ElevationLab launched its first wireless charger a few weeks ago and we’ve been testing it out to see how it stacks up to the rest of the competition. NightPad was designed with a focus on simplicity and offering a distraction-free experience by skipping the LEDs and using an understated logo. Read on for our full hands-on with the new wireless charger.
ElevationLab offers a range of high quality Apple accessories, but it hasn’t made a wireless charger until now. The company noticed that many options on the market use LEDs to communicate when iPhone is charging, so NightPad was designed with no lights for distraction-free use in the bedroom. The charger also picks up some trademark ElevationLab features, including the company’s clean, minimalist design style.
Specs
- Qi certified, 7.5W max for iPhone 8 and X, 10W for Samsung fast charge support
- Durable, braided six-foot cord
- Integrated air vents and thermal management tech
- Clean matte black finish, silicone body
- Works with cases up to 3mm (tested with at over 5mm, but ElevationLab is quoting on the conservative side)
- Subtle ElevationLab logo
Materials & Build
The majority of NightPad is made up of one solid piece of black silicone, which provides its stealthy matte aesthetic. It also helps prevent your iPhone from sliding when on the charger. The bottom features a non-slip ring and also the charger’s vent system.
Like with ElevationDock 4 (review) and CordDock (review), NightPad features a nice six-foot braided power cable that’s removable. However it uses microUSB, which is somewhat of a let down (more on that in a moment).
It also sells two models, one that comes with the 15W power brick and one without.
Overall, NightPad feels like a quality product, but it would have been nice to see it feature something like aluminum for the base instead of plastic for the $40 price tag.
ElevationLab offers a 30-day return period along with a 1-year warranty for its products.
In Use
NightPad has been a great fit for me as I’m distracted easily while trying to fall asleep. Everyone’s bedroom setup and experience will vary, but I’ve found the LEDs on other wireless chargers bounce light off the wall. Most distracting have been some models that use pulsing LEDs to indicate when you’re charging.
I also appreciate the sleek, clean black design that blends in with the iPhone X. Another pro, the six-foot power cable means most users won’t have any issues reaching an outlet.
One con with NightPad is that it uses microUSB/USB-A. This shouldn’t be an issue for those who will choose to use it in their bedroom and keep it there. However, for those who would like to also use it on their desk or for travel, USB-C would have been convenient to easily connect with a MacBook or MacBook Pro.
Another detail to note is that without a case on my iPhone X, I did experience my phone sliding/vibrating far enough off-center that it stopped charging a couple of times. This is an issue with most pad-style wireless chargers, but I was hoping that with the silicone top, a naked iPhone wouldn’t slide on NightPad. I didn’t experience any sliding when using NightPad with a case.
Conclusion
At $40 without the power brick or $50 with the power brick, NightPad is priced right in the middle of the wireless charger market. I don’t think NightPad will appeal customers who are okay with grabbing something in the $20-$30 range. However, ElevationLab may be in a great spot to grab market share from those looking at Belkin, Mophie, and Logitech options from $60-$70.
After selling out after the initial launch, new NightPad orders are shipping out next week. You can pick up NightPad from $40 direct from ElevationLab.
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