I hate cable clutter.
Particularly in my workspace, I find an abundance of charging cords to be not only cumbersome, but also a real distraction that pulls me out of my element. It’s for this reason I’m always on the lookout for new solutions for keeping my various gadgets juiced up without sacrificing the benefits of a clean, minimalistic work environment.
Enter the Nomos NH21 6-in-1 Desktop Charging Station (245W): a $200 desktop charging dock from Baseus that’s designed to streamline power delivery inside a single, convenient, and passively cooled (no fan) package.
The NH21 is a relatively compact and lightweight unit, measuring in at 7.8 x 6.0 x 2.5-inches (198.1 x 152.4 x 63.5 mm), and weighing 14.82oz (420g). Hilariously enough, the included 245W Gallium nitride (GaN) charging brick here is heavier than the main unit itself, tipping the scales at 23.63oz (670g).
I’m a fan of the NH21’s exterior design, with its clean, curved appearance, and its tasteful branding. The device stays planted firmly on my desk with its rubberized feet, and there’s no chassis creaking or flexing to speak of. I also dig the yellow accenting, which adds some personality into the mix without being overbearing or gaudy.
That being said, I’m not as enthused by the choice of glossy plastic here — it’s incredibly fingerprint and scratch-prone, and it feels less premium than, say, aluminum would. I’d also have liked for the main unit to have a weighted design, which would’ve made the entire package feel more luxurious. Of course, this would also make for a less portable setup, so this latter gripe is a matter of personal preference.
In terms of charging I/O, which is the main attraction of the product, the NH21 is endowed with the following ports and cables:
- 1x Qi2 inductive wireless charging pad (15W)
- 2x retractable USB Type-C cables (right: 45W max, left: 65W max)
- 2x USB Type-C sockets (right: 30W max, left: 65W max)
- 1x USB Type-A socket (18W max)
Additionally, the NH21 is natively compatible with the following charging specifications:
- USB Power Delivery 3.1 (USB PD 3.1)
- Programmable Power Supply (PPS)
- Qualcomm Quick Charge 4 (QC4)
- Huawei SuperCharge Protocol (SCP)
4/5
The Baseus Nomos II 6-in-1 245W Charging Station is a high-powered dock that’ll keep all your other gizmos and gadgets topped up, with its mix of retractable cables, Qi2, and sockets.
- Qi2 certified with Magnetic Power Profile (MPP)
- Visually attractive exterior design
- Well-engineered retractable cables
- GaN charging brick is surprisingly heavy
- Scratch-prone plastic build material
- Proprietary power supply connector
The charging station to end all charging stations
The NH21 packs a hearty 245W punch
With so many charging ports on deck, it’s no wonder the NH21’s wall wart is as big as it is. 245W is a lot of power, so much so that it makes use of a large, (and unfortunately) proprietary cable connector to attach to the main unit, and it features a dedicated ground pin to boot. Had Baseus not used GaN technology in this instance, the brick likely would’ve been even bigger and heavier than it already is, and it would’ve undoubtedly run hotter.
Once plugged into an outlet, it’s off to the races. The 15W Qi2-certified charging pad smoothly articulates to allow for a variety of mounting angles, and the magnetic attachment itself is strong (so much so that I have to hold down the unit to remove my Pixel 10 from it). The two USB-C sockets are convenient and high-powered in their own right, and I really appreciate the inclusion of a USB-A socket for legacy cables.
In my experience, heat production is kept to a minimum (thanks to the power supply being external to the unit)…
There’s a bright 3-inch LCD panel included on the front of the NH21 that displays charging status details in real time, and a side-mounted button makes it easy to switch between different views. I quite like the general performance overview screen, but it can also surface total output and per-port power outputs, too.
The NH21 dynamically allocates wattage to connected devices as needed using Baseus’ proprietary BPS 3.0 Smart Power Allocation technology, and all ports and cables can be used simultaneously without issue. In my experience, heat production is kept to a minimum (thanks to the power supply being external to the unit), and power delivery throttling is handled appropriately as necessary.
Retractable cables are underrated
The NH21 has two extendable tricks up its sleeve
In addition to the two aforementioned USB-C sockets and the single USB-A port, the NH21 has a party trick up its sleeve in the form of dual, retractable USB-C cables. Each cable is 31.5-inches (80 cm) in length, which is enough for my desktop purposes, and both are flat and heavily braided to fight against tangles.
Personally, I love Baseus’ retractable cable design, which I previously experienced when reviewing the company’s EnerCore CJ11,CR11, and CG11, charging bricks last year. The mechanism for winding and unwinding the cables is physically robust and incredibly satisfying, working akin to a vehicle seat belt, but with a locking mechanism that makes it so you only have as much cable on your desk as you need at any given moment.
With these retractable cables in mind, I find myself hardly ever needing to grab loose USB-C cords from my drawer, which certainly appeases my tech minimalist sensibilities. I love the flow of tugging on the NH21’s cords when needed, and then letting them whip back into place when I’m finished. I also appreciate the magnetic latching that occurs when each respective Type-C cable’s jacket is fully retracted, which is a nice attention to detail.
A charging station powerhouse
The NH21 gets a lot right, but it’s not a perfect product
At $200, the NH21 isn’t cheap. That being said, it’s a highly competent all-in-one charging station solution that has helped keep my devices juiced up, and my living space free of clutter. For the price, I do wish the external chassis of the device made use of higher quality build materials, but it is at least a visually pleasing product.
245W is plenty of juice to work with, and the 65W USB-C compatibility is powerful enough to keep my gadgets powered on and happy. For high-power laptops and gaming handhelds, you may run into trouble topping up when in the middle of an intensive game title or rendering session, but I’ve had no such issues as of yet.
The small display ticker is a much appreciated inclusion, as there’s an added piece of mind to knowing the wattage being blasted out onto my devices via BPS 3.0 Smart Power Allocation. Elsewhere, the retractable cable mechanism is downright irresistibly engineered, and the Qi2 charging pad is simply the cherry on top of what is a very compelling peripheral on the whole.
This device was provided to Pocket-lint by Baseus.
4/5
The Baseus Nomos II 6-in-1 245W Charging Station is a high-powered dock that’ll keep all your other gizmos and gadgets topped up, with its mix of retractable cables, Qi2, and sockets.
