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Hands-on: This charging station has quietly become a desk essential [Video]

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One of the best ways to judge how good a product is, is simply how long it sticks around. There are tons of products that hit my desk that, for one reason or another, do not make it past one month of use. It could be poorly built, too cheap, not a good fit for my aesthetic, or for any other reason. But if a product earns a permanent spot on my desk or nightstand and I stop thinking about replacing it, that’s usually a really good sign. So when I noticed I had been using my Nomos charging station for about a year, I knew I had to give you my review. Here is what it is and how well it’s held up.

Be sure to check out my hands-on video review of the Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 charger!

There were a few things that initially drew me to this charger, but the main one was the display. This charger came out during a time when displays came at a premium, and not every charger had one. I feel like most chargers these days have a little LCD to show some stats, which I love. But I wanted something reliable that could charge most things and had a display so I could test different wattage speed claims. This does that and so much more.

What stands out most is how everything is integrated. The built-in cable and the MagSafe stand are clutch for when you do not have a cable around you. The MagSafe stand can also charge your AirPods, so the only thing “missing” is an Apple Watch charger, which you can easily plug in. But after a year of use, how has it held up?

As I stated in the intro, the fact that this charger is still on my desk, even a year later, shows just how much I have enjoyed this tool. The biggest thing for me is just how easy it makes charging everything. I can drop my iPhone on the MagSafe charger, plug my iPad Pro or MacBook Pro into the built-in cable, and still have extra ports for any other accessories. I usually have my fitness tech accessory chargers or Magsafe battery packs that I am currently testing plugged into the additional ports.

One of the key differentiators for me has been that they have kept the USB-A port. More and more brands are removing that port altogether. But I still use a camera battery charging station that connects with USB-A. There are also a few baby-related tech items like bottle warmers or humidifiers that still use USB-A for some reason, so having that USB-A port has been great for my day-to-day use. I would say that most of the time, all the ports and cables are in use.

Then you have the LCD display. For me, this was key. I am always testing cables, batteries, and products that claim a specific wattage or can support “up to” a certain charging speed. The best way to test those claims is with a tool like the Baseus Nomos. It gives you the total wattage going out, shows you the wattage per port, and also breaks down the volts and amperage if you really want to see what is going on. The dispaly is plenty bright for indoor use and goes to sleep when inactive. There is a small button on the side to wake the display up if it is dormant.

But most importantly, it’s been reliable. Not a single issue a year later.

The Basues Nomos 5-in-1 is available on Amazon for $69. It comes with the charger itself and the double-barreled power cable. The power cable also sits flush on the wall, which is a fantastic touch. Another insane part is that, as of writing this post, you can claim a free 5,000 mAh MagSafe battery ($20 value) or a 10,000 mAh battery pack ($35 value).

I know there are plenty of other charging stations that boast more overall wattage. I have reviewed some that deliver 240W and even 300W of total output, but, of course, the price will reflect that increase. But, I believe most people just want to charge their iPhone, AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, and MacBook. This Nomos charger brings together the features that most people actually use into one clean, reliable package. So, for under $70, it is hard to find something this versatile that also feels well thought out.

Let me know what you think. Is this a charger you would use? What would you change? Let’s discuss below.