Review: iOttie’s iON wireless chargers are versatile options that can charge more than just your iPhone

Chance Miller | Aug 15 2018 - 4:15 pm PT

Wireless chargers are a dime a dozen nowadays, with a slew of companies attempting to hop on the bandwagon now that Apple has rolled out Qi support to its latest iPhone models. In the past, we’ve taken a look at options from companies like Aukey, Nomad, and many more.

Now, popular accessory maker iOttie is out with its latest products for the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. The company has released a pair of wireless chargers dubbed the iON. Read on for our thoughts…

As I said before, wireless chargers are easy to come by these days. They’re available in all different kinds of form factors, designs, and more. Thus, when looking to enter an incredibly crowded market such as wireless chargers, it’s important to offer some sort of differentiating feature.

Design

In terms of design, iOttie’s iON wireless chargers are pretty sleek. The company is selling the iON Mini and ION Plus, the former of which takes up very little space on a desk or nightstand, while the latter is a bit more bulky for reasons we’ll discuss later.

As for footprint, the iON Plus comes in at 7 x 5 x 4 inches, while iON Mini measures 6 x 4.2 x 2 inches. While in both cases, the iPhone X still hangs over the edge of the iON, I really prefer the added overall footprint of the iON Plus and find it much easier to find the charging sweet spot there.

I’m personally a huge fan of rectangular-shaped wireless chargers as I think they offer the best overall footprint for haphazardly placing your iPhone on the charger. iOttie’s wireless chargers are made out of a nice fabric material that does a good job acting as a grip, ensuring your iPhone doesn’t slide off in the middle of the night.

The iOttie iON chargers are available in a handful of different color options, including charcoal, ruby, ash, and ivory. In my case, I opted for the iON Plus in ash and the Mini in ruby. The ruby is personally my favorite and it does a great job of adding some subtle color to your existing nightstand or desk setup. The ash, on the other hand, is an excellent complement to the space gray iPhone X design.

All in all, the iON Plus and iON Mini are two of the sleeker options on the market for iPhone X and iPhone 8. The fabric material is both eye-pleasing and practical for holding your iPhone in place, and the versatility provided by the Mini and Plus options make them a viable option for various different setups.

Power

As for power, the iON chargers from iOttie are perhaps the best you can get. Both the Mini and the Plus support fast charging at 7.5W, meaning you can juice up your iPhone 8 or iPhone X as fast as Apple allows you to.

Unlike some wireless chargers on the market, iOttie has opted not to use a proprietary power cable. Instead, it includes a USB-C to USB-A cable in the box, with the USB-C end connecting directly to the wireless charger. The included 15W power adapter means you get fast charging out of the box and won’t have to shell out extra money. Further, since it’s a standard USB charging block, it’s versatile and can charge other accessories as well.

Where the iOttie iON Plus differentiates itself, however, is in the USB-A port located on the wireless charger itself. Alongside the USB-C port for power, there’s a 12W USB-A port for charging other accessories. Note that the USB-A port is only present on the iON Plus, not the Mini.

In terms of placement, the iON Mini can be a bit more finicky than the Plus. Due to its smaller footprint, you’ll have to be a bit more aware of where you place your iPhone on the Mini than you do with the Plus.

There’s one important factor to consider here, though. According to iOttie, if you’re using the wireless charger part of the accessory, the power output of the USB-A port drops to 5W. While this is certainly a less than optimal speed, it does still give you the power needed to charge an additional iPhone or an Apple Watch.

Conclusion

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the variety of wireless chargers available on the market, but of all the ones I have tried since last year, iOttie’s stands out to me as one of the most versatile options out there. Available in two different form factors and four colors, there’s an option for everyone – while the included USB-A port on the iON Plus means you can carry around one charging accessory, but charge two iPhones or an iPhone and Apple Watch.

The iOttie iON Mini is available starting at $29.95 on Amazon for the charcoal option, with the other colors coming in at $39.95. Meanwhile, the iON Plus is available for $54.95 in ruby, ash, and ivory.

What do you think of iOttie’s iON wireless chargers? Could they find a spot on your bedside table or desk? Let us know down in the comments!