review – Do you really hate cables? Would sneaking a glimpse of MagSafe animations on your iPhone make you happy? Do you want a nice charger that looks as comfortable on your desk as it does on a marble countertop? If so, Nomad’s Base One with MagSafe might be just what you’re looking for.
What is it?
The Nomad Base One is a MagSafe and Qi charger with speeds up to 15w. It’s made of metal and glass, it’s lightweight, beautiful, and connects to one of your own power adapters.
What’s in the box?
- Nomad Base One Charger
- Braided Nylon USB-C Cable
Hardware Specifications
- Official MFi MagSafe Charging
- Up to 15W charging speed
- Works with any Qi device
- Rugged metal and glass design
- Dimensions: 197 x 197 x 19mm | 515g
- Note: 30W USB-C adapter required, but not included
Design and Features
At first glance, Base One doesn’t look that complicated. But as you get closer, you’ll notice the weighted metal base, the glass top, the protruding charging disc, and how well everything fits together.
Aside from the single USB-C port nestled beautifully in the center of the back, all 4 sides are very clean.
It is available in carbide or silver. As you can see from my photos, Carbide feels like piano black.
set up
Loosen the USB-C cable and connect one end to the back of the Base One and the other end to the 30w USB-C adapter.
You’ll need to bring your own USB-C adapter, as you won’t find it in the box. More on that later. From there, you can place your iPhone or other Qi-compatible device on the charger and top up.
Performance
One of the great things about MagSafe chargers is that as long as you remember to plug them in, they automatically center and guarantee a charge (on iPhone 12 and newer). Official MFi (Made for iPhone) chargers add additional authentication that enables a charging animation on the iPhone screen to further confirm that you are actually charging. So (I assume) Nomad chose not to add any kind of LEDs on the charger itself that I recommend.
The charger is heavy (over 1 pound), as is the magnetic pull. The intensity is most noticeable when you put it on the charger, where it “pops” into place. The grip is strong enough that you can lift the Base One off a desk if you lift it straight up, but if you lift the phone to one side and roll it, it’s almost as if the magnets aren’t there. magic!
There are certain similarities with Nomad’s previous works MagSafe Stand (still available) This requires you to bring your own MagSafe charger. Once assembled, it works more or less the same way, with some key differences. This is a photo of the two side by side.
Note how the charging surface above is flush on the MagSafe stand, while on the Base One it’s about 5mm. This provides more clearance for the case, oversized protection around the camera lens, and you can see Nomad’s own modern leather case here. The gap also makes it easier to grab the edges of the phone when you’re done charging.
Another difference is the underside of each. The Nomad Base One charger uses a rubber surface with protruding feet, while the base uses die-cut silicone pads. Both hold up well due to their weight, but the Base One will start to slide with less force due to the stiffer material. You can see that the feet of the Base One are already a bit glassy, reducing their traction.
Overall, the Nomad Base One works and looks great while working. You can place and remove the phone with one hand. Depending on your screen auto-lock setting, your phone will charge and show that it is charging for a few moments before going black. That said, $129 is an eye-popping amount of money for a single device charger (even though it’s the official MFi MagSafe product). There are plenty of alternative options to charge 3, 4 or 5 devices at once in or near this price range. Materials that don’t look as good or have the same quality, but still feel like a big gap. Additionally, you’ll need to buy a 30w USB-C adapter, which is another $30 if you want the 30w version of the Nomad.
The 30w is the same size as the 20w adapter I also have, but I can confirm that the 20w won’t power the Base One. I understand not including the power adapter in the box would reduce the wasted angle, but I’m guessing most of the extra adapters you and I put in are 20w or less, so this should really be included since now they’re packing the adapter separate.
what do I like
- Build quality and aesthetics are what I expect from the Nomad
- Great weight and user experience
- Enjoy the official MFi MagSafe and the accompanying charging animation
what would i change
- 30w adapter included
- Even so, try to keep the price down
- Back to the silicone base for traction
final thoughts
Recharging remains a necessary evil and a game of time, convenience and personal preference. Wireless charging and MagSafe make charging your phone super convenient, easy and fast. The Nomad Base One charger takes advantage of this combination along with sophisticated construction and fine materials. Whether this combination is worth the money is up to you, dear reader. I can say that this product does live up to its promise, just don’t forget to pick up an adapter.
price: $129.95 (+ $29.95 for 30w adapter)
where to buy: nomads
source: This product sample is provided by nomads
