Belkin Unveils New Creative Gear for Streamers
In the past year, Belkin, a regular partner of Apple, introduced an impressive phone stand that takes the concept of tracking footage to the next level. This device not only keeps you in focus but also records your movements as you talk or perform. However, this high-tech accessory originally lacked a tripod, a limitation that has now been addressed.
The Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro features a motorized MagSafe charging capability priced at $150. Beyond offering a standard 15W wireless charge, this stand leverages Apple’s DockKit framework. It provides 360-degree rotation and 90-degree tilting, ensuring that you are always captured within the frame. This device is tailor-made for content creators, simplifying the filming process by allowing the stand to autonomously follow you as you engage with your audience or perform a narrative, although it can also be utilized for casual video calls, such as on FaceTime.
Despite its innovative features, the stand’s height of just under nine inches limited its practical applications. While it works perfectly for desk setups, challenges arise if your filming requires you to stand or move further away from the device’s microphone. This constraint made it a hard sell for influencers who often need flexibility in their filming setups.
Initial solutions relied on third-party equipment, considering the stand is equipped with a standard tripod screw hole; however, Belkin has now proposed a dedicated solution. Announced at this year’s CES, the Belkin Stage Creator Bundle complements the Auto-Tracking Stand Pro with a 5.6-foot tripod and a pair of clip-on microphones designed to enhance your filming experience. Along with a magnetic phone mount, this bundle allows users to utilize the microphone setup independently of the tracking feature for simpler applications.
Currently, there’s no information available regarding Android compatibility, which is likely due to the reliance on the DockKit system for the tracking functionality. Even with the addition of a MagSafe sticker on non-iPhone devices, full integration with the software would be challenging.
Details on pricing for the bundle and specifications for the clip-on microphones remain unavailable as well, with the release scheduled for May. While it may face competition from existing third-party options (as tripods and wireless microphones are well-established items), this bundle will significantly enhance the perceived value and utility of Belkin’s motorized stand.
Set to launch in May, the Stage PowerGrip is another upcoming product, but its price is still undisclosed. Unlike the other devices, this one serves a more whimsical purpose; it functions as a MagSafe power bank and adds a retro look to your phone, akin to an instant camera. Available in various colors, it includes a grip for stabilizing your shots and a button for capturing photos. Instead of a traditional camera viewfinder, you’ll find a small display that shows the remaining battery life of the bank. Additionally, like Belkin’s other MagSafe power banks, the PowerGrip can stand upright to serve as a kickstand, and it features a built-in USB-C cable for charging.
Belkin also has products for CES 2025 with pricing already confirmed. Among these are a new BoostCharge Compact USB-C wall charger and a 20,000 mAh BoostCharge Power Bank featuring an integrated USB-C cable. The BoostCharge Pro Magnetic Wireless Charging Pad is a compact charger ideal for travel. This wireless charger connects via MagSafe to your phone’s back (or to a similar sticker), offering a slim design comparable to a power bank. Its built-in kickstand is designed for convenience, allowing users to prop their phones up while sleeping so that they can utilize it as an alarm clock. However, it requires a 6.6-foot USB-C cable for power, with options for including a power supply or using one you already own.
The BoostCharge Pro Magnetic Wireless Charging Pad is expected to release in the U.S. in April, priced at $20 without a power supply and $30 with one. For those who prefer to use their own power supply, March will see the launch of the BoostCharge Compact USB-C charger at $30, offering a maximum capacity of 45W through one USB-C port. A higher-capacity option of 65W will also be available at $40. The BoostCharge Power Bank, equipped with a 20,000 mAh capacity and an integrated cable, will debut for $50. These USB-powered products are compatible with any device that supports charging via a suitable port, while the BoostCharge Pro Magnetic Wireless Charging Pad is compatible with any Qi2 devices.
