Sturdy Magnetic Hands-Free MagSafe Compatible Mount for your Dashboard or Windshield.
The iOttie Velox Magnetic Wireless Charger arrived in an elegant 5 inches long by 5 5/8 inches tall by 3 inches thick hanging-style retail package. The cover panel displayed the neon green accented company name along the upper left corner. I liked the dark-on-light theme and the contrast between the bold black font and the clean white cover.
Below the company name, you will find the Velox name, generic “Magnetic Wireless Charging Dash & Windshield Mount” descriptor, followed by a large image of the device. The image provided information about the sizeable MagSafe charging plate, the angled support arm, and the suction mount base.
Along the lower edge of the panel, you will find a neon green accent denoting the 7.5W power and black font text about the 7.5W max iPhone charging rate. Lastly, you will find a small MagSafe Compatible icon along the bottom right of the panel. Concise and to the point, iottie did a great job presenting the product.
Each of the side panels provided photo-quality images of the Velox in action. One of the panels provided a dash-mounted image of the Velox in an upward position and displayed how it may enhance your car’s ambiance. The second panel showed another dash-mounted image but instead offered a downward angled position.
The second picture provided a beautifully blurred greenery background, a clean windshield/dash, and the option for a hands-free unobstructed view. I enjoyed both images and the messages they presented. The lime-green rear panel was a bit busier than the other panels. The bilingual panel provided helpful information about the Tap and Go Mounting, Easily Adjustable telescopic arm and ball joint, Powerful Suction Strength, Designed for Latest Technology (MagSafe), and up to 7.5W Fast Charging.
The panel also provided brief information about the 2-year limited warranty, listed the company website, and the company name. The bottom panel provided an SKU barcode, product manufacturing labels, and product manufacturing information, while the top panel provided the lime-green plastic hanging tab.
TESTING
I lifted the top panel, and removed the 7.9-ounce device, 3 1/8 inch diameter by 1/8 inches thick plastic dash plate (3M tape), quick start guide, and 0.5-ounce USB-C, 12V car adapter (2 5/16 inches long by 1 inches diameter). The MagSafe Velox pad measured 2 5/8 inches wide by 3 1/2 inches tall by 1/2 inches thick and had a 1/2 inches wide magnetic ring around the central 1 11/16 inches charging pad.
The lower edge of the panel had a 1/4 inches wide by 5/8 inches tall magnetic oval. The charging plate attached to a 3/4 inches diameter neck segment, which then connected to the 3 1/2 inches long adjustment arm. The 2 1/2-inches diameter suction cup base attached to the 2 1/8 inches tall conical base segment. The upper segment of the base contained the locking swivel/screw segment of the angle arm.
When I gripped the base and pulled on the MagSafe plate, I found that the telescopic arm extended by 1 3/4 inches to a total of 5 1/4 inches. The retractable arm ended in a ball joint, which connected to the socket on the magnetic plate. When combined, the adjustable/retractable angle arm plus ball/socket joint will allow for numerous mounting options.
I appreciated the quick start guide, the multi-lingual descriptions, and the helpful step-by-step installation instructions. I tested the device in my Nissan Leaf and within my wife’s Nissan NV 3500 Passenger Van. I cleaned the left upper corner of the windshield with glass cleaner, dried the surface, stuck the sticky suction cup against the window, and depressed the suction lever. At first glance, the installation process did not seem that difficult.
However, once I realized that the base did not rotate, I had to pull the suction level and the tab on the rear of the suction cup to remove it from the window. I repositioned the mount, replaced the plastic suction cup cover, oriented the device into a better position, tested the angle arm/orientation, and then reattached the suction cup into a better position. I liked the secure suction attachment, the rotatable ball/socket section, and the ability to retract the angle arm. However, I remain unsure about the power cable attachment point on the base of the MagSafe charger.
When attached to the dash, you will orient the MagSafe device so that the charger is pointed downward. When attached to the windshield, you can angle the device to the correct orientation, which will point the cable downward as well. The process did not allow for easy cable hiding/management.
I removed the black cardboard that was attached to the looped 58 1/4 inches long cable with 15/16 inches long USB-C prong (59 9/16 inches total length). I gripped the body of the USB-C prong and the cable and bent the connection forward and backward 25 times, then side to side 25 times, and tugged at the flexible 3/8 inches long neck segment. Next, I gripped the 1/4 inches long metallic USB-C prong and repeated the above tests.
I was pleased to find that the company created a secure/rigid metallic segment, body, and neck piece for their USB-C prong. I plugged the USB-C prong into the included car adapter, placed the adapter into the adapter port of my car, and then placed my iPhone 13 Pro Max onto the windshield mount.
The mount held firmly to the windshield with the arm retracted and deployed. I drove several miles over notoriously bumpy roads and found no issues with the suction mount. I allowed the mount to remain attached during the hot > 90-degree days and only once found any change in the position. On one day with heat >95 degrees and direct sunlight and no window shade, the suction grip sagged minimally. I was able to press the suction cup base back tightly to the window and experienced no additional problems.
I tested the power output over several days and ran several different tests. Starting at 12:45 PM, I drove my kids over to our local mall to enjoy some daytime trampoline fun. My iPhone 13 Pro Max started at 46% power and increased to 54% by 12:59. For another test, I took a short drive to the grocery store. I started at 1:52 at 52% power and increased to 57% by 2:00. By 2:20 PM, the iPhone was at 67%.
I found that the wireless charging system provided between a 0.5% and 0.6% increase per minute for my iPhone 13 Pro Max. Even though wireless charging will not charge as quickly as 20-27W wired charging, the added convenience of a hands-free MagSafe magnetic attachment provided a convenient method to charge. The 12V car adapter and 7.5W charge rate is not the maximum for MagSafe and may generate some criticism. I did not experience any excessive heat production and found that my phone charged from 50% to full in just about an hour and a half.
I have found that people either love or dislike the wireless charging feature. If you are not a fan of wireless charging, or MagSafe in general, the device likely provides no benefit to you. In fact, several may be dissuaded by case choices because some cases eliminate the option to use the features due to the thickness. The secure dash mount (DO NOT USE ON LEATHER) was added to my Nissan Leaf and I tested the suction cup against the semi-permanent tape mount.
I left the device installed throughout the testing process, and then attempted to remove the tape (in place for about a week and a half). I gently lifted the edge of the tape and found the disk lifted cleanly away from the dash without issue. Unfortunately, the tape/dashboard attachment plate was only a single-use item but interestingly, I did find that the native suction cup stuck firmly to the dashboard in my wife’s NV.
If the sticky mount becomes coated in debris, simply run it under water to remove the particles and to regain lost suction. The locking and telescopic arms allowed me to position the device more effectively than similar devices without a telescoping arm. I felt the sub $60 price was fair for the tech and liked that they included the 12V car adapter, 5 feet of cable, USB-C capability, MagSafe function, and the ability for both windshield and dash attachment.
My only complaint was with the charging cable and the lack of cable management. I wish that there were clips on the device to control the dangling cable. I typically tuck the cable around the roof material of my car and then through the glovebox to the accessory port. Some cars like my Dodge Ram actually have an accessory port on the top of the dash, just beneath the rearview mirror.
In that case, I could still drop the cable down but I had no way to control the five-foot excess. Despite the limitation, I found that the device enhanced my driving experience instead of hindering it and a few black twist ties around the arm provided a reasonable method to direct the cable.
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