Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic Wireless Charger Review: 15W Charging That Doesn’t Miss

The Lowdown

Nomad’s wireless chargers have always impressed me, and this new Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic Wireless Charger is no exception. It has the same sharp design language Nomad has employed throughout its wireless charging line but, thanks to the internal MagSafe charging-compatible magnets, is updated for 2021. It is small, sleek and, once you lay your iPhone on it, the charger does the rest. That sounds pretty good to me and makes the $69.95 wireless charger a compelling option for keeping your phone charged.

Overall
4.5

Pros

  • Low, unassuming profile
  • Can charge at up to 15W speeds
  • Indicator light illuminates when charging a device
  • Ambient light sensor dims the illumination at night
  • Internal magnets align with iPhone MagSafe technology to position the iPhone and charging coil properly

Cons

Does not ship with a wall adapter

Only charges one device at a time

Nomad’s wireless chargers are among the best on the market. They combine elegant design with luxury materials and look great anywhere. They recently announced their new Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic Wireless Charger. It is small. It is powerful. And it works with Apple’s MagSafe charging system to auto-align the phone, so you get optimal charging every time.

Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic Wireless Charger

Before Apple’s MagSafe charging system, a flat charging surface was the best option for wireless charging. Nomad offered a range of chargers that got the job done. At times, however, if a phone was placed on a charger and was not positioned properly, it simply didn’t charge. You would THINK your phone was ready for a new day, only to discover that it was about to run out of battery and shut down. (That isn’t the case for the Base Station Pro since it uses a slightly different technology.) The Nomad Base Station Mini charger solves that problem in a small, unassuming device.

Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic Wireless Charger

The Nomad Base Station Mini is a small square of machined aluminum covered in Horween leather. It looks amazing, and yet, thanks to its low profile and clean lines, it doesn’t call attention to itself.

Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic Wireless Charger

The Horween leather covers most of the surface, but it leaves a small strip of powered coated aluminum with the Nomad name embossed in one corner. The leather looks beautiful but also serves to protect whatever device is placed on the surface for charging.

Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic Wireless Charger

Along the bottom of the Nomad Base Station Mini, there are two rubber strips. These keep the metal charger from coming into direct contact with whatever surface it is on. They also keep the charger from sliding if it is on a smooth surface like glass.

Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic Wireless Charger

Along the front edge, a small LED illuminates when power is flowing to a phone or other device.

Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic Wireless Charger

Along the back of the Nomad Base Station Mini, there is a USB-C input. This works in conjunction with the USB-C to USB-C cable included in the box.

Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic Wireless Charger

High Powered: Built with a 15W transmitter coil, Base Station Mini packs a lot of power into its tiny frame. Capable of charging at rates comparable to wired charging, Base Station is great for both quick charges throughout the day and overnight charging.

Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic Wireless Charger and charging cable

Nomad doesn’t include a wall adapter with the Base Station Mini, so you’ll have to provide your own; they do offer the option to bundle a 20W USB-C power adapter for just $13.95, though. And while Apple limits iPhones to a mere 7.5W when charging wirelessly via a third-party charger, the wall adapter you choose can impact the charging speeds of other devices.

For example, if you use a 20W AC Adapter, you can see up to10W of wireless power output. A 30W AC adapter will yield up to 15W of wireless power. Again, those speeds will vary depending on the device being charged, but it is good to know the Nomad Base Station Mini can offer speedy wireless charging when possible.

iPhone on Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic Wireless Charger

Alignment without Attachment: Get the perfect alignment every time with magnets that align with the MagSafe magnets in your iPhone. This makes it easy to find the charging spot, whether you’re too busy reading an email or just trying to get back to sleep. Just feel for the magnetic snap to place and keep doing what you’re doing.

What makes the Nomad Base Station Mini different is the use of magnets in the charger. They work with the MagSafe technology Apple built into the phone and aligns the phone on the charger. That means you can rely upon your phone is properly charged without the need to fuss with finding the “sweet spot.”

iPhone on Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic Wireless Charger

Nomad has this to say about the product:

Base Station Mini with Magnetic Alignment combines a sleek, modern design with a high-power 15W Qi coil to wirelessly charge any of your Qi devices. With magnets built into its padded leather charging surface, alignment for all of your MagSafe-enabled devices is intuitive and easy.

Specifications:

  • Magnetic padded leather surface
  • Up to 15W wireless power
  • USB-C power input
  • LED wireless charging indicator
  • Ambient light sensor dims LED’s at night
  • Up to 15W wireless power output
  • USB-C power input
  • Power adapter cord length: 1.5m
  • AC Adapter not included

One of the things I especially love is the fact that Nomad designed this wireless charger with an eye toward varied and flexible use. For example, the Base Station Mini works perfectly on a desk or coffee table. At the same time, it has such a low profile and has an ambient light sensor that automatically dims the LED charging indicator when the lights are down that it is also an ideal charger to keep on a nightstand next to the bed.

Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic Wireless Charger

Nomad’s wireless chargers have always impressed me, and this new Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic Wireless Charger is no exception. It has the same sharp design language Nomad has employed throughout its wireless charging line but, thanks to the internal MagSafe charging-compatible magnets, is updated for 2021. It is small, sleek and, once you lay your iPhone on it, the charger does the rest. That sounds pretty good to me and makes the $69.95 wireless charger a compelling option for keeping your phone charged.

The Nomad Base Station Mini Magnetic Wireless Charger retails for $69.95; it is available directly from the manufacturer.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Low, unassuming profile; Can charge at up to 15W speeds; Indicator light illuminates when charging a device; Ambient light sensor dims the illumination at night; Internal magnets align with iPhone MagSafe technology to position the iPhone and charging coil properly

What Needs Improvement: Does not ship with a wall adapter; Only charges one device at a time

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About the Author

Dan Cohen
Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him. Dan is married to Raina Goldberg who is also an avid user of Apple products. They live in New Jersey with their golden doodle Nava.