Our thoughts on the Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1

Belkin has a long history of making 3-in-1 wireless charging stations, and the Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 is a timely addition to that legacy. On a technical level, the sleek and silvered aesthetics here are bolstered by a big upgrade in the form of support for faster 25W wireless charging via Qi2. 

Of course, the catch to that capability is that there aren’t all that many devices on the market that support this faster form of wire-free charging. Aside from newer iPhones like the iPhone 17, there’s the new Google Pixel 10 series, the HMD Skyline, the new OPPO Find X9, and that’s it. Even so, it seems like a safe bet that more devices will adopt this standard going forward so at the very least you’re getting a little bit of future-proofing. 

And as someone who has been relying on the Google Pixel 10 Pro as my daily driver ever since it launched, it was genuinely really cool to feel like I was getting the most out of what that hardware can do by pairing it up with this particular Belkin charger. 

It doesn’t hurt that the Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 features a weighted base that gives it a little bit more heft than the average charger. Even for a larger device, the charger didn’t have too much trouble handling larger smartphones. That said, you will want to be using something with either MagSafe, Qi2 or a MagSafe case. Otherwise, aligning the charging coils inside the UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 might be a little bit more of a hassle.

It’s a similar story when it comes to the adjustable viewing angle on the stand. This inclusion is handy to have in that it lets you orient your device either horizontally, vertically or at an angle somewhere in between. Again, though, if you’re pairing this premium charging accessory with something that doesn’t have any magnets in it, you’re not really going to be able to get the full value out of this feature, as your device will just slide right off the charging pad.

Still, it’s super easy to see how this would integrate with something like the Standby mode on the latest iPhone. Unfortunately, this feature was mostly wasted on me as someone who uses a smartphone that doesn’t run on iOS. That might change in the future, with reports that Google is working on bringing a version of this feature to Android. For now though, it doesn't add much for those outside the iOS ecosystem.

Of course, this compact charging station is built to handle more than just your smartphone. It can also charge a set of earbuds as well as a smartphone and an Apple Watch. Again, though, this aspect of things was a little less ecosystem-agnostic than the main event. I couldn’t get the Pixel Watch 4 to play nice with the peripheral and if you're using anything that isn't an Apple Watch, you'll probably have a similar experience.

When you factor in the price you’re paying here, the degree to which the hardware here favours iOS users becomes even more frustrating. With an RRP of $219.95, this is one of the most expensive wireless chargers in Belkin’s lineup. Even if you’re angling for something with Qi2, you can get away with spending a whole lot less if you’re in the market for a wireless charger nowadays.

For as much versatility as Belkin’s latest offers, the end result falls into a familiar trap faced by many multi-chargers. When you’re stacking this much extra functionality on, you kinda have to self-select into being the right kind of customer who can actually make full use of that. Otherwise, you’re paying extra for features that you simply aren’t going to use. 

The Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 is a fantastic buy if you’re in a position to tick all the boxes and get full use out of the hardware. That caveat might not sound like the steepest one, but it does come with a fair few clauses to consider - especially if your sensibilities lie outside Apple's walled garden. If that's the case, the hardware here becomes a harder sell. The charging speeds might be faster, but no amount of velocity can outrun that truth. 

Fergus Halliday

Digital Content Editor

Fergus Halliday is a journalist and digital content editor at WhistleOut Australia. He’s written about technology, telecommunications, gaming and more for over a decade. He got his start writing in high school before interning at magazines like CRN Australia and freelancing for publications like the AU Review, Gizmodo, Kotaku, GamesHub, Press Start, ScreenRant, Superjump, Nestegg, and more.

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