast wireless charging and that’s because it’s really made for charging the new Qi compatible iPhones at a fast charging rate. So it has a 7.5W charging rate (5V/1.5A). This is the max charging rate for the iPhone X and iPhone 8 when it comes to wireless charging. This wireless charger does not feature 10W charging for Samsung smartphones, and you can still charge any Qi-compatible smartphone on this wireless charger, it’s just that anything that’s not an iPhone will charge at a 5W (5V/1.0A) charging rate.

Some might consider that to be a bad thing, but it’s important to realize that this charger is meant for the iPhone.

Input Charging:

Even though output charging with this Belkin wireless charger is very good, the input part is where we somehow have a problem and are also happy at the same time. So this charger actually comes with an AC adapter and the adapter actually has a connected charging cable to it, and it has a DC charging tip. So the wireless charger, of course, has a DC input.

We’re glad that this charger comes with its own AC adapter as most wireless chargers don’t. What doesn’t make sense is that this wireless charger uses a DC port and that’s not universal. If the AC adapter breaks or the charging cable gets damaged then you can no longer use the charger anymore.

It would have made a lot more sense to use a universal standard of power supply such as a USB-C or Micro-USB charging cable, not a DC.

Design

Size and Weight:

Size of this charger is actually very good and that’s because it’s quite a large charging pad. It has a length/width of 4.7 inches and the thickness of the charger is 0.5 inches. The weight of the charger is 4.2 Ounces. Most of the time people think that a very small wireless charger is a good thing but it’s not always the case.

That’s because, with a larger size, you can set your smartphone on this charger and more easily use it at the same time, as more of the smartphone is on the charger rather than hanging off.

Functional Components:

It’s a very easy charger to use, as once you connect the power cord, you can just set your smartphone in the middle and it’ll start charging. You do have to make sure that your smartphone is in the center for the wireless charger and that’s because this charger only uses a single charging coil.

There’s a single LED light on this charger that can be found top side. It has two main colors. There’s a Greenlight that indicates charging is under-way and there’s Orange light that shows there’s a foreign object on the charger.

The light from this charger is a very small dot and does not pose to be an obstruction even if you’re sleeping.

Build

Structure and Material:

The build of this charger is solid, it has a rubber ring on the top so your smartphone doesn’t move around and there’s also a rubber bottom to the charger so it doesn’t move around either.

Tech:

On the tech build side, this charger does get warm, but it’s a common occurrence as the charging coils generate quite a lot of heat.

Reliability

The reality of this Belkin Wireless charger is that it’s very good for the iPhone X and iPhone 8 because this charger was basically made for them as it output max wireless charging speeds for them specifically. It’s also a great charger for any Non-Samsung Android smartphones too.

It doesn’t feature Fast Wireless charging for Samsung smartphones.

Summary:

Power:

This wireless charger offers an optimum amount of charging for the iPhone X and the iPhone 8.

Design:

It has a good form factor with it being larger so it’s easier to use your smartphone while you’re charging it.

Build:

The build quality is pretty good, but it does warm up.

Reliability:

It’s mostly meant for the iPhone X and iPhone 8 because of its output charging power.

Specs of the Belkin BOOST UP 7.5 W Wireless Charging Pad Optimized for iPhone X, 8, & 8 Plus with AC Adapter:

• Output:

Charging Speed for iPhone X/iPhone 8: 7.5W – 5V/1.5A

Charging Speed for all other Qi Compatible Smartphones: 5V/1.0A

• Input: AC Power Adapter
• LED Power Indicator: Green Charging Indicator
• Size: 4.7 x 4.7 x 0.5 inches
• Weight: 4.2 Ounces

Conclusion:

Belkin has taken notice of the iPhone X and iPhone 8’s powerful wireless charging and this wireless charger is a great product to charge both of the smartphones at their max charging rate wirelessly.

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