It Can Swallow Your Whole Gadget Family — PITAKA’s Desktop Charging Station
Translated from the Chinese original.
My desk is fairly tidy, but every night I still have to charge all my gadgets one by one. I’m happy with how the desk is arranged, but the other side has too many power cables scattered around and doesn’t look great. For my first post of the year, I’m sharing my experience with the PITAKA Air Omni Lite desktop charging station.
Some of you may not know what the PITAKA Air Omni Lite is. It’s a mid-sized six-in-one wireless charger that lets you charge your digital devices in one place. No more messy desk. The one downside is that if you have an Apple Watch, you’ll still need to pair it with a magnetic charging cable.
Devices Everywhere
Looking at this photo, my desk was once taken over by electronics and chargers.
My desk is actually fairly tidy, but it’s constantly occupied by a pile of electronics and all kinds of chargers. Even with a multiport GaN charger, there’s no avoiding tangled cables and clutter.
I usually have a few phones, and sometimes I enter Nike SNKRS draws (usually to no avail). These devices need Lightning and USB-C cables, plus a whole collection of fast chargers. I also have an Apple Watch and AirPods, both of which need wireless chargers. An iPhone can share a charging adapter, but you can’t charge both devices in the pair at once, so I need another Lightning cable and outlet for the second one.
The first thing that caught my eye about PITAKA’s products was their aramid fiber and carbon fiber finishes. They look especially cool. This six-in-one desktop charging station can charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, Android phones, and other electronics at the same time.
To be fair, if you set the price aside, PITAKA makes good products. The details are excellent, and it’s easy to see how to use everything. Here’s a quick look at this desktop gadget.
What Does It Look Like?
The unit I received came in eco-friendly kraft paper packaging. You can also choose a black walnut veneer or gray fabric version. A simple line drawing on the manual’s cover introduces the product’s features, and the overall style feels very PITAKA.
My first impression was that it looked great, and the included accessories are interesting too. This magnetic clip attaches to the charging port on the front.
The entire front is covered in aramid fiber, whose distinctive texture feels smooth against the skin.
Aramid fiber accessories are a signature of PITAKA’s products. The material is strong, tough, lightweight, heat-resistant, and resistant to wear.
Curious, I tried scraping it with a small knife. That’s when its scratch and wear resistance came into play—but, well… I scratched the surface right away. This was an extreme test, so please don’t try this at home.
The middle frame and bottom shell are made of zinc alloy and are very well polished.
On the front, the lower section is the phone’s wireless charging area, with up to 10W output. The upper-left area charges earbuds wirelessly at 5W, and the center is the 5W Apple Watch charging area. At the top there’s a port that switches between USB-C and Lightning and supports up to 18W.
The switch is the button on the front edge. Press it in to switch to Apple Lightning; release it for USB-C. Kudos to the designer. One issue: the connector feels a little loose, so it’s not especially easy to line up and plug in. The loose fit may be intentional, though, to protect the charging port if a device gets knocked while charging.
On the side, the red button pops up the Apple Watch charger. There are also USB-C and USB-A fast-charging ports beside it, rated for up to 18W. I’ll get to those later.
Press the red pop-up button and the Apple Watch charging stand rises slowly. An Apple Watch charger isn’t included, so you’ll need to install your own watch charging cable. The pop-up vertical stand also makes it easier for people with solo loop bands to charge their watch, and it’s convenient for checking the time at night.
When I removed the back cover to replace the charging cable, the little pry tool that came in the box came in handy.
Installation is simple: snap the small charging puck into place and feed the cable through the opening underneath.
There’s a cable storage channel on the bottom, with several guides to keep everything in place. Just plug it into the USB-A female port. It’s a nice detail.
I also noticed a hidden pull-out drawer on the side. It makes good use of the space and can hold small accessories that are easy to lose. A light turns on when you open it.
Here’s the whole thing assembled. It feels cohesive and has a distinctly geeky look.
How Does It Work?
One word: charging. Three devices—iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch—charging at the same time.
I was curious about the phone charging area. According to the manual, it uses a multi-coil design to make phone placement less finicky and reduce the chance of waking up to find that your phone never charged.
Just dropping the phone down wherever I want, outside the charging coil, doesn’t work.
Compared with a single-coil design, the linked-coil layout means you don’t have to line up the phone as precisely, making it easier to align with the coil built into an iPhone. You still need to place the phone in the direction shown by the guides so the internal coil lines up. If you place it carelessly like I did, charging will disconnect automatically.
The product is designed to charge one phone at a time. You definitely can’t wirelessly charge multiple phones at once.
Place the phone inside the guide area for the correct charging position.
Earlier I mentioned how much thought went into PITAKA’s design. I noticed a magnet behind the Apple Watch charger. This little accessory is a stand for supporting a device, and the magnet lets you prop up a tablet or phone. PITAKA has a clever idea with this magnetic setup.
It’s great for watching a show while you eat.
Whether on a desk or bedside table, the PITAKA Air Omni Lite is an elegant way to handle charging for multiple devices.
The 1A1C ports on the side support 20W PD fast charging over USB-C when used alone, based on my test. Fast charging doesn’t work when both USB ports are in use, so they’re best for topping up a backup phone before bed.
Is It Right for Me?
The front is about the size of my hand.
It weighs just over 853 g, so it feels substantial. It looks right at home on a bedside table or desk, and it really does help tame a mess of cables.
One device now handles charging for most of my gadgets. More importantly, it helps avoid the awkward moment when you realize your earbuds or watch never charged. It meets the needs of all my devices, whether Android or iPhone, Lightning or USB-C, with broad compatibility and fast charging. Most of all, it keeps the electronics together, and the aramid fiber can protect them from bumps while charging.
Where Can I Buy It?
At RMB 899, it can free you from a tangle of cables and the hassle of changing chargers between settings. If you have a lot of electronics and want a tidy desk, this six-in-one charging station is worth a look. I’m looking forward to more new products from PITAKA.
The Bottom Line
Highlights: Charges six electronic devices at once; supports multiple fast-charging protocols and performs well; made with attractive, durable aramid fiber and zinc alloy; a good fit for people with lots of devices.
Improvements: In the name of being eco-friendly, it doesn’t include an Apple Watch charging module. Its 18W output also feels limited today; I’d like to see it increased to support laptop charging.
Thanks to its aramid fiber construction, the PITAKA Air Omni Lite can fit into more places.
For example, on a desk or bedside table. It doesn’t draw too much attention and can easily blend into a room. When you want to charge something or need it, you’ll know it’s there.