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

New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18

18 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.2

Wednesday November 27, 2024 5:05 am PST by
Apple is set to release iOS 18.2 in early December, bringing the second round of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update brings several major advancements to Apple's AI integration, including completely new image generation tools and a range of Visual Intelligence-based enhancements. There are a handful of new non-AI related feature controls incoming as...
iphone 16 pro models 1

12 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17

Friday November 29, 2024 5:17 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different – already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip...
iPhone 17 Pro Dual Tone Rectangle Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Already Rumored to Have These 8 New Features

Wednesday November 27, 2024 12:19 pm PST by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch for 10 more months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. An imaginative iPhone 17 Pro concept based on rumors Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models so far: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro ...
Whatsapp Feature

WhatsApp to Drop Support for These iPhones Starting May 2025

Monday December 2, 2024 2:57 am PST by
WhatsApp is set to end support for iOS versions older than iOS 15.1 from May next year, removing the chat platform's compatibility with several iPhone models in the process. From May 5, 2025, WhatsApp will no longer be compatible with iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus models. Users with those devices won't be able to access the encrypted chat service after the specified date unless they ...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: iPhone 17 Designs Revealed!

Friday November 29, 2024 9:34 am PST by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the recently leaked design of the iPhone 17 "Air" and iPhone 17 Pro. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Earlier this week, a report from The Information's Wayne Ma revealed that the iPhone 17 Air will have a thickness of between 5mm and 6mm, which would make it the thinnest iPhone ever. In comparison, iPhone ...
Apple AI Command Center Concept Mock 3

Apple Expected to Launch This All-New Device Next Year

Wednesday November 27, 2024 1:05 pm PST by
Apple is expected to kick off 2025 by launching an all-new smart home hub, also referred to as a "command center," as early as March. The hub is expected to feature around a six-inch display that can be attached to a tabletop base with a speaker, or mounted on a wall. The device is said to run a new "homeOS" operating system with a customizable widget-focused home screen, and it is expected...
airpods pro 2 gradient

AirPods Pro 3 Expected Next Year: Here's What We Know

Thursday November 28, 2024 3:30 am PST by
Despite being released over two years ago, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 continue to dominate the wireless earbud market. However, with the AirPods Pro 3 expected to launch sometime in 2025, anyone thinking of buying Apple's premium earbuds may be wondering if the next generation is worth holding out for. Apart from their audio and noise-canceling performance, which are generally regarded as...
Cyber Monday Deals Feature 2022

Apple Cyber Week Deals Available Now: AirPods, iPads, and More

Sunday December 1, 2024 7:52 am PST by
Although Black Friday has ended, Cyber Week is here and you can find great deals on numerous Apple devices right now. This includes big savings on AirPods, Apple Watch, MacBook Air, iPad, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Specifically,...

Top Rated Comments

jthompson666 Avatar
112 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
112 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
112 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
112 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
112 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
112 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)