We tested the new NOMAD MagSafe bases

Nomad has launched its new premium charging bases with MagSafe compatibility, making its Base Stations even more premium for quality, design and features. We have tested your Base Station Hub and Base Station Mini and we tell you what we think.

Specifications

Dock Station Hub

3 charging zones
Wireless charging power 10W (7,5w on iPhone)
Compatible with Qi charging system
Compatible MagSafe system for easy alignment of the iPhone (from iPhone 12)
USB-C port 18W
USB-A port 7,5W
Up to 4 devices simultaneously charging
Power adapter included
Aluminum structure and leather for cargo area
Charging LED with light sensor to vary brightness according to ambient light
Compatible with adapter for Apple Watch (sold separately)

Dock Station Mini

1 cargo area
Wireless charging power 15W (7,5W on iPhone)
Compatible with Qi charging system
Compatible with the MagSafe system for easy alignment of the iPhone (from iPhone 12)
USB-C to USB-c cable included. Power adapter not included.
Aluminum structure and leather for cargo area
Charging LED with light sensor to vary brightness according to ambient light

Dock Station Hub

This base is an old acquaintance of those of us who follow Nomad and enjoy their fantastic products. With hardly any variation in the design of its Base Station, Nomad has been releasing different versions of this famous multi-device charging base always using the same premium materials but with small variations in functionality. This Base Station Hub has the peculiarity of having a MagSafe system, which makes it much easier for us to place our iPhone to charge. If we add to this the excellent touch of aluminum and leather, and the impeccable finishes of Nomad, the result is an outstanding base.

Nomad makes it clear on its website, and I confirm it in my analysis: the MagSafe system of this base is not designed to fix the iPhone, but to facilitate its placement. It's not a magnetic bond like you might have with a MagSafe power bank or Apple card holder. It doesn't have to be that way, either. the idea is not that the base does not fall but simply to help place the iPhone, even at night without light, and not move, just. You bring the iPhone close to the base and you notice how the magnets direct it to place it in the correct position, but when you want to remove it you can do it with one hand, since the magnetic force does not allow the phone to "stick". If you have AirPods with the MagSafe charging box, you will also benefit from this new system.

With three charging zones (two sides and one central) you can recharge two devices at the same time, since if you occupy the lateral ones, the central one is hidden, and if you occupy the central one, there is no space to put something on the lateral ones. That if we talk about wireless charging because there are also two ports (USB-C and USB-A) with which you can recharge two other additional devices using the cable. USB-C even supports fast charging for the iPhone, with 18w of charging power.

This Base Station Hub does not include a charger for Apple Watch, but you can buy an adapter that fits very easily and with which you can use the official cable and one of the USB from the base to have a charger for all your Apple devices. If you place this adapter in the charging area on the left, you will no longer be able to place an iPhone to charge it, it is a limitation that you must take into account.

The base has three charge indicator LEDs that light up according to the charging zones used (side or central). These LEDs are dim and very discreet, but we must also add that the base has a light sensor on the back so that the intensity of these LEDs varies depending on the ambient light, and in this way when there is little light (at night) the intensity is minimal, in case you use the base on your bedside table and you don't want to be disturbed while you sleep.

Dock Station Mini

Nomad has released a slimmed down version of their Station Hub: Station Mini. Same materials, same finishes and a single wireless charging station with the same MagSafe system. This base is designed for those who only want to recharge their iPhone or AirPods, and therefore has no additional USB port. It is perfect to place in your workplace, or also on your nightstand.

A single charging station but the same features as its older sister, with the variable intensity charging LED, the MagSafe system to guide you in placing the iPhone and the same quality of materials. There is an additional difference: we have the USB-C to USB-C cable but not the power adapter, which we will have to put. To recharge the iPhone (limited to 7,5W) with an 18-20W charger is more than enough. Its small size and flat design make it perfect to place in your workstation without taking up much space.

Editor's opinion

Nomad offers us two bases of high quality materials and finishes. The minimalist Station Mini and the very complex Station Hub, to which we can add the adapter for Apple Watch and thus have an all-in-one base. The inclusion of the MagSafe system is very useful to place the iPhone in the perfect position without effort, even if you don't even see the base (perfect for the nightstand). In exchange for all this we have to pay a higher price than other similar products, but they are worth what they cost.