Uniden Wireless Power Pad

Name: Uniden Wireless Power Pad
Item: Uniden Wireless Power Pad
Rating: 3.50
Author: Ross Catanzariti

Uniden's Wireless Power Pad will charge up to five devices at once

Ross Catanzariti

Good Gear Guide

31/03/10

Expert Rating

3.50 / 5

Pros

Charges multiple devices, iPhone case isn’t especially bulky, convenient and simple to use

Cons

Power Disc isn't as effective as product sleeves, can't synchronise iPhone when using the sleeve, rear of sleeve looks odd

Bottom Line

Uniden's Wireless Power Pad is convenient and will charge most portable devices. However, we feel it needs more sleeves available for it -- like the ones available for the iPhone and a range of BlackBerrys.

Would you buy this?

Yes 6
No 5

Price
$ 179.95 (AUD)

A range of wireless chargers are beginning to hit the Australian market and Uniden's Wireless Power Pad is one of the first that will charge multiple devices. Looking rather like a hotplate, the Uniden Wireless Power Pad is convenient for charging iPhones and BlackBerrys thanks to the special charging sleeves that are available for them. However, other devices will need to be connected to a "power disc" in order to charge.

The Uniden Wireless Power Pad has metal strips running down it and resembles a stainless steel cooking grill or hotplate. Users simply attach an iPhone or BlackBerry sleeve to their phone (or plug in a power disc for other products) and plug the Wireless Power Pad into a power point. You then place the iPhone, BlackBerry or power disc on the mat and the device charges. Both the sleeve and the power disc have four small metal connectors on the bottom and power is delivered through the metal strips on the Power Pad.

Uniden sells two Wireless Power Pad packages. The starter kit ($129.95) includes the Wireless Power Pad and a choice of either a sleeve or a power disc with eight interchangeable tips. These tips include connections for Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Nokia, LG, Motorola and Palm devices, as well as standard micro- and mini-USB connections. The deluxe pack ($179.95) includes both a sleeve and the disc with interchangeable tips. Sleeves available include ones for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch, and the BlackBerry Bold 9000, Pearl 8100, Curve 8300 and Curve 8900 models; sleeves are sold separately for $59.95 each.

The iPhone case isn't as chunky as the one included with the Olin Wireless iPhone Charger and only adds slight bulk to the bottom. Unfortunately, the metal connectors look odd and should be concealed better. The sleeve blocks access to the dock connector, so you can't synchronise your iPhone with your PC or Mac when the case is attached.

The Uniden Wireless Power Pad works well for devices that have sleeves available, but the power disc isn’t as convenient to use. You can only charge one product at a time with a single power disc, and you need to change the tips for different devices. Any device without a sleeve requires you to plug in the tip just like you would when charging it normally, so technically it isn't "wireless". Extra power discs retail for $49.95.

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