• HOME & LIFESTYLE
In-Depth Review of NOMAD's Base Station Pro Wireless Charging Pad
Reviewed by Matt Hayes
Last Updated January 2022
The Bottom Line:
Like most of you, I’m embarrassingly tied to my screens, mindlessly scroll through Instagram way more than I should, and burn through battery power like it’s my job (it sort of is). If you’re looking for an easy way to keep your phone, earbuds, watch and other wireless gizmos full of juice, the Nomad Base Station Pro is elegantly-designed, easy to setup, works flawlessly will make your desk look like a million bucks. Highly recommend.
Pros
- Really easy to setup
- Fits multiple devices easily
- Looks sleek and beautiful
- Entire surface area charges
- Compact and inconspicuous
Cons
- May require Firmware update at setup
- Requires separate Apple Watch mount
Features & Tech Specs:
- Supported Apple devices: iPhone, AirPods Pro and AirPods with Wireless Charging Case
- Supported Google devices: Pixel 3 & 4 phones, Nexus 7 tablet
- Supported Samsung devices: Galaxy S6, S7, S8, S9, S10 & S20 phones; Note 10 & 20 tablets; Galaxy Buds and Buds live earbuds
- Full surface wireless charging
- Charges 3 devices at once
- Charging speed up to 7.5W
- Powered by 30W USB-C
- Dimensions: 5.6in x 8.7in x 0.5in
Ratings Breakdown
QUALITY
★★★★★
Beautifully designed with black padded leather and precision-milled aluminum. So sexy.
VALUE
★★★★
At $199, it’s not the cheapest way to charge your stuff. But, you get what you pay for.
CUSTOMER
EXPERIENCE
★★★★★
The packaging, software, and setup are so seamless and well thought through.
BRAND
★★★★★
The brand is the embodiment of the modern-day digital nomad through every touchpoint.
PERKS
★★★★★
They offer expedited shipping, extended holiday returns… and some rad stickers with every purchase.
Setting Up & Unboxing The Nomad Base Station Pro
The Nomad Base Station Pro is a marvel of engineering and design. This thing is spiffy. Every aspect of the product unboxing, packaging and hardware construction felt incredibly thoughtful.
The Base Station comes with a 6 ft. braided USB-C to USB-C power cord, with a 30w charger included. After I unboxed it, I plugged the USB-C into my 12-port hub which runs my triple monitor setup to my Macbook Pro. I noticed the LEDs illuminate on the front of the Base Station, but strangely, no indication that my iPhone 12 was charging. It was only after a few minutes of fiddling with it that I actually read the full instructions (gasp!) and realized it requires the 30-watt charger to power the inductive charging pad inside. As soon as I swapped the cable, I heard that familiar buzz of energy transfer, and noticed both my iPhone 12 and Airpods Pro’s were in charging mode.
Padded Leather & Milled Aluminum
Product packaging
Love a good sticker pack!
Ready for setup
Final Thoughts: Is The Nomad Base Station Pro Worth The Money?
For the last nine months, I’ve been working from home and my phone and/or Airpods have consistently died by the time my work day ends. The Base Station Pro is my first foray into the world of wireless mobile charging and I’m pretty hooked. So far, it’s been flawless in its performance. No matter where you put your device down on it, it catches a charge immediately. This is accomplished, as Nomad puts it, by “proprietary FreePower® algorithms that rapidly locate your device, creating virtual coils directly under your phone or other Qi enabled device.” These coils “intelligently work together to form an electromagnetic coupling to your device’s power receiver.”
In layman’s terms, it charges stuff wherever you put it – really well.
Would I recommend you get this to optimize your WFH setup? Uh, yes.
Is it worth $199? Uh, absolutely.
You can’t put a price on staying connected when you’re stuck at home.
Easily fits three devices
