Official Review Hardware Updated

Review cover 8Bitdo N30 Wireless charger (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review

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Wireless charging is my jam, let's see how this one handles!

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When you imagine charging your phone the typical image, as is commonplace over the last 30 years, is to grab a cable, slam it in, and juice up. When QI wireless charging was in its infancy I immediately commended the idea and couldn't wait to get my hands on the future of charging technology. The convenience, simplicity and universal nature of it appeal to me immensely.

A while back I got to review the Native Union QI charger, and what I loved about it was the form factor and the sheer ease of use it offers, and today I have before me the 8-Bitdo N30 wireless charger that clearly wants to differentiate itself from the pack.

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Interesting Design Choices

Typical Wireless chargers come in the form of a plate or disc that lays flat on your bedside table or desk and provides a spot for your battery-hungry devices to relax, take a load off, and recharge after a tough day of watching meme videos or playing mobile games. The N30 however.. is.. well..not to put too fine a point on it: it's a NES controller on wheels.

Notably, the buttons that are printed on the face of the N30 charger resemble that of the NES buttons but are laid out in the style of the Konami code, a code that usually grants you a shedload of lives in virtually any Konami game. The question is: are there any easter eggs built into this device, or is it just a pop-culture reference for the sake of it? Who knows.

With a form factor of 12.5 cm x 5.6 cm x 1.9 cm it's mere millimetres smaller than that of the Nintendo Entertainment Systems original controller, and at 80 grams in weight its a tad heavier, but that's understandable given its additional internal gubbins that works the wireless magic... and four wheels.

The biggest difference to the classic design, and the one I struggle with the most for this device, is the addition of headlights and wheels. At first, I was like "woooo-hoooo it's like a Tech Deck", and I played about with it across a table, performing a little manual across a table.

The wheels have A, B, X & Y bevelled into them, which is indeed "classic", but what purpose do they serve? The charger is tethered so without continually removing and re-plugging the USB-C charge cable, and fatiguing the socket, you would be limited to a small range to push it around in. Perhaps I'm missing the point but in my opinion: the wheels make zero sense.

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It Mostly Annoys At Night.. Mostly

When I plugged it into a USB socket, the headlights came on and I genuinely didn't get the design intention behind it. To be exact: the headlights come on when you plonk a device on top of it and it begins charging, but as I tend to put my device on charge overnight, right beside my bed at eye level: why you would want any light disturbing your sleep is a little beyond me. It's nothing a little electrical tape can't fix, but even the slightest light pollution when sleeping really bugs me, so if it bugs you, consider when you're charging or how to avoid it in the dark.

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Charges Perfectly, Well Recommended

The operation of the device was exactly as described and my iPhone SE 2020 and iPhone 12 Pro Max both charged perfectly and extremely quickly, at around 3-4hrs to fully charge each device on average. The iPhone Se 2020 is equipped with 7.5w fast charging whereas the iPhone 12 Pro Max has 7.5w QI charging and 15w Magsafe charging (if plugged into a 20w Apple power plug), so obviously the 7.5w is what these phones utilized in my testing.

With over-voltage protection, over-current protection and over-temperature protection, the N30 Wireless Charger is a solid choice for those who are in any way concerned with the technology. You literally cannot mess up your phone, nor can you destroy the charger itself by simply using it as intended. Note: this will not charge Apple Watches, Air Pods, or Galaxy Gear watches, so you will need an alternate device if you wish to charge any of those things too.

As a 15w wireless charger that supports virtually every mobile phone, even with a case on; it's superb, and for under $20 it's certainly decent value for money. As a retro-inspired gadget it's certainly, initially nice, but as the top choice to go for aesthetically when you need to charge your mobile phone: I'm not convinced that I would personally choose it.

Verdict

What We Liked ...
  • Up to 15w charging and great value for money
  • Virtually universal
  • Retro-inspired aesthetic
  • Safety conscious at its core
What We Didn't Like ...
  • Why does it have wheels and headlights?
9
out of 10

Overall

A fantastic, affordable device with some quirky design choices. If you enjoy the aesthetic: get it!
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SonyUSA
It's so cute! And I like that it has raised feet because uh... some people sometimes spill their water a lot in the middle of the night... *cough*...

But why is it a car... lol
 
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The Real Jdbye
I don't get why it's a car, doesn't fit the NES/Konami theme. Did they think there was some practical use to having it on wheels? I'm not seeing it though. You're more likely to accidentally push it onto the floor in the dark when trying to fumble for it, and potentially your phone with it.

Most nightstands are small, so there isn't much room for it to move in any direction other than onto the floor anyway. As a desk toy, I guess it could be a fun novelty for a bit, though the wire could get in the way.
That makes me think that was more their intention with this, rather than being put on a nightstand. In which case, the headlights make a lot more sense, assuming they go out when the device is fully charged. It would be a useful indicator, as it can be difficult to tell at a glance or at a distance when your phone is fully charged otherwise, the indicator on the always on display is tiny and the notification LED is tiny and dim.

I do enjoy the design otherwise, though. Might've preferred a stock NES controller design rather than the Konami code, but that's just me. At least nobody will confuse it for a real controller, because what controller has 2 of each arrow directional button, placed haphazardly?
 
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