So you got yourself a brand new Nexus 5 or some other smartphone that features wireless charging capability, eh? Did you buy a charging pad for it yet? No? Â Great, here’s one you’ll want to check out. It’s called the Vu and it comes from product maker Tylt.
Looking very unassuming in its design, the Tylt Vu could be mistaken for a standard desktop smartphone stand. Peek around back and you’ll notice, however, that there’s a cord coming out of the rear. Indeed, this is guy props your phone or tablet up and charges it at the same time. You will, of course, need a device that allows for the Qi wireless charging capability. Not to worry, though, as the list of Qi compatible devices grows with nearly every new release.
We’ve put the Tylt Vu on the office desk where it has become our preferred place to dock our smartphones. Not only does it provide a great viewing angle (45 degrees) for when notifications come in, but it keeps us juiced throughout the day. To say that it’s convenient is an understatement to be sure.
Some of our favorite details in the Vu include the charging indicator light and its soft surface. When combined, these two keep our phone or tablet from getting scratched and also tell us that it’s taking in power at the same time. Speaking of time, we were impressed with the time it takes to charge our devices; it’s essentially the same as with the stock microUSB cable.
If you have a phone or tablet that offers Qi compatible charging then we certainly recommend checking this one out. We cannot overstate how great it is to be able to grab your phone and go without fiddling with a plug. The same for lying down at night. Set one of these next to your bed and you’ll simply love charging when you go to sleep. Portrait? Landscape? In most cases, it doesn’t even matter!
You can pick up the Tylt Vu in a number of color options, though we’re a little partial to the charcoal grey/black. Not that we have anything against the bright green, blue, or red, but it matches the decor of any environment.
The Vu is available for purchase through Tylt’s website where the retail price today is $79.99. Note that you can buy this guy with chargers to match your current country’s setup. Strangely enough, Amazon sells each color at a price of $99.99. Keep an eye over there, though, it may drop down by the time you read this.
The Tylt Vu is indeed a premium product, but I haven’t regretted buying mine for a second.
Wireless charging itself is a convenience. You are saving the hassle of aligning the micro USB head and getting it oriented correctly, even in the dark.
But Qi chargers that lie flat need you to place your device on them correctly. Get it wrong and you don’t charge. You also cannot view your phone/tablet while it is lying flat and charging (at least usually).
With the Tylt VU I can plop either my Nexus 4 or Nexus 7 (in landscape mode) down and there is no risk of placing the phone/tablet incorrectly. I also get to keep reading the sceen. Even if it is to just see the time this is a big plus well worth the $30 or $40 buck premium when you consider that I will be using it for a minimum of two years, probably longer.