Belkin Kakao Friends 10W Wireless Charging Pad Review


Belkin, a company known for its mobile accessories, launched BOOST↑UP 10W Wireless Charging Pad Kakao Edition in India a couple of months back in collaboration with popular Korea’s KakaoTalk emoticons. 

Priced at Rs. 3,499, the charging pad comes in Ryan (Black) and Apeach (White) exclusively on Amazon India. For the uninitiated, Ryan and Apeach are popular characters in Kakao Friends. The wireless charging pad is of Qi standard and offers 10W output. We got the device in the white color featuring Apeach. Here’s what we think about it.

Form factor

The Belkin Kakao Friends 10W wireless charging pad looks like a standard BOOST↑UP Wireless Charging Pad 10W except for the cosmetic changes. Even the specifications and the output remains the same. Talking about the form factor, it is circular, tiny, and can fit one device at a time. There is a circular rubber ring on the charging pad that acts as a grip preventing devices from sliding down.

On the front, we have a small LED that glows in White and Amber colors. A white LED indicator shows stable charge status, and the FOD (Foreign Object Detection) function lights up an amber indicator if there is a foreign object such as a key or coin that affects charging. Turning back, we have the Micro USB port. The product is shipped with a high-quality USB-Type A to Micro USB wire.

It’s worth mentioning that the Belkin doesn’t provide any dedicated adapter. However, it’s not a major concern since the USB-A cable can be plugged into any compatible adapter. Overall, the charging pad looks minimal, giving a premium feel at this price point.

Performance

The charging pad can charge various Qi-certified devices including lightweight plastic cases up to 3mm. For iPhones, it supports up to 7.5W and 9W for Samsung phones. You can also charge the latest TWS’ like Apple AirPods, Samsung Buds+/Buds Live, Realme Buds Air, and the OPPO Enco W51.

In our usage, we tried charging the OPPO Enco W51, LG V30+, and iPhone XR. Since the maximum output is 10W, it took more than an hour and a half to charge each device.

Verdict

If you are a Kakao Friends fan, the BOOST↑UP 10W Wireless Charging Pad Kakao Edition is a good option at this price. Otherwise, there are many more options for 10W wireless charging pads available in the market at a much cheaper price. On the other hand, Xiaomi’s Mi Wireless charger produces a maximum output of 30W and available for Rs. 1200 lesser.  It is available from Amazon.in for Rs. 3,499.