belkin automatic tracking stand The Pro is not your typical wireless charger. Yes, it has built-in MagSafe, which allows you to easily and safely mount and charge your compatible iPhone on the stand. But it’s also one of the few accessories that comes with DockKit. DockKit is an Apple software framework that allows your iPhone’s camera to work with a motorized stand to natively track and frame your face.
Belkin’s 360-degree rotating stand lets you automatically track your face and body movements using your iPhone’s front or back camera. It has a motorized 90 degree auto-tilt feature to adjust the angle of the device (slightly up or down) during a video call. It has a built-in battery, so you don’t need to plug it into a nearby outlet to use it.
It’s expensive and not suitable for everyone. But if you constantly use FaceTime while doing crafts or cooking, you may find it more convenient than the Center Stage feature built into Apple’s iPads and MacBooks. This feature tracks you to a limited extent and keeps you in the frame. Or maybe if you’re an up-and-coming TikToker who shoots videos from home.
Seamless setup
Belkin’s DockKit charger is bulkier than the standard MagSafe wireless charger. There’s a MagSafe charging pad on top that lets you wirelessly charge your iPhone at up to 15 watts. It is fitted with a 90-degree rotating hinge and automatically tilts up and down as you move. Useful for keeping users in the frame during video calls.
You can place your phone in portrait or landscape mode. The latter triggers smart display mode. The feature, first introduced in iOS 17, turns your iPhone into a smart display of sorts when placed horizontally on a wireless charger, complete with interactive widgets, photos from your library, and a large clock.
Then there is the base, which has a hinge that rotates 360 degrees. The front has a button to enable or disable motion tracking, and the back has a USB-C port for charging the stand’s internal battery or when you need to power the entire system. There are three LEDs, one above the button and two on the back.
Photo: Brenda Stolyer
The front LED mimics one of the rear LEDs, so you can always diagnose the status even if you’re not directly in front of the base. A static or flashing white, green, or orange color can indicate various things, such as whether motion tracking is disabled or the internal battery is low. The third LED above the USB-C port is related to power and cycles through white and orange. It can be difficult to remember what all these statuses mean, but Belkin has a guide on its website for reference. Certainly there are better ways to convey all this information.
