Logitech's 'Logi BASE' Stand Charges the iPad Pro Using the Smart Connector

The Smart Connector on the iPad Pro has thus far only been used for keyboard accessories including the Logitech Create and Apple's own Smart Keyboard, but today, Logitech is debuting a new accessory that uses a little known functionality of the Smart Connector -- charging.

Logitech's new Logi BASE is a stand for the 9.7 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, allowing them to charge cable-free in landscape mode through the Smart Connector. Logitech sent MacRumors a Logi BASE ahead of its debut, so we were able to get a few days of hands-on time with it.

logibase
Made of solid aluminum matching the Silver iPad Pro models, the Logi BASE has a Lightning port on the back to accommodate a Lightning cable, which is used to power the accessory. On the front of the stand, there are three male Smart Connector prongs that fit into the Smart Connector port on the iPad Pro to deliver power to the tablet whenever it's sitting in the stand. The Lightning port is located right in the middle of the stand, something that I found somewhat inconvenient for cable management when positioned on my desk.

logibaserear
A plastic lip holds the iPad Pro in place, and a rubber bottom ensures the stand stays firmly in place on a flat surface made of wood, metal, granite, or other similar hard material. The iPad Pro rests against aluminum in the back, and while this didn't cause scratching during my limited testing period, it doesn't seem as ideal as a rubber coating to protect the aluminum shell of the iPad.

logibasealuminum
Setting the iPad Pro on the Logi BASE with the Smart Connector lined up slots it right into place, making it much easier to dock the iPad Pro through the Smart Connector than fussing with a Lightning cable at the rear end. It clicks smoothly into place like a Smart Keyboard and I didn't have any trouble getting it to align quickly.

logibasebackside
The Logi BASE has an upright viewing angle that's ideal for using the iPad Pro as a second screen or as a device for watching videos or other media, and as someone who often uses the iPad Pro this way - as a second screen -- I found the Logi BASE to be convenient. Being able to stick the iPad Pro into a dedicated dock on my desk was quicker than plugging it in via the Lightning port and it keeps the power level topped up while the iPad Pro is in use.

logibasefront
Because of the rubber on the bottom and the generous size of the base piece, the stand is sturdy, but there's not much holding the iPad Pro itself in place so it's worth exercising some caution because it can be knocked out of place on accident. With an iPhone stand, the Lightning port provides some stability because there's a stronger physical connection, but with the Smart Connector, it's a contact connection offering no hold.

With the Logi BASE, the iPad Pro can only be positioned in landscape mode when charging because of the location of the Smart Connector, but it'll also hold an iPad in place in portrait mode with no stability issues. On the BASE, the iPad Pro can't be used with the Smart Keyboard, obviously, but it works well with standalone Bluetooth keyboards when docked. It also support iPads and iPhones without a Smart Connector, but it has no purpose beyond serving as a stand with those devices.

logibasebottom
A major downside of the Logi BASE is its price. At $99, this is an accessory that's pricer than a lot of other docks for Apple devices, but it is made from high-quality materials and it does have a built-in Smart Connector and Lightning port. Historically, licensing deals with Apple to use proprietary hardware haven't come cheap.

As for charging speed, it was somewhat slower than the with the speeds I see when charging through Lightning. Charging the 12.9-inch iPad Pro through the Smart Connector using the standard Power Adapter and Lightning cable that shipped with the iPad Pro took more than six hours, longer than the typical five to five and a half hours that it takes to charge through the Lightning port.

When charging a dead 12.9-inch iPad Pro starting at 4:10 p.m., it was at 50 percent at 7:00 p.m., 93 percent at 10:00 p.m., and 100 percent at 10:35 p.m. According to Logitech, the Logi BASE will charge the iPad Pro about one to two hours slower through the Smart Connector than it takes to charge an iPad Pro with a Lightning cable.

On Apple's purchase page for the Smart Keyboard, there's a mention that the Smart Connector allows for a two-way exchange of power and data, but Apple's marketing has focused on the Connector's ability to provide power to accessories and not the other way around.

With rumors suggesting the iPhone 7 could potentially include a Smart Connector, accessories like the Logi BASE give a clear picture of the potential use cases of the port on a smaller device. With two-way power features, Apple and other third-party companies could build battery cases and wireless charging accessories able to deliver power without using the iPhone's Lightning port.

The Logi BASE can be purchased from the Logitech website and Apple's online store starting today for $99.

Note: Logitech provided a Logi BASE to MacRumors free of charge for the purposes of this hands-on post. No other compensation was received.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Monday June 30, 2025 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are less than three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
A18 Pro Chip

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options that include silver, blue, pink, and yellow. MacRumors...
Apple Watch Ultra Night Mode Screen

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Launching Later This Year With Two Key Upgrades

Wednesday July 2, 2025 1:13 pm PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 appears to be nearly over, and it is rumored to feature both satellite connectivity and 5G support. Apple Watch Ultra's existing Night Mode In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on track to launch this year with "significant" new features, including satellite connectivity, which would let you...
iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Magsafe

iPhone 17 Pro's New MagSafe Design Revealed in Leaked Photo

Wednesday July 2, 2025 8:37 am PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are rumored to have a slightly different MagSafe magnet layout compared to existing iPhone models, and a leaked photo has offered a closer look at the supposed new design. The leaker Majin Bu today shared a photo of alleged MagSafe magnet arrays for third-party iPhone 17 Pro cases. On existing iPhone models with MagSafe, the magnets form a...
macbook air spacegray purple

Apple Planning to Launch Low-Cost MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

Monday June 30, 2025 3:20 am PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In an article published on X, Kuo explained that the device will feature a 13-inch display and the A18 Pro chip, making it the first Mac powered by an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro chip debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro last year. To date, all Apple silicon Macs have contained M-series...
iOS 18

Apple Releases Second iOS 18.6 Public Beta

Tuesday July 1, 2025 10:19 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 updates to public beta testers, with the betas coming just a day after Apple provided the betas to developers. Apple has also released a second beta of macOS Sequoia 15.6. Testers who have signed up for beta updates through Apple's beta site can download iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 from the Settings app on a compatible...
Wi Fi WiFi General Feature

iOS 26 Adds a Useful New Wi-Fi Feature to Your iPhone

Wednesday July 2, 2025 6:36 am PDT by
iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 add a smaller yet useful Wi-Fi feature to iPhones and iPads. As spotted by Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach, sign-in details for captive Wi-Fi networks are now synced across iPhones and iPads running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. For example, while Weinbach was staying at a Hilton hotel, his iPhone prompted him to fill in Wi-Fi details from his iPad that was already...
maxresdefault

Five Features Coming to AirPods Pro 3

Friday June 27, 2025 10:52 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. We're counting on a new model this year, and we've seen several hints of new AirPods tucked away in Apple's code. Rumors suggest that Apple has some exciting new features planned that will make it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest model. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Heal...
replay all time playlist apple music

Apple Music Debuts All-New Personalized Playlist

Monday June 30, 2025 7:16 am PDT by
As part of its 10-year celebrations of Apple Music, Apple today released an all-new personalized playlist that collates your entire listening history. The playlist, called "Replay All Time," expands on Apple Music's existing Replay features. Previously, users could only see their top songs for each individual calendar year that they've been subscribed to Apple Music, but now, Replay All...

Top Rated Comments

jthompson666 Avatar
120 months ago
I mean I like it... But then I remember I like my lightning cable as well.. Also my $99, I like that too.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mac Fly (film) Avatar
120 months ago
So this is the caveman version of inductive charging.

I bought this back in 2011, it was so beautiful and elegant, an inductive charging stand and the HP Touchpad... way ahead of its time.

But you're left with a fully charged HP Touchpad :p
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
trifid Avatar
120 months ago
So this is the caveman version of inductive charging.

I bought this back in 2011, it was so beautiful and elegant, an inductive charging stand and the HP Touchpad... way ahead of its time.

Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
japanime Avatar
120 months ago
So Apple is copying a very old concept.
Apple isn't copying anything (as far as this accessory is concerned). The accessory is made by Logitech.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mcmeowmers Avatar
120 months ago
Why are accessories for expensive devices also expensive? This accessory is trivial to make/design.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
szw-mapple fan Avatar
120 months ago
Why are accessories for expensive devices also expensive? This accessory is trivial to make/design.
Expensive devices = fewer buyers = fewer buyer of accessory for said device = a higher price for accessories to make it worthwhile for makers to produce one.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)