Belkin's new power bank is a godsend for Apple Watch users going on holiday (Updated)
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Belkin's new power bank is a godsend for Apple Watch users going on holiday (Updated)
Note: This article was first published on 27 June 2023 and was updated on 19 July 2023 with my user experience.
The Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra are, by most accounts, fantastic smartwatches, but charging them has always been a bit of a pain.
Firstly, they needed to be charged daily. Secondly, charging them requires what's been fondly referred to as the "puck." They don't charge over Lightning or USB-C.
Mostly, this isn't a big problem when you are at home. But when you are travelling, this means carrying around an extra cable.
Personally, I've gotten over this pickle by using the Belkin Valet Charger Power Pack – a portable power bank with an integrated "puck" for charging your Apple Watch.
@hwztech A quick hands-on with Belkin’s new BoostCharge Pro power bank that has an integrated “puck” for charging the Apple Watch and Airpods charging case. #hwz #belkin #boostchargepro #apple #applewatch #powerbank #travel #airpods ♬ Chill Vibes - Tollan Kim
And now, there's a new version with even greater battery capacity and faster charging called the BoostCharge ProFast Wireless Charger for Apple Watch + Power Bank 10K. Yes, I'm not kidding. That's the actual name.
The big update here is that battery capacity is now 10,000mAh – a significant 49% increase over the 6,700mAh Valet Charger. That's enough to charge an iPhone 14 Pro Max twice, an Apple Watch Ultra about 18 times, and a 45mm Apple Watch about 32 times.
The other big update is that the USB-C port delivers up to 20W of charging power, which means you can charge devices faster.
Like the Valet Charger, the BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger has an integrated "puck" for charging your Apple Watches as well as your second-generation AirPods Pro.
Furthermore, it can fast charge compatible Apple Watches, allowing them to go from 0 to 85% charge in just 45 minutes.
It's designed to be portable so it weighs just 250g and is about 121mm long and 26mm thick. It has a soft-touch finish so that it slips into bags and pockets easily.
But more importantly, it means one less cable to carry around because this power bank serves multiple functions, and its sizable battery capacity means you can probably go a couple of days before you need to juice it up again.
The user experience (added on 19 Jul '23)
Recently, I took the BoostCharge Pro on a trip and found it to be an excellent replacement for my older Valet Charger Power Pack. My initial fears that the soft-touch finish on the charger would attract lint and dust were unfounded. Even after a rough and tumble week out and about, it still looked pretty pristine. And although the BoostCharge Pro is noticeably heavier – it does hold a lot more charge – it didn't felt cumbersome. The extra battery capacity is probably the biggest benefit. With 10,000mAh, I could go longer before needing to recharge it. And with 20W of charging power, it could charge my iPhone fairly quickly.
Pricing and availability
The Belkin BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger is available now and is priced at S$159. You can find it on Lazada and Shopee.
