Spigen already created one of the most minimal and affordable Apple Watch charging stands with the Apple Watch Stand S330 — a design that fits right in next to an iMac, and works with both open and closed bands. But then Apple announced watchOS 2 and Nightstand Mode, which will will turn the Apple Watch into a proper alarm clock during charging, but only when it’s positioned on its side with the Digital Crown and side button facing up. Spigen’s new Apple Watch Night Stand S350 ($20) offers an even more minimal design with Nightstand Mode support, and an especially budget-friendly price. Check out my impressions below…
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Spigen’s Apple Watch Night Stand S350 ships in a very small 7mm tall by 6mm wide by 6mm deep package, containing both the dock and a silicone pad for added compatibility with smaller watches. The whole dock is really a small nub of plastic, shaped only to hold Apple Watch and its charging cable without attempting to make any strong design statements. Although it doesn’t collapse from its “L” shape like Pad & Quill’s Apple Watch stands (review), S350 can be carried in large pockets or easily tossed in small bags.
Measuring 4.5cm wide by 5.5cm deep and 5cm tall on its own, S350 is rather unnoticeable when presented without Apple Watch — save for the lack of cable management — which may be appealing to anyone who finds larger docks like Twelve South’s HiRise charging stand (review) too stubby on its own.
Personally, I appreciate how generally compact S350 is versus other solutions. I tested S350 with both Apple’s open Sport band and closed Milanese Loop, finding that the stand was raised enough to keep both bands from rubbing the surface of a table. Spigen supplies the optional silicone pad to line the groove where Apple Watch rests for better compatibility with 38mm Apple Watches. The extra padding is also compatible with the larger 42mm models if you want to put a layer between the plastic stand and your metal watch, although Spigen warns against using both a case and the silicone insert.
Beneath S350 is a rubbery footing that Spigen calls a Nanotec pad. While it’s not completely sticky or covered by messy adhesive, it does offer friction and even attaches like a suction cup to the surface underneath, similar in grip to a car GPS suction mount. This effectively keeps the stand from moving when you place or remove Apple Watch.
Just like every Apple Watch charging stand we’ve seen so far, S350 requires you to supply your own Magnetic Charging Cable. I tested it with the metal cable that Apple sells separately and supplies with stainless steel Apple Watches and found no issues. With its compact and basic design, S350 doesn’t attempt to tackle any sort of cable management, however, so you’re left to your own devices if you want to hide the lengthy cable that runs from the back side of the stand.
For my own daily use, I’m quite satisfied by what Spigen is able to offer at a budget-friendly price. Apple Watch docks that offer impressive cable management and look like fine objects on their own are available at higher price points, but Spigen’s Apple Watch Night Stand S350 offers Nightstand Mode support in a simple and compact dock.
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- S330: Better at Watch presentation
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- S350: Supports Nightstand Mode
You are restricted to this alarm clock mode when charging with S350, so vertical options such as Spigen’s S330 may be more ideal if you plan on using Apple Watch apps while it’s charging, so long as you don’t care about Nightstand Mode. In my own use, I’ve found the convenience of using a dock more valuable than using Nightstand Mode without a dock; it’s simply easier for me to drop and charge the Watch than it is to connect the cable each time. S350 offers the best of both worlds.
S350 doesn’t offer much in terms of looks or cable management as it’s less focused on displaying your Watch and more on utility. For $19.99 ($11.99 street price) it’s an easy recommendation for satisfying dock + Nightstand Mode fans. For Apple Watch case fans, Spigen’s Rugged Armor case ships with S350 for $22 via 9to5Toys.
| Manufacturer: Spigen |
MSRP/Sale Prices: $19.99 / $11.99 (Amazon) |
Compatibility: Apple Watch |
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Is it just me or is there a ridiculous amount of hoopla about useless accessories for an overestimated device? If Apple wasn’t a gadgets company before it certainly became one with the Apple Watch and the surrounding hubub. Don’t get me wrong, I own an abundance of different generations of various Apple devices, ranging from iMacs, MacBooks (Airs and Pros) to iPhones and all sorts of iPads. But I just don’t get the Apple Watch, can’t find a use case for it. Not to speak about the sheer amount of text in those gadget-gadget accessories. You don’t write that much about an iOS Beta or other interesting topic, like Skylake processors e.g.
Careful, folks around here will have your head on a silver platter if you don’t worship the Apple Watch. That said, you are correct Apple Watch is a dud in its current offering. Gen 4, if it survives that long, will likely make it useful/practical for anyone outside the “I write for an Apple website” crowd.
It’s really helpful if you only talk about stuff on which you have some knowledge.
Just a tip.
For me the Apple Watch is like a computer in that it is nothing special until you set it up to suit you personally and then it becomes a part of you. While shopping I have a text list on my wrist with both hands free to shop with. I can casually follow the score of a baseball game, be reminded of driving directions with taps or turn signal sounds without a proper GPS yammering at me, use Apple Pay, a bunch of other things, and I’ve rediscovered having a watch with various timing features that I’m using a lot. That digital crown is a marvelous know for scrolling and adjusting music volume — I want that crown on my iPhone!
What I am not doing hardly at all is using the Apple Watch for fitness or notifications, although I might occasionally note how many steps I’ve taken or notice that a favorite person has replied to a comment I made on Facebook.
Nothing is for everyone, but I found that once I adjusted the Apple Watch for my own purposes I use it for brief periods all day every day, and for those uses it is better than any other device I own.
“In my own use, I’ve found the convenience of using a dock more valuable than using Nightstand Mode without a dock.”
For some reason I don’t quite understand this. So, do you use this dock or do you use Spigen’s other dock?
That’s worded poorly. This dock offers best of both worlds: docking + nightstand mode. I’ll clarify.
Thanks, Zac. I just placed my order. Can’t beat that price.
Looks like you have mm and cm mixed up. Surely it doesn’t arrive in a “7mm tall by 6mm wide by 6mm” package, that’s smaller than a 6 sided die. And it must be bigger than “4.5mm wide by 5.5mm deep and 5mm tall on its own”.
I’ve been using this for more than a week, and it’s been great! At $11.99 it’s a no-brainer.
Finally, one accessory that is actually priced decently. When the watch was relatively new, I saw straps for $200 and thought that getting a watch would be an expensive hobby to have. I’m going to recommend this article to other Apple Watch enthusiasts on Affimity so they, too, can order one of these.
I agree with this article. I got my Spigen (awful name) and love it. It sticks to my nightstand so it doesn’t slide all over the place. It’s also easy to put on and take off with one hand.
Sold! or rather, Bought!
You need to provide Amazon UK links too though…
At under $10 for me, you can’t beat it. Works great stays in place on my dresser and the price was right.
you can use the s330 in nightstand mode, why you don’t mention that is beyond me.
– for the people who can’t figure out the “use case”, don’t worry you don’t have to. Apple already has, and thats why they are a billion dollar company and you are , well not. i’m guessing you are not into your own health & fitness, b/c Apple Watch , now with gps and water proof is a very viable option for those “in motion” .