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FastTech QI Charger Review for Nexus 4

I thought I would share with you my experience of the QI charger I recently purchased from FastTech.
After seeing some reviews of these wireless chargers I thought I would take the plunge & get one myself.
Website.
Firstly, the FastTech website is pretty well laid out, its fairy easy to navigate & find what you want. What I do like about the site is they tend to include lots of images of the item you are buying - many sites usually include a generic picture that's at a poor resolution, but FastTech really go all out to include as much information as possible. This includes data sheets, specifications, size, weight etc etc. The attention to detail is top notch & nothing of importance gets overlooked.
Choosing the charger.
FastTech list quite a few QI chargers. These range from big twin versions for dual charging, specific chargers for certain devices life the Nexus 4, Galaxy Note 2/S3 down to the cheaper generic ones.
I decided to choose this one:
http://www.fasttech.com/products/11...owered-qi-inductive-wireless-charger-for-car-
I would say that this is generic one but for $40/£30 (At time of writing) its not bad value compared to other QI Wireless chargers on the market.
One of the main reasons I chose this version is that it comes with a Micro USB connector rather than a small round power connector like most other versions do. This means I can use any Micro USB cable I own. It also states that charger works via a car charger or a USB port; most other QI chargers only work using a wall socket which provides enough voltage/amp for the device to operate. At the time of purchasing I was highly dubious that the charger would work correctly using an USB port on a PC but I crossed my fingers that it would.
Ordering & Delivery
Ordering is pretty much as expected & only take a few minutes to register. Entering in the details is easy & the website provided clear & easy to follow instructions, so if you are used to ordering online there's nothing to worry about. I paid via PayPal - quick & easy.
Delivery is free so that's a bonus & once your order is placed & sent, a tracking reference is included along with a nice photograph of your item with your address on to show you that its been posted - nice touch!
Now comes the 'negative' part..... delivery! Its takes a long time, approximately 21 days to be precise. That's from Hong Kong to the UK. I've ordered stuff from Hong Kong in the past & its usually taken less than 10 days, buts that's usually small stuff. What didn't help was the parcel tacking - it wasn't very informative. The only time I got an up date was when the parcel arrived in the UK & the tracking reported that it had arrived in the country. However, it still took 4 days from then to get to my house.
I'm not really saying this was an issue for me but I was getting a little nervous whether I would turn up!! So, If anyone orders anything from FastTech please be aware that you might have to wait over 3 weeks for your item.
Packaging & Contents:
The charger arrived in a standard jiffy bag & the box containing the charger was inside. The box was wrapped up with some additional bubble wrap to help prevent it from any bumps or knocks it may suffer from its 6000 mile (give or take!) journey from Hong Kong to the UK. Luckily it had seemed to have done its job as everything seemed ok & the box was fairly undamaged apart from a slight crease in one of the corners.
The QI charger comes in nice thick white card presentation box very similar to the boxes that mobiles are shipped in. Its design is simple & minimalistic with just a few logos & a photo on it to indicate what's inside.
Once in the box you are greeted with the QI Charger. Under the charger & its cardboard support sleeve is the Micro USB cable & tucked away in the corner is the mains wall charger in a box - this is the European version & doesn't fit a UK wall socket. I don't know why, but I convinced myself the a Euro 2 Pin to UK 3 Pin adapter was included but there isn't. The FastTechs website clearly states that the charger only ships with a EURO style plug, I have no idea why I thought that there was an adapter included.
QI Charger - A closer look.
The QI charger is made standard white plastic, nothing special. Its approximately the same size as a Galaxy Note 2, so if you have seen or held one of these then you will know how big it is. One thing that stands out about the charger is that its incredibly light, this along with the cheap looking white plastic, makes the device feel exceptionally cheap. Because it is so light it actually makes the unit feel hollow & its hard to be convinced that there is actually anything inside.
I also think the colour doesn't help. The white plastic picks up mucky marks quickly - in fact it was covered in dirty finger prints before I even touched it. In my opinion, I believe black plastic would have helped the overall look of the device.
The build quality is ok, again nothing special - screw-less design with two half's glued together. The underside has four small corner dimples moulded in the back plastic which the charger sits on when put on flat surface. Its a shame that these aren't little rubber feet to give the charger a more no slip effect when on a hard surface.
Usability.
As mentioned before, I could not check how the charger worked using the mains adapter because it only fitted a European wall socket. So, I tried it out on one of my PC USB ports. I used a USB2 socket because this is the common port that most PC/Laptops have. My PC has does have USB3 sockets but these can provide a different (better) current which may not represent everyone else's setup. Once plugged in the chargers green power light comes on. This light is constant & cannot be turned off unless you unplug the charger.
Unexpectedly, the charger worked really well using only a USB port. This was a real surprise as the wall charger has an output of 2A & a USB2 port only has an output of 500mA, I was expecting the phone not to charge properly because of the big difference in current. It also worked fine when plugged into my laptops USB port.
As you can see from the photos the phone charge 'zone' is quite forgiving & the phone can be placed on the charger without the need to position it accurately. I found that I could place my phone on the charger relatively care free. There was no need to readjust the position or find a millimeter perfect position for the charging that some other QI charges seem to have.
It has to be noted though that the QI charging coil in the Nexus 4 is offset towards the bottom of the phone - about 1/3 of the way up. The induction charging coil in the QI Charger is central, therefore the phones best position on the charger is so that the top of the phone is level with the edge of the charger where the USB cable is inserted. If I placed the phone centrally on the charger it would not charge.
I noticed that there is a very slight magnetic attraction between the phone & the charger when the induction coils are aligned. This is particularly usefully as it helps with the phone location to the charger (you can feel it 'grab') & also prevents the phone from moving/slipping if the charger is place on a slight slope.
When the phone is placed on the QI charger & connects, the charger emits a single beep & a blue light starts to flash in the corner of the device to indicate a successful pairing & charging has started. Also, the phone acknowledges that a connection to the charger has been made and produces a quiet tone to say its now charging.
Strangely, I found that the QI charger actually charged my phone more quickly that a standard USB cable that's connected to a PC/Laptop. It also charges the phone all the way up to 100% & keeps it there. Once the phone got to 100% I experienced no power loss over the space of about 45 minutes. However, this might be a concern as once at 100% the charger doesn't seem to switch off & the phone remained warm.
On the subject of heat, as with most QI chargers the phone got hot while being charged wirelessly. I monitored the temperature of the battery & it never got over 41C
My Nexus 4 has a DBrand skin on the back & it didn't seem to interfere with the charging process. I don't own a bumper or case so I couldn't test how well the charger would work if one of those were fitted to the phone.
For those of you who might want to use the charger at night, the green & blue lights are fairly bright & might be a tad annoying if you intend to use it in the bedroom.
Conclusion.
In a nut shell the QI Wireless Charger that I purchased from FastTech works really well & it actually exceeded my expectations when plugged in to a PC or Laptop.
The position of the phone on the charger is fairly forgiving & a full battery charge is accomplished even on USB. All in all I'm happy with how the charger works & has it has permanent place on my desk at work.
....... but........
However, taking a step back & looking at the whole QI Wireless charging method I feel like its all a bit redundant & not real necessary.
Currently, QI chargers are just too expensive in what they are. The Nexus 4 Orb sells for silly money & the cheap chargers still retailer for more than 10 wall chargers put together! At the end of the day it only charges the phone, and 'Only' is a word that needs emphasising; because if I use a USB cable to charge the phone I can still use the phone with the cable plugged in. Also if the cable is plugged into a PC/Laptop I can transfer files as well. The QI charger takes all these useful features away.
Also you are still tied to where the QI charger is plugged into so you don't gain any real world additional freedom from a charging cable. It kind of feels like a docking station without the bonus of being able to transfer files to the PC.
In a way I feel that QI chargers are sold like a cool iPhone feature - they look cool, people who see it go 'wow' & it makes your mates jealous. But at the end of the day its not really that different to the thing it replaces & may not even work any better!
OK, it looks like from the above statements that I actually hate QI wireless charging & that people shouldn't bother with them. That's not what I think at all & in fact believe that the charger is a cool gadget, I've been showing it off to nearly everyone that passes my desk at work. I've written this review to point out the Pros and Cons of buying & owning a QI Wireless charger & to show that it might not suit everybody's expectations. My only major criticism is the price. The charger I purchased does not look or feel like its worth £30 ($40). If the price drops below £10 ($15) then the price would genuinely reflect the product. I'm assuming that the price currently reflects the new QI charging technology, hopefully prices will start to drop in the upcoming months when (or if) QI charging becomes popular.
So to sum up, if you're in the market for a wireless charger for your Nexus 4 phone then I highly recommend this QI Charger from FastTech. However, consider it more of an cool impulse purchase rather than a must have, can't live without gadget.
Pros
Works as intended.
Fully supports PC USB charging
Charges to 100%
Positioning of phone on charger is quiet lenient
Free delivery & parcel tracking from FastTech
FastTech offer refunds if unhappy with item & replacements if device is faulty.
Show off to your mates
Cons
Feels cheap
Quite Expensive
Doesn't necessarily replace wired charging
Packaging only contains European wall charger
Delivery took longer than expected from FastTech
Get laughed at by mates for spending £30/$40
MARKS OUT OF 10
DESIGN: 7
FUNCTIONALITY: 9
FEATURES: 7
VALUE FOR MONEY: 4
OVERALL: 7
Hope you enjoyed the review. Please post comments below.
Review by Chris B

cmberry20 said:
However, taking a step back & looking at the whole QI Wireless charging method I feel like its all a bit redundant & not real necessary.
Currently, QI chargers are just too expensive in what they are. The Nexus 4 Orb sells for silly money & the cheap chargers still retailer for more than 10 wall chargers put together! At the end of the day it only charges the phone, and 'Only' is a word that needs emphasising; because if I use a USB cable to charge the phone I can still use the phone with the cable plugged in. Also if the cable is plugged into a PC/Laptop I can transfer files as well. The QI charger takes all these useful features away.
Also you are still tied to where the QI charger is plugged into so you don't gain any real world additional freedom from a charging cable. It kind of feels like a docking station without the bonus of being able to transfer files to the PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have one of these with euro plug (not usb). the comment above is exactly how i feel after couple of usage. not only it doesn't do data transfer, but usage too is inconvenient, due to (a) you can't pick up your phone, (b) touchscreen is much less responsive during charge. with that $40, i might as well bought a real dock and other accessories.

Just a quick update.
I can confirm that the charger stops charging the phone once 100% is reached. I think there's '100% with still a little more left to charge' & '100% Full'! I noticed that the charger would still carrying on charging for 5 minutes or so once 100% was reached, I think that it must be because the battery isnt quite fully charged. After that, the blue light switches of the phone is allowed to discharge. But as soon as the phone looses less than 1% the charger recharges it.
It basically trickle charges the phone to keep it at 100%. I certainly don't get the issue where the phone has lost 5 to 10% of its charge once 100% had reached.

Thank you for the honest and detailed review. I was considering this charger and looking for qi wireless chargers for the past few months but was never fully convinced about buying one because its not really as useful as it is just "cool". I thought it might be convenient to make a car dock out of because I wouldn't have worry about plugging and unplugging it. But I think for now I will just use a usb cable and maybe look at wireless chargers again once they're cheaper.

Thanks for the review OP. Like the person above me said, I too have considered getting one of those. The price it's at now is pretty tempting, but I don't think the Misses would appreciate me buying a $30 charger. I do think it would be an interesting thing to have and to mess around with but ahhhh I don't know. And speaking of USB 2.0... When do we think that phones will have USB 3.0?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

I bought one of these and it's great - except for the lights and beeping (I'd like to use it by my bed) - has anyone opened theirs up and successfully altered it?

thigger_tom said:
I bought one of these and it's great - except for the lights and beeping (I'd like to use it by my bed) - has anyone opened theirs up and successfully altered it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I decided to have a go today. Opening it needed a sharp blade to help pry open the case (there are a /lot/ of plastic clips) but eventually ended up with everything accessible. Everything's soldered onto a single board with only the coil and USB connector separate. However, the buzzer can be opened up and the metal plate removed which silences it:
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There's a small flat hole in the side - put a small screwdriver in there, twist and the top will pop off. The round metal plate can then be picked out (I used blu-tack) before putting the top back on. I've kept the plate on the off-chance I ever want it to beep again.
A bit more blu-tack to cover each of the LEDs and I now have my ideal charger!

I'm pretty unhappy. I just unboxed mine, set my N4 on it and it's not working. I also bought a charging coil for my Note2. The N4 has the poetic Bumper on it and it seems that that small distance is too much for it to charge through. The Qi standard is 5mm to 40mm. This device doesn't seem to work at even 1 to 2 mm.
As a test I took a plastic SD card case I have that is 4mm thick and the charging coil from the note2 and with it, it won't work. but without it between it works fine.
Basically this thing is useless if you have a case.. I really thought the point of a wireless charger was that it would work through a case. LAME! I'll update if I learn anything more but as of this time, I'll probably be returning or selling mine...

joeavery2 said:
I'm pretty unhappy. I just unboxed mine, set my N4 on it and it's not working. I also bought a charging coil for my Note2. The N4 has the poetic Bumper on it and it seems that that small distance is too much for it to charge through. The Qi standard is 5mm to 40mm. This device doesn't seem to work at even 1 to 2 mm.
As a test I took a plastic SD card case I have that is 4mm thick and the charging coil from the note2 and with it, it won't work. but without it between it works fine.
Basically this thing is useless if you have a case.. I really thought the point of a wireless charger was that it would work through a case. LAME! I'll update if I learn anything more but as of this time, I'll probably be returning or selling mine...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Might be a defective unit, or the coil isn't fully connected, or not enough juice from your USB. Is yours the same brand as OP's?

hmm, not sure if you have a faulty charge or if you have been unlucky with the build quality of your QI Charger.
I packed my phone up with some business cards & a foldered sheet of paper & it still happily charges up. I would say the gap it about 5mm to 6mm. (1/4" if you live in 'merica)
This is still being charged via USB 2 on a desktop PC.

thigger_tom said:
Well, I decided to have a go today. Opening it needed a sharp blade to help pry open the case(...).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you manage to open it ? I tried to insert a very thin flat bladed screwdriver between the two parts of the device and slide it around it but nothing popped-up or anything, plus it slipped and I stabbed my thumb so I prefer not to use a knife...
I'm affraid I could break it by forcing the screwdriver inside.
I'd like to mute it because I work in an open space office. Also, this "beeep" is pretty annoying. The blue LED and the Nexus 4's LED are enough for me.
Thanks

Nekrozys said:
How did you manage to open it ? I tried to insert a very thin flat bladed screwdriver between the two parts of the device and slide it around it but nothing popped-up or anything, plus it slipped and I stabbed my thumb so I prefer not to use a knife...
I'm affraid I could break it by forcing the screwdriver inside.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used a sharp blade from a pocket knife. Inserted the edge of the blade along its length into the groove and used it to pop open the clips (there are loads). I think you could probably do it using one of the plastic pryer devices they use to open iPhone cases. I wouldn't recommend a screwdriver as there isn't enough surface area and the plastic is quite soft so you'll probably just make a load of marks in the side of the case.
You don't need to use the pointy end so there shouldn't be a risk of stabbing yourself doing it like that!

My thumb and I thank you.

Disappointed with Qi charging options...

Maybe I'm expecting too much, but the way I understand Qi wireless charging is you should be able to use any combination of transmitter/receiver you wish and it should just work.
Well, as I'm sure some of you are aware, that does not appear to be the case with the Note 4. I have tried two 3rd party receivers with different bases and have been unable to achieve any sort of consistency.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PUA06TA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OFKS66G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Above are the 3rd party receivers I've tried. You either have to off center the receiver with the base, or find a sweet spot that makes it look like if you so much as sneeze the wrong way the phone will fall off. NOT ideal. Most 3rd party receivers I have looked at employ a similar design.
Or you have a situation like mine where a base just won't work due to alignment issues. This is the case with the iOttie Easy Flex Wireless Car Charging Mount. The coil in the receiver sits too far to the left (screen facing you), and there's no way to align with the coil on the iOttie properly.
Here's the funny part. I have ZERO issues with the OEM Charging Cover. This thing where Qi is supposed to be universal may be true, but there are strings attached. Until there are no strings, I can't see how phone manufacturers can take it seriously...
I hope that the upcoming Galaxy S6 handles this better than that. It looks promising. It wouldn't be the sole reason I switch to it, but I can do a slightly smaller screen, don't necessarily need the pen, but they are nice. I just wish wireless charging was handled better....

I use the OEM Wireless charging cover and a Nokia base. I have had no issues at all. I would stay away from those cheap Chinese adapter coils. They seem very easy to break, they don't fit well with the stock cover, and are more prone to errors. They only sell for a couple dollars in China so don't expect much.

suggest this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LE6X5VU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
3 coils.
vertical and horizontal fine. I do have to position it 1 cm to the right or left from center....but still really easy.

jejunum said:
suggest this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LE6X5VU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
3 coils.
vertical and horizontal fine. I do have to position it 1 cm to the right or left from center....but still really easy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got a Tylt Vu and have to do the same thing when using the Choetech receiver. If I put it upside down it centers perfectly LOL. Nothing of the sort with OEM. What are you using for a receiver?

craigg1 said:
I use the OEM Wireless charging cover and a Nokia base. I have had no issues at all. I would stay away from those cheap Chinese adapter coils. They seem very easy to break, they don't fit well with the stock cover, and are more prone to errors. They only sell for a couple dollars in China so don't expect much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you're talking about the coils, are you referring to the receiver or the base? OEM covers are made in Vietnam...

Never gonna be as fast as fast charge so till they really step up game it is pointless
BAD ASS NOTE 4 & GEAR S

BACARDILIMON said:
Never gonna be as fast as fast charge so till they really step up game it is pointless
BAD ASS NOTE 4 & GEAR S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't mind that it doesn't charge as fast. That said how can companies like Tylt claim that their chargers can charge just as fast as wired?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DG8NUC8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
From the FAQ page on Tylt's website:
Q: How long does it take to charge my phone with the VU?
A: The VU is designed to provide as much power as your standard USB charger (1 Amp) and will charge as fast as your USB charger as long as your phone is designed to accept that much power.​
http://tylt.com/faq/#vu
Granted, Quick Charge 2.0 is most likely not in there, but doesn't that only work up to 50%?

diehardbattery said:
I don't mind that it doesn't charge as fast. That said how can companies like Tylt claim that their chargers can charge just as fast as wired?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DG8NUC8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
From the FAQ page on Tylt's website:
Q: How long does it take to charge my phone with the VU?
A: The VU is designed to provide as much power as your standard USB charger (1 Amp) and will charge as fast as your USB charger as long as your phone is designed to accept that much power.​
http://tylt.com/faq/#vu
Granted, Quick Charge 2.0 is most likely not in there, but doesn't that only work up to 50%?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah most regular phones. From 6 years ago lol. It a fine print thing and people not knowing their phone.
BAD ASS NOTE 4 & GEAR S

diehardbattery said:
When you're talking about the coils, are you referring to the receiver or the base? OEM covers are made in Vietnam...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm referring to the receivers. My experience has been that the OEM covers are more durable than those cheap vinyl covered coils that one mounts behind the stock battery cover.
---------- Post added at 03:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:32 PM ----------
BACARDILIMON said:
Never gonna be as fast as fast charge so till they really step up game it is pointless
BAD ASS NOTE 4 & GEAR S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wireless charging is not as fast as wired charging but it sure is convenient. I hate having to plug and unplug the phone all day. With wireless charging I just make it a habit to always leave it on the charging pad when I can. That way my phone is always at 100% when I leave. My OEM fast charger is still in the box unused. I got a deal on the Nokia pads a year or so ago and only paid $5 a piece for them direct from AT&T. At that price it's easy to place them in multiple locations such as the living room, bedroom, office, car, etc.

craigg1 said:
I'm referring to the receivers. My experience has been that the OEM covers are more durable than those cheap vinyl covered coils that one mounts behind the stock battery cover.
---------- Post added at 03:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:32 PM ----------
Wireless charging is not as fast as wired charging but it sure is convenient. I hate having to plug and unplug the phone all day. With wireless charging I just make it a habit to always leave it on the charging pad when I can. That way my phone is always at 100% when I leave. My OEM fast charger is still in the box unused. I got a deal on the Nokia pads a year or so ago and only paid $5 a piece for them direct from AT&T. At that price it's easy to place them in multiple locations such as the living room, bedroom, office, car, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I plug mine in over night and go all day. That slow charge is gonna have issues charging a dead battery in 5-6 hours
BAD ASS NOTE 4 & GEAR S

I have the same QI pad in ur first link. Works gr8 on mine. Now I'm using a different receiver. The first one I bought was the same slmpwrcard u got. Lots of issues with it, until it just quite. When it was kinda working, hit or miss, I measured the voltage the receiver sent to battery when connected with charger. It was low. Should be 5v, I was getting right at 4v, now it only puts out 1.7v, and won't even work. Below is the one I bought to replace. Works perfect! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P48BIFY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have 7 QI chargers, and they all work well. By the way, the QI pad u linked is a 3 coil. Also it only makes sense u may have to put the phone on QI charger a lil offcenter because the coil in receiver is offcenter.....

I bought the Yoo Tech wireless receiver and LagaLake wireless charging pad. There's a slight bulge in the back of the phone and I have to put the phone on the charging pad slightly off center. In the end, it was more work than just plugging the phone in. So, I'm back to using my fast charger. I'll have to get the official Samsung wireless charging back and see if it works better.

Air Dock 2.0 First Impression

So, I ordered the Air Dock 2.0 for my S6. I want to do a full review with pictures, which I will add when I get a few more minutes, but I wanted to give a quick first impression before that.
As a dock, the nano foam surface works as described. As long as you have a glossy finish on your phone (either the phone itself, a glossy, flat case, or the sticker that they provide) it has an amazingly strong grip. However, if you have a rubberized case like I do (I currently have the Incipio Dual Pro), it does not hold it at all. Which is as advertised, so while I was just a little bit disappointed, I wasn't heartbroken. So, I slapped the sticker on the back (which is actually just a little bit wider than the case so it overlaps on the sides of the case by a little less than an 1/8"), and it worked perfectly. You do have to apply just a little bit of pressure to get it to really grab hold of the phone, regardless of whether you are using a naked phone or the sticker. You can't be delicate with the phone when you are attaching it to the dock. The one thing I wasn't overly impressed with was the sturdiness of the actual mount/arm. I bought the textured surface mount because I was hoping I could use it on the lower part of my dash under the radio which has a textured surface (I have a 2012 GMC Sierra without the center console). It did hold fine when I finally found a flat enough spot to attach it to. However, regardless of whether I had it mounted to the dash or the window, there is a lot of shake in the arm (again i bought the standard textured surface variety, not the long flexible variety). I believe the ball is a standard ball like most mounts have, so I may test fit another mount that I have to see if that improves things.
As a charger, I feel it leaves a lot to be desired. I used the Ampere app to monitor the charging voltage. While sitting still, it charges at about 380mA. However, while driving down the road, I noticed that every time I hit a bump and the mount shook, the charging would sometimes drop down to as low as 80mA. It never chirped to say that it disconnected from wireless charging, but it got very low. I have to wonder if the constant shaking of the mount arm could cause the charging coils on the charger and the coils on the phone to go out of alignment and reduce teh amount of charge. I don't completely understand the technology but I'd imagine they have to line up pretty darn close to each other to get a good connection. On a 30 minute drive on back roads, with either the Ampere app or the Car Home Ultra app running (plus bluetooth and GPS), I only gained 1% on the battery. I fear that with Spotify and Navigation running, it may actually lose battery %. Also, in full disclosure, I did run that app with both the Incipio case on and the phone naked on the charger, with pretty much the same results. I am going on a work trip this next week and will be in driving for about 9 hours, so I will have a little better test case for how the charging portion works. I'll update this post either during or after that trip.
As for the NFC, I tried a couple of different apps (Trigger and NFC Tools/Tasks) to try to get it to start Car Home Ultra when I set the phone on the charger. I was never able to consistently get it to recognize the NFC. I will fully admit that this is the first time I've tried to use NFC for anything consistently (I use Wallet at McD's occasionally, but that's about it). So, I may not be hitting the NFC chip in the phone and the NFC chip in the dock just right. I tried "swiping" the phone in from all directions before attaching it and also tried attaching it at different points as opposed to centering the phone and charger on each other. Nothing seemed to help, sometimes the NFC picked up, most of the time it did not.
Overall, I am not sure this charger is worth $100 (I bought it direct from the AirDock site as opposed to Indiegogo because from Indiegogo you can't return the dock if you don't like it but you can if you buy direct). As a mount, it's very easy to slap the phone on the nano foam pad and it sticks, but as a charger I am not sure it performs up to par. I understand that there is a lot of discussion about wireless charging in general and whether it has enough output to charge when there is a consistent draw from navigation and music apps so it may not be the docks fault that the technology just isn't efficient enough. They could probably sell a lot more units by offering a version without NFC and Wireless charging and sell it as just a dock with BYOC (bring your own charger) for about half of what they are charging.
Let me know if there is anything specific you want me to focus on for when I do a full review with photos.
Thanks!

I have the first gen air dock. I've stopped using it because I experienced similar experiences as you. Wireless charging is pretty slow, especially if display brightness is up and navigation is running. What's worse is that it heats the phone up. In summer months, I'll actually see thermo warnings on my Note 3.
Just like you said about "offering a version without NFC and Wireless charging", I've done precisely just that. I bought an iMagnet Mount from amazon and replaced that with the airdock. I charge it with a wired charger. The magnet is super strong, and now I can really charge the phone without overheating it. Attaching/detaching the phone is still very easy, but I actually trust the iMagnet mount more.

ihuntinde said:
I am going on a work trip this next week and will be in driving for about 9 hours, so I will have a little better test case for how the charging portion works. I'll update this post either during or after that trip.
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Hi,
Are you able to share the results of your 9 hour trip and the phone charging during that? I'm considering getting the AirDock myself.

More results?
Yes, I am also VERY interested in seeing the results from the 9-hour drive please!
I am currently using a magnet setup + wired fast charger for my Note 5. I do love the convenience of magnet mounts, and really hoping to come up with a good solution to add Qi charging now. I have only been able to find 4 alternatives to the AirDock ($20-$50) and all of them have very mixed reviews, so I have been hesitant to try any.
The other thing I don't like about any of these is that they are all windshield mounts, and none have a dash mount. I should clarify... I need a dash mount with a surface of about 1-inch diameter that uses 3M tape. While some of these suction cups may work on a dash, they are typically 2-3 inches in diameter, and that won't fit anywhere on my dash, and I refuse to use the windshield as it would ruin my visibility/safety.
Right now I am experimenting with a DIY solution that cost me about $20 total. I can share details after I am done, and I may even make a Youtube video. Will then do some performance runs to see charge rates. It might be that I am satisfied with no gain, but no loss either. The thing I like about the DIY solution I am building is that it's modularized so I can remove the Qi charger and revert back to my current setup of magnet + wired fast charge, if and when I need that...

Finally I bought the AirDock myself. I am using it with the CD mount.
I use it with GPS nav and spotify music streamed via bluetooth to car stereo. By using the wireless charging it usually keeps the battery stable, it might move by couple percent up or down, depends on the trip length.

Great review. I was considering Air Dock for a long time

3 Coils Qi charging stand for the Note 4

I just bought a high quality Qi charging stand that I think would worth a shot at $35.99. I love its modern aluminum design and its large charging area with 3 coils. I tried it for several days and it works great and stable with my Note 5.
Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Char..._1_23?ie=UTF8&keywords=wireless+charger+stand
However, it needs an additional wireless receiver when charging my wife's Note 4. So make sure that your smartphone supports it before you splash out on a wireless charger, or you'll need to buy an extra wireless receiver or a case that enables wireless charging.

We have made a video review of this product here
Also enter coupon code 9H9PXE4I to get $5 off on Amazon HERE http://amzn.to/1LSt7g6
Nice stand works very well!

Michael Hill said:
I just bought a high quality Qi charging stand that I think would worth a shot at $35.99. I love its modern aluminum design and its large charging area with 3 coils. I tried it for several days and it works great and stable with my Note 5.
Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Char..._1_23?ie=UTF8&keywords=wireless+charger+stand
However, it needs an additional wireless receiver when charging my wife's Note 4. So make sure that your smartphone supports it before you splash out on a wireless charger, or you'll need to buy an extra wireless receiver or a case that enables wireless charging.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung is selling wireless charging cover for Note 4 on Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Wireless-Charging-Cover-Galaxy/dp/B00OP5SAAI/
Little bit expensive, but it works great.

I ordered this for my Nexus 5. This wireless charger worked amazing with it. I think it's perfectly suited at the bedside or office. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to buy a great quality product.

hiteshonline said:
I ordered this for my Nexus 5. This wireless charger worked amazing with it. I think it's perfectly suited at the bedside or office. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to buy a great quality product.
Click to expand...
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As for bedside use, I'm more into their wireless charger with lightning sensor, as the light can go off in the dark.
http://www.amazon.com/Lighting-Wire..._1_5?ie=UTF8&sr=8-5&keywords=wireless+charger

Does it really make sense to get a single coil or three coil? The coils effect the coverage of wireless charging area but do not effect the speed of charging, am I correct?

3 coils charger can charge with a wild area, nothing about charging speed.
Sent from tapatalk
_An Android guy

Got mine. So far so good. I can see myself using this charger for a long time to come. Thank you!

Wireless Charging & Cases
Has anyone tried to use the Samsung wireless charging back with a phone case and had it work? In other words, how much "stuff" can be between the coils and the receiver and maintain charging ability and speed?

HeyBeerManTX said:
Has anyone tried to use the Samsung wireless charging back with a phone case and had it work? In other words, how much "stuff" can be between the coils and the receiver and maintain charging ability and speed?
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I use it with the flexible TPU case. It works fine for me, no problems at all.
In fact, it even works for me with the Wireless charging SView case flipped back and placed between the charger and phone. That definitely leaves some gap between the phone and the charger.
What case are you thinking of?

If you're not in a hurry, it's worthwhile to keep an eye on chargers on eBay. I picked up a Keedox folding 3-coils charger for less than $20 (normally $35+) with a well-timed bid, and it's excellent. I also picked up two plastic Chinese 3-coils charging stands for $20 each. Those aren't as good, but they're good enough for my old S3 on my nightstand and my wife's S4.
I do NOT recommend getting charging receivers on eBay, though. Every one I tried from eBay failed within days. I ended up replacing them with receivers off Amazon.

How's the speed though? Been wanting to get a wireless charger but the thought of me waiting for a long time for it to charge is a turn off.

mha93 said:
How's the speed though? Been wanting to get a wireless charger but the thought of me waiting for a long time for it to charge is a turn off.
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It's slower than wired charging, of course, but when do you charge your phone? If you charge it overnight, then speed doesn't matter. And if your wireless charger is on your desk, it charges every time you set your phone down. That beats the pants off "Doze" in Marshmallow.
If you need a quick charge, just unplug the cord from the charger and plug it into your phone. I never need to do that, myself.

Fast wireless qi back cover or pad... Does it exist for our phones?

Looking for a back cover OR a qi "pad" that fits inside the phone that ALSO takes advantage of fast charging qi. Not the standard rate of wireless charging. Thanks

I haven't seen anything but cheap stuff. Perhaps phone doesn't support fast charging via those contacts on the back. Also I don't see anyone developing such a thing for an outdated phone.

The Note 4 doesn't support Fast Charging on wireless charger. If you do put it on a Wireless Fast Charging pad, it will charge at normal speed. I actually tried this with a Samsung wireless Fast Charging pad and a Samsung Note 4 S-view case made for wireless charging. In order to use wireless charging on the Note 4, you have to have a case or battery cover that supports wireless charging. Or, you can get one of the wireless charging receivers available on Amazon, eBay or elsewhere. I haven't tried one of the receivers, though a friend did. He had mixed luck getting it to charge at regular speed. Apparently not all receivers are made accurately enough to touch the necessary contracts on the case and phone.

smarcin said:
S-view case + fast charge pad
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How does the combo Fast charge Samsung pad and S-View wireless combo work together? I mean, does it heat up the phone and how fast does it approximately charge? Thanks.

The one of the wireless chargers I use made the phone too hot for my liking. The other one seemed to work fine. Haven't tried the Samsun ones. I had a wireless charging pad initially on the back of my phone, but I popped the back off enough times and it always felt like it was bulging out a little, so gave the old s-view case to a friend, and bought the one where it was integrated. Works great. But yeah, I don't think it supports the fast charging.

I've using this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/301400816942?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT, for over a month. I'm using it with a "normal" samsung reciever, it works well, the phone doesn't get too hot, but the charging speed is far from fast charging, so, it is more like a gimmick.

terrancze said:
How does the combo Fast charge Samsung pad and S-View wireless combo work together? I mean, does it heat up the phone and how fast does it approximately charge? Thanks.
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It works well. Not fast, but it also doesn't heat up the phone. That's the reason I got it. I didn't really time it, but I would expect it to charge at the standard 1 Amp/hr. So, about 3-4 hours if the phone was totally dead. I got it because my phone was over-heating with the fast charger that came with it. I got my charger as an open box at my local Microcenter. However, Amazon has them for around $20-50, depending on if it's the Fast charger or the standard one. One thing I would look at carefully is whether the Samsung wireless chargers at Amazon are real OEM Samsung, or fake. The wireless S-view case I got came from Amazon. It was in Samsung retail packaging and sealed. It was around $31.50 and new. Fortunately I got it with Amazon Prime shipping for free shipping. I just checked, though, and the prices have gone up to over $40. There is one for $33-$34. Another possibility is buying the "battery charging system." It is basically a battery charging case, a new battery and a carrying case for your spare battery. I got it from Sprint for around $25 + tax. The shipping was free. You have to use your own charger with it. It seems less likely to overheat. It has been better for me to have the extra battery. I think I mentioned that I had gotten my Note 4 replaced under TEP, as it was over-heating. I think it was that particular phone that hated the first update to MM. OTOH, my replacement Note 4 has been very happy on PG1, which was on it when I got it. I usually make it through the day with a charge left on the battery I started with. I carry my spare in case. It hasn't overheated. I am hesitant to use Fast Charging, if I don't have to. I believe Fast Charging is more apt to overheat the phone and battery, and probably shorten the life of the battery, if not the phone as well.

are all the s-view cases supporting Qi charging? how can I tell if one does before I buy it? how many contact pins will it have?
thanks!

I use the following 3rd party Qi charging back, and although it is a tight fit, it seems to work well and says it supports 650ma output via the charging pins. It also says that it supports s-view function, but I don't have a s-view case to test with.
Again it is a tight fit, but if you put it on from the bottom first, it can be massaged on.
https://www.amazon.com/H-ber-Portab...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=GHAAGMSYBCFYFHBARHR7