- Versatile design
- Build-in powerbank
- MagSafe integration
- Bluetooth woes
- 15W charging
Belkin was one of the first brands to try and seize the potential of Apple’s iPhone MagSafe-style charging ecosystem and the Stage PowerGrip showcases the dividends of that early investment. It’s one part power bank, one part camera grip. The smartly put-together sum total of these two halves ticks a lot of boxes and adds valuable versatility for those looking to level up their smartphone photography setup.
Like many Belkin accessories, the Stage PowerGrip is made of a mix of hard and softer plastics, and like many modern MagSafe chargers, it’s surprisingly hefty to handle. On one end, you’ve got a traditional camera grip and a capture key. On the other, you’ve got a set of wireless charging coils.
Meanwhile, the sides are where you’ll find a power button, USB-C port and a secondary USB-C cable that’s integrated into the design. So long as you’re pairing up the peripheral with something that supports MagSafe or Qi2 (or is kitted out with a MagSafe case), it should automatically snap into place and into alignment with the charging pad found on the underside of the Stage PowerGrip.
Once that happens – and assuming you’ve got the PowerGrip turned on – the powerbank inside the accessory will automatically begin charging your smartphone. On the inside, the peripheral is packing a decently-sized 9300mAh battery.
Although this isn’t necessarily the most portable or fastest of power banks, it is fairly handy to have regardless. If you make full use of the charging pad, the USB-C port and the retractable USB-C cable, the PowerGrip can charge up to three connected devices at the same time. The speeds you’re getting here – 15W – aren’t the fastest, but it does more than enough to offset the faster battery drain you’ll typically encounter during situations where you’re relying on your phone to capture lots of pictures or video content.
Speaking of, it’s to Belkin's credit that the photography-oriented part of the PowerGrip experience is just as versatile as the powerbank side of things. Once attached to the grip and paired via Bluetooth, you can use the shutter button on the grip as you would a full-frame camera.
When used horizontally, this provides a much more traditional photography experience - allowing you to take steadier snaps and video content. It doesn’t hurt that the PowerGrip is hefty enough that you can even sit it on a surface and use it as a stand. Likewise, it doesn’t take much work to twist and reorient your device to a portrait perspective. If you’re looking to capture content that’s more of the walk-and-talk variety, this aspect of the PowerGrip is a real treat.
While the PowerGrip isn’t necessarily the most competitive wireless charger you can find for $99 nowadays, it’s fairly affordable by the standards of smartphone photography accessories. When you’re ready to make the jump to something like a tripod, the grip features a ¼-inch screw thread that should play nice with most tripods. In some ways, this feels like a photographer’s equivalent of something like the Backbone gaming controller.
All told, I came away genuinely delighted with what the PowerGrip had to offer. Although my experience was occasionally overshadowed by some issues related to Bluetooth connectivity, the ability to carry the tools I need to make use of the camera hardware on the back of my smartphone while offsetting the battery drain that usually comes with it proved itself really valuable really fast. It might not be for everyone, but the Stage PowerGrip is Belkin at its best.
We've spent enough time with this product to piece together our thoughts, but not enough time to put it through our official testing process. We've got a good sense of what is good, what could be improved, and whether it is worth your money, but we're not assigning a score to this one.
Fergus Halliday
Digital Content Editor
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