A few months ago I reviewed the Nomad USB Hub (which I still use every day), and now Nomad has upped their game by releasing the Nomad Wireless Hub. It’s similar in appearance to the USB Hub, yet the Nomad Wireless Hub is even more powerful and, for those of us with wirelessly charging devices, more convenient.
One of the things I enjoy most about my Samsung Galaxy Note8 and my iPhone X is that they can both wirelessly charge. The convenience of placing a phone on a charging pad versus having to plug it into a cable may seem small, but there’s more to it than that. When you regularly go between the use of two otherwise completely different mobile devices, it’s the difference between having to keep separate cords always available or simply laying my phone down to charge without a second thought.
So let’s take a look at the Nomad Wireless Hub. It’s available today for $79.95, and after using it for a week while at CES (where it came in quite handy) …
… it now sits in a convenient spot on my desk at home.
Included in the box are the Nomad Wireless hub and a wall charger with a 47″ cable.
The Nomad Wireless Hub is available in one color — black. It measures 5″ across and is 1.5″ thick. It has a weighted base so it won’t slide, and while the main portion of the body is composed of what feels like plastic, it has a grippy rubber coating on the sides and around the metal charging pad in the center top.
Because the Nomad Wireless Hub can charge up to 5 devices, there are five LEDs on the front.
When a cable that is plugged into the hub is actively engaged in charging a device, its corresponding LED will glow red; when the device has finished charging, the LED will glow white.
If you keep the hub in your bedroom, you’ll especially like this feature …
We hate annoying lights in a dark room, so we took care to add an ambient light sensor that dims the lights in a dark room. Annoying lights while sleeping are the worst.
The top is (obviously) the part you see, but there’s a lot going on underneath. When you flip the Nomad Wireless Hub over, you’ll see four charging slots and the DC-in charging port. From left to right, the charging ports include two USB-A with 1A output, one USB-A with 2.1A output, and one Type-C with 3A output. The wireless pad on top has a max 7.5W output.
All that’s required is to plug the DC-in charging cable into the bottom of the hub along with any other cables you’d like to use for charging other devices.
The two 1A ports are fine for charging most mobile phones and other electronic devices that use USB chargers like your GoPro, headphones, vape chargers, portable battery packs, watch chargers, etc. You’ll want to use the 2.1A USB Type-A port for tablets and newer smartphones; the 3A Type-C port is perfect if you’ve bought a Type-C to Lightning cable (I still need one), as it will give your new iPhone the fastest charge. Nomad says you can expect a 50% charge on your iPhone 8 or X in 30 minutes with the Type-C port; Android devices will also charge extremely fast with this port.
The Nomad Wireless Hub gives you a way to organize your mobile devices and their cables while charging them. I wished several times when I was using the Nomad USB Hub that the top I regularly laid my phones on while they were charging via cable could wirelessly charge instead, and the Nomad Wireless Hub has made that wish a reality. The addition of the Type-C fast charger makes it even more awesome.
If you have multiple devices and you need a place to centrally charge them, the Nomad USB Hub is a great choice, but if you need wireless and fast charging, you’ll definitely want to pick up a Nomad Wireless Hub.
The Nomad Wireless Hub retails for $79.95, and it is available directly from the manufacturer.
Update 05/30/18: Based on popular request, Nomad has added an EU/UK compliant version. If you need that, click here.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Can charge up to five devices at once; Makes for a neatly organized charging station; Wireless Charger on top; USB Type-C fast charger built-in; Two 1A USB Type-A charger ports and one 2.1A USB Type-A charger; Weighted base so it doesn’t skid; Rubber on top protects your device
What Needs Improvement: Nothing — it works as advertised