Belkin have been making mobile phone accessories for many years now, and so if you have just acquired a new iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2, then the best way in which to bring them together is with the Belkin PowerHouse Charge Dock. Before we even get going, you will notice right away from the images on the packaging that it’s no longer made from metal, and now has a plastic finish – although this was more than likely done to help save costs and keep the price low.
Right, back to the review itself, and we all know how much of a pain it can be with too many cables around, especially on your desk or bedside cabinet. This could often lead to an array of cables that would start to look very messy, and so docks can often be the answer, and the Belkin PowerHouse charging dock is a godsend for those of you with an iPhone with a Lightning connection and an Apple Watch.
We were very pleased when Belkin sent us the PowerHouse Charge Dock to try out, and you will notice right away the premium packaging, although not too thick to waste material. As for what’s inside the box, you get the dock itself, which is protected inside a thick plastic bag, a power adapter, and a quick start guide.
Our review unit did come with an American plug, which was sent out by mistake, and so a UK one is being sent to us now. Thankfully, we already have a socket from another Belkin dock, which works just fine.
Ok, so it would have been better for Belkin to stick with the metal finish, but do not let that put you off, as the white and the feel of the dock still exudes high-premium quality. When we said plastic above, this is what we assumed it was, but it’s white acrylic, and so offers a great deal of sturdiness to it, and there being a good amount of weight, which meant it will not slide around – and we can say the dock never slid once for us.
There are some docks out there that offer a good amount of support, whereas this one does mean the phone itself is not supported on the sides, and so could be an issue for some people. However, what we like about the design of the PowerHouse is how you are able to change it with our without a case on your iPhone.
Do not worry about fitting it onto the charging port itself, as Belkin have come up with a simple solution, and that is an adjustable built-in Lightning connector, which goes up and down. This allows you to make certain your phone always sits flush to the base of the dock, even with a case.
We did put this to the test with several cases that we have for the iPhone 7, which we will also be reviewing in the coming week, and they all were able to fit onto the dock with ease, and so no need to keep taking them out – which we know can be a pain for those of you that own other charging docks. Trust us, this is only a small feature, but it will really come in handy and prove to you that you will not miss those docks that have more support around the sides of your phone.
It’s a shame that I did not have an Apple Watch to hand to test out how well it fits on there, although we can see on the video on Belkin’s product page that it sits perfectly in place, and because the dock is heavy, there is no fear of it falling over, or wobbling, which as you know could cause damage to the devices you are charging. It’s for this reason why we advise you to go for a premium branded product, and with the price of the Belkin PowerHouse Charge Dock being £89.99, it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.
- What device does it support:
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6 Plus
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 5s
- iPhone 5c
- iPhone 5
- Apple Watch
- Apple Watch Sport
- Apple Watch Edition
- And the new Apple Watch Series 2 collection
- As for those key features, these are as follows:
- Back panel supports iPhone while charging
- Charge both your Apple Watch and iPhone with one tethered AC cable
- Holds Apple Watch safely above surface
- Includes a built-in Lightning connector for iPhone
- Includes a built-in Magnetic Charging Module for Apple Watch
- VersaCaseâ„¢ – dial raises/lowers adjustable case-friendly Lightning connector to fit most cases
Overall Impression: While the Belkin PowerHouse Charge Dock for Apple Watch + iPhone is of a high quality, and does away with the need for too many wires, along with being very sturdy, it would be nice for it to support the MIXIT range of devices from Belkin, and so offer different colours to go with those several iPhone colour options. Another nice little touch would be for a USB port on the rear, just so you could also place your iPad next to it to charge at the same time, although this would then add an unsightly wire.
