Patriot FUEL iON Magnetic Charging Pad Review

TweakTown's Rating: 92%

The Bottom Line

If you can justify the spend on yet another accessory in the Patriot FUEL iON series, you will not be disappointed with this one.

Introduction, Specifications, Pricing & Availability

We've looked at the Galaxy S4 case and charging stand, the magnetic cable and more, so here's the next instalment - the magnetic charging pad. This product also provides a 360-degree magnetic wireless charging capability rated at 99.5% of the speed of a direct micro-USB connection.

You've already received a charging stand bundled with the Patriot FUEL iON case, so why buy the charging pad? Read on to find out our thoughts on the matter.

Specifications

Compatible with any of Patriot's FUEL iON series charging cases, this charging pad sits flat on your bedside table, dresser, kitchen bench, or computer table.

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Thanks to the magnetic connection, this device will be able to charge your phone at any angle within a 360 degree spectrum, as long as a connection is continued. This means that you'll remove any niggling issues of a micro-USB cable hanging out the bottom of your phone. The device itself is provided power through a micro-USB connection and there aren't any listed limitations to charging speed. You can assume that it's the same as the dock, allowing whatever you put into it to be transferred to the device.

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Pricing & Availability

Setting you back $29.99 plus shipping from Amazon, this product is the cheapest of the bunch so far, but still a little pricey. I understand we're paying for the research and development here alongside a little for the brand name, but every accessory adds more money to the investment and makes it a little harder to justify.

What's in the box?

There's the charging pad and there's the cable - that's it.

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The included USB cable is of adequate length, but it can always be longer. It's also quite thick, around 1mm thicker than every other cable I've used and something that's a common trend in this FUEL iON series.

PRICING: You can find the FUEL iON Charge Pad - Magnetic Wireless Charging System for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing, but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.

United States: The FUEL iON Charge Pad - Magnetic Wireless Charging System retails for $19.99 at Amazon.

Australia: Find other tech and computer products like this over at PLE Computer's website.

Canada: The FUEL iON Charge Pad - Magnetic Wireless Charging System retails for CDN$47.44 at Amazon Canada.

How it works, What's Hot, What's Not & Final Thoughts

How it works

As with all of the FUEL iON series products, this product is also well constructed and looks great.

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Cable connections, as mentioned in other reviews, will tend to break around the connector alongside there being the issue of breaking the sole input port located on your mobile device. Magnetic charging gives you invaluable protection against these ailments and is something I will not look past ever again.

The provided cable is of 'adequate length', but I'll still be using a third-party option - not only for the extra reach, but these FUEL iON cables are quite thick and any kinks in them are hard to remove, meaning the cable can look a bit unsightly and catch on various objects.

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The magnet once again has a solid connection on the device and can be used at any 360-degree angle as the website states. It seems that the benefits are almost unlimited between this style of cable and your general micro-USB option. As mentioned previously, your cable is less likely to break or fray, the micro-USB input port on your phone stays safe, the charging speed is comparable, and you're likely to make back the cable price in a matter of one to two years, as you're unlikely to have to replace it due to any breakage.

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When comparing this to the stand, it's great to have in places like your kitchen, on your bedside table or various furniture. The stand is very useful for a desk, as you can open the flap and check it as you wish, however, if you're standing or laying down, the flat option is much easier to use.

Is it worth spending the extra $29.99 to pick up one of these for yourself? Well, that's up to you. It would be great if they also included a USB port on this product so you could charge non-magnetic charging devices alongside this one, but I will either way be using the original dock on my work desk, along with this flat option next to my bed.

What's Hot

Sturdy: This product will outlast your phone.

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Easy to use: It can charge your phone at any angle as long as the connection is kept, no more annoying USB cable sticking out of the bottom of your phone and breaking.

Strong connection: The magnet has a very solid connection to the case - or any other metal object you wish.

Helps prolong phone life: Thanks to your no longer having to plug and unplug a small cable into the flimsy micro-USB socket three times a day, your phone will thank you dearly by lasting that little bit longer.

What's Not

The cost: Add another $29.99 to the bill.

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Final Thoughts

If you're looking for even more convenience, this is the product for you. I'll be using one of these next to my bed, as it's going to be so easy to charge my phone while tired, as all I have to do is sit the device on top rather than fumble around with a cable.

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The main issues come with the extended costs due to purchasing more accessories. You're looking at well over $100 in accessories alone to have the full lot and that's without the added costing of the magnetic case and stand you started with.

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PRICING: You can find the FUEL iON Charge Pad - Magnetic Wireless Charging System for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing, but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.

United States: The FUEL iON Charge Pad - Magnetic Wireless Charging System retails for $19.99 at Amazon.

Australia: Find other tech and computer products like this over at PLE Computer's website.

Canada: The FUEL iON Charge Pad - Magnetic Wireless Charging System retails for CDN$47.44 at Amazon Canada.