Review: Satechi USB-C Apple Watch Dock is ideal for power users

AppleInsider

Satechi's USB-C Magnetic Apple Watch Dock comes at a perfect time for power users who want to charge their Apple Watch with all of their latest gear.

Satechi's new USB-C Apple Watch Dock

USB-C iterations of Apple Watch chargers are scarce, with Apple's own being the predominant option. Now that Apple has begun allowing third-party USB-C Lightning cables, it appears we will be seeing more USB-C Apple Watch charging pucks as well.

One of the first is the Satechi USB-C Magnetic Apple Watch Dock. It not only works via USB-C but has a detachable cable for added convenience.

Design

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The puck and cable are both made of anodized aluminum that most closely matches Apple's space gray finish found on the iPad and the Mac. This gives it a premium feel and a hefty weight.

Unfortunately, while the top and sides of the puck are metal, the back is only color-matched plastic. This feels decidedly cheap compared to the rest. We'd have preferred something other than plastic for a more seamless design. If not metal, a silicone pad would have sufficed, similar to the Native Union puck we picked up a bit ago.

Satechi's new aluminum USB-C Apple Watch Dock

Otherwise, the puck is a rounded-off square with a USB-C connector protruding out of one of the sides. That USB-C connector plugs into the female side of a short USB-C extension cable. That cable is roughly six inches in length with a flat cable situated between two aluminum over-molds.

Charging up our Apple Watch

Satechi's new USB-C Apple Watch Dock compared to Apple's own

If you are truly minimalistic, you can ditch the cable and connect the puck right into the USB-C ports of your existing gear.

Satechi's new USB-C Apple Watch Dock connected to our MacBook Air

We used ours with our MacBook Pro, and it is a perfect desk accessory to dock our Apple Watch while we are working to give us charge through the day, as well as through the night.

Satechi's new USB-C Apple Watch Dock connected to the MacBook Air with the extension cable

The main issue we ran into is that, due to its size, it can take up two ports. If you are using a MacBook Air, the only two ports are situated right next to one another, and using this dock prevents the use of the adjacent port. Fortunately, that is why Satechi included that jumper cable. You can still connect the dock and use the port nearby.

The jumper cable is also useful for multi-chargers, such as the Satechi 75W dual USB-C travel charger.

We also liked using the Apple Watch dock with our iPad Pro. We propped up our iPad Pro with the folding Smart Keyboard Folio and connected the dock to its sole USB-C port. The Apple Watch doesn't draw much power, so we didn't notice a huge drop in iPad battery life while we continuously topped off our wearable throughout the day.

Should you buy one

If you don't travel much and are content charging your watch each night on its bundled USB-A charging puck, don't bother with the Satechi USB-C Apple Watch Dock.

Satechi's new USB-C Apple Watch Dock connected to the Satechi 75W USB-C travel charger

However, if you find yourself traveling or charging during the day, a second charger is necessary. Among the available third-party options, we gravitate heavily towards the simple design and portability of this model. Not only is it compact, but it allows us to charge off of whatever we have with us -- our Mac, our iPad Pro, or our USB-C multi-charger that is used to power up the first two devices.

It is a unique design that is well implemented that casual users, power users, and travelers will appreciate.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Where to buy

Pick up the Satechi USB-C Apple Watch Dock from Satechi for $44.99.

emoeller

I purchased one before Christmas and used it while traveling over the holiday.  Works great!

mike1

Personally, while traveling, I prefer to charge it next to the bed in nightstand mode, so the included puck works just fine.

jdb8167

I use the Apple USB-C puck watch charger. It works very well so I’m not in the market for one of these but the design is very clever. If I didn’t already have the Apple version, I would definitely be interested. 

libertyforall

Absurd, $45 for a WATCH charger.  Give me a break!!!!!!

Eric_WVGG

libertyforall said:

Absurd, $45 for a WATCH charger.  Give me a break!!!!!!

They do, they were running a 15% off sale when I bought mine.

one less cord to carry around over the holidays; plugged it directly into my iPad/iPhone charger, worked great. +++

dws-2

I keep this in my computer bag (minus the cord) for emergencies. It's nice and compact, and one less cord to get tangled.

fred1

Thanks, but I prefer my $29 Apple charger with the 1 foot cable. 

tommikele

libertyforall said:

Absurd, $45 for a WATCH charger.  Give me a break!!!!!!

Do you even have an Apple Watch? The kind of comment you made (feigned outrage) along with your six exclamation points, usually indicates BS or at the least an Apple hater who likes to visit one of the few sites that still allows comments and lob those bombs that make them feel like big people. You may not be one of them, but you sure sound like one.

libertyforall

Owning an Apple Watch has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that paying $45 for a charger for a watch is the epitome of absurd.

And yes I’ve owned multiple.

tommikele said:

libertyforall said:

Absurd, $45 for a WATCH charger.  Give me a break!!!!!!

Do you even have an Apple Watch? The kind of comment you made (feigned outrage) along with your six exclamation points, usually indicates BS or at the least an Apple hater who likes to visit one of the few sites that still allows comments and lob those bombs that make them feel like big people. You may not be one of them, but you sure sound like one.

fastasleep

Have one and love it — was exactly what I was looking for about 6 months ago. Being able to plug it straight into my MBP, iPad Pro, or charging brick for either without a cable makes this thing perfect. 

macgui

That puck with a USB-C > Type A adapter would work well for me, when charging the Watch in my car. 

On occasion I've left home in a hurry and forgot to charge my Watch. I've been looking for something portable, and haven't been that crazy about power bricks and the Apple puck, or power bricks with a built in puck.

This is pretty compact, and if I can find a C > A adapter, I'll grab one. But I'll wait a bit for a deal, or until the next time I'm caught short.

fred1

macgui said:

That puck with a USB-C > Type A adapter would work well for me, when charging the Watch in my car. 

On occasion I've left home in a hurry and forgot to charge my Watch. I've been looking for something portable, and haven't been that crazy about power bricks and the Apple puck, or power bricks with a built in puck.

This is pretty compact, and if I can find a C > A adapter, I'll grab one. But I'll wait a bit for a deal, or until the next time I'm caught short.

Sorry, but I’m curious. Why wouldn’t you use a Watch charger with a USB-A plug instead of this with an adaptor?

fastasleep

macgui said:

That puck with a USB-C > Type A adapter would work well for me, when charging the Watch in my car. 

On occasion I've left home in a hurry and forgot to charge my Watch. I've been looking for something portable, and haven't been that crazy about power bricks and the Apple puck, or power bricks with a built in puck.

This is pretty compact, and if I can find a C > A adapter, I'll grab one. But I'll wait a bit for a deal, or until the next time I'm caught short.

There are already a bunch of USB-A chargers without wires:

https://www.amazon.com/%E3%80%90Upgraded-Version%E3%80%91-STOON-Wireless-Portable/dp/B07ZGLZJ7W

https://www.amazon.com/DAJAHA-Portable-Magnetic-Adjustable-Compatible/dp/B0822ZQC24

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Wireless-Portable-Certified-Compatible/dp/B07L6VB7JL

(etc)

gordy

The photos imply the Apple Watch needs to be charged throughout the day, which is not my experience, but hanging this off of an iPad looks awkward. Furthermore, sitting at my desk is one of the times I appreciate wearing the watch--with the music controls, stand reminders, etc. A nightstand option would be a better use case IMO. I have a couple of Satechi's products (Mac Mini Breakout Box & Backlit Bluetooth keyboard), but I'll pass on this.

fastasleep

gordy said:

The photos imply the Apple Watch needs to be charged throughout the day, which is not my experience, but hanging this off of an iPad looks awkward. Furthermore, sitting at my desk is one of the times I appreciate wearing the watch--with the music controls, stand reminders, etc. A nightstand option would be a better use case IMO. I have a couple of Satechi's products (Mac Mini Breakout Box & Backlit Bluetooth keyboard), but I'll pass on this.

There are a trillion nightstand options out there already. This is for charging on the go, which I assure you is a thing — especially when your battery is not at full capacity anymore like mine.