Belkin’s new Boost Charge Pro wireless charging pad takes Apple’s MagSafe puck and… well, makes it “pro” with a 6-foot braided cable and a stand to put your phone on so it’s easier to see while using it. load (through MacRumors). It also comes in black, which is a must for any pro name accessory. There’s a bit of a catch, though – like many accessories with official MagSafe certification, it doesn’t come cheap.
For $60, it’s listed in both the Apple and Belkin stores, the Boost Charge Pro costs significantly more than Apple’s $40 . MagSafe Charger, which was already seen as a bit on the pricey side. Yes, you get that standard, and a longer cable is definitely a plus. But is it really worth the extra $20, especially considering you might have to budget for a USB-C charging brick since it’s not included with either option?
This is a familiar story with MagSafe; despite the technology’s launch with the iPhone 12, MagSafe-certified charging accessories aren’t particularly common. Amazon is full of MagSafe compatible wireless chargers that attach magnetically to your phone (some even have a kickstand!), but they’ll almost certainly charge up to 7.5W rather than the 15W MagSafe offers on non-Mini iPhones. (It’s also worth noting that some Amazon vendors still advertise their charging pucks as being able to put out 15W, but the lists usually admit that number is only achievable on Samsung phones.)
When manufacturers come out with MagSafe accessories, the prices are often dazzling. Perhaps one of the most infamous ones is Belkin’s $40 Car Vent Mount Pro with MagSafe, which can’t charge your phone. But Belkin is far from the only company releasing expensive MagSafe accessories – Mophie just announced a $150 three-in-one travel charging mat with a MagSafe phone charger, an Apple Watch charging puck, and a (presumably Qi) charger for AirPods. Apple’s own MagSafe Duo charger, which doesn’t include that extra AirPod pad, costs $130.
Compared to those products, Mophie’s $90 drie Three-in-One Stand that is meant to stay at home seems almost reasonable – except for the fact that you have to bring your own MagSafe puck, which makes the price in line with Belkin’s $150 Comparable Home Charging Mat.
This is not to say that MagSafe is bad or that these manufacturers should feel bad. It’s just that over a year since they were first introduced, MagSafe accessories are still quite expensive. And while Belkin’s latest puck doesn’t buck that trend, at least it’s nice to have a MagSafe charger with a longer, braided cable that doesn’t require you to buy a separate stand. It’s still not as cute as Belkin’s charging boom, though.