The Seidio Desktop Cradle offers a simple, stylish way to charge and sync your phone. The flexible USB connector allows the phone to lean free-form against the backrest, while the heavy based with grip pads keeps it from moving around too much.
The pivoting USB plug is the big seller for this cradle. It offers just enough flexibility to accommodate a device, even if it has a case on. The resting viewing angle without a case is well under 45 degrees, so your device stays mostly upright with just enough of an angle to stay viewable.
Style
The LED indicator on the rear is a really good brightness, which has been a sticking point for me ever since one cradle’s light was so blinding that I had to cover it up with sticky tack. It would be nice if the indicator changed color depending on if something was successfully plugged in or not, and maybe even something a little more advanced to show if a device is fully charged would be nice.
The model compatible with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus model has the device mounted upright since the plug is on the bottom, but I’m not sure if I would be as happy with a phone that needed to be mounted in landscape orientation. Unless you load up an application or lock the screen again after dock, you’ll be locking cock-eyed at the lock screen that’s stuck in portrait orientation just to figure out the time.
In terms of looks, the black color scheme ensures that it will go with just about any office style, and remain subdued in brighter surroundings. The sharp edges might be a little too pronounced for some people, but I find it’s generally a bold and classic look.
Function
The Seidio desktop cradle has a good amount of weight to it and two large grip pads on the bottom, making it a stable anchor for your device, even for larger phones that stand upright when mounted.
If you’re charging over PC, using the cradle regularly may get irritating, as you’ll likely get a pop-up window every time the phone is mounted. That can be handy if you do a lot of syncing or data transfers, but if you’re just looking for a charge (which is usually the case), those pop-ups can be annoying if mounting and unmounting regularly through the day.
Of course, you can always just plug the cradle’s USB cable into a wall charger instead, which is the most likely scenario if you’re setting this up beside your bed. Of course, in that instance the LED light might cast too much light in the dark to make sleeping easy, in which case you’ll want to cover it up with something. As a bedside accessory, I could also see this working a bit better for devices in landscape, since that’s the natural orientation for most clock apps.
Pros
- Simple, bold style
- Pivoting plug offers easy connection
Cons
- Not ideal for portrait devices
Bottom line
The Seidio Desktop Cradle offers a simple, classy way to showcase your device while it’s charging or syncing - be it in the bedroom or on your desk. More modest folks may be just as happy saving $29.95 and having their device lay flat on a table and leaving a loose wire kicking around. If you'd like to pick one up, the Seidio Desktop Cradle is currently available in the ShopAndroid store for 10% off.
