RCA PCHSTAB1R 30-Pin Charging Dock with Device Cradle

• 30-pin charging dock and 2.1 A USB charging
• Compatible with iPod, iPhone and iPad
• Fast, full-speed charging for smartphones or tablets
• One convenient AC outlet for other electronics, such as lamps or clocks
• Outlet optimized for iPad (2.1 amps)

PROS:

Combines an iPod/iPhone (30-pin) charging dock with a USB charge port and AC outlet

Wide, stable base

AC extension outlet and USB charge port work perfectly

CONS:

iPhone not always reliably secured/charging in dock

Very large footprint

The dock obscures most of the home button, making it inaccessible when it is in the dock

No LED charge indicator

The RCA PCHSTAB1R 30-Pin Charging Dock is definitely a great concept item. It combines a charging base for your iPhone4S/iPod 4th generation (or below) and also has a handy AC extension outlet and a USB charge port to boot. In this world of expanding technology, a device like this is ideal for me: I can charge my work iPhone4, charge my personal flip phone, and plug in an extension set for my home telephone all on my night table and using only a single device. This sure beats having three cords dangling by my bedside and the need for jury rigging the dual outlet so I can plug in three devices. In concept it's good. Sadly, the iPhone does not sit securely in the dock and therefore doesn't always charge reliably.

The device is simply packaged with an insert that is supposed to ensure a good fit for an iPod or older iPhone. The device is larger than you might think. It's base is about 5 3/4 inches wide and 3 1/4 inches wide in the middle. It tapers to about 4 inches in width as it rises up to 2 inches high. This isn't a small and wimpy device. It will take up a little desk or night table real estate. The unit also has a little heft to it, something that I think makes a lot of sense: it is sure on its four rubber feet and will not easily tip over or slip. On the back you have an AC extension outlet with a ground and a single USB port for charging. If the RCA guys really wanted to impress, they might have put two USB ports on the back--there is surely enough room--but this is a minor issue.

The iPhone or iPod is simply inserted in a well on the top of the dock. Another minor issue: the home button is obscured by the upper lip of the dock. Granted, this is not a dock/speaker type of device, but if the well were simply shallower, the button would be accessible.

The major problem with this device is that the iPhone dose not 'click' securely into place, as it does when you connect its usual 30 pin connector. I tried this with the iPhone in the minimalist, Incipio rubber case that I use and with the iPhone out of the case. I tried using the insert and adjusting the backrest on the insert, still no luck. If I press the iPhone in place (with or without the rubber case) I get that satisfying beep and the screen flashes on. Still, if I wobble the iPhone just a bit, the battery icon fluctuates between charging and not charging. You have to jimmy the iPhone a bit and make sure that the battery icon shows the lightning bolt to ensure that the thing is charging. The first night I used this, I placed the phone in the dock and went to sleep. In the morning, I realized the iPhone had slipped and didn't charge overnight. I have tried the dock with and without the supplied insert and with and without the case on--it doesn't seem to make a difference. The phone will definitely charge in this dock; however, the phone is still able to slip out of place easily if I bang the night table. It would be nice if the device had an LED on the front to indicate whether the iPhone was charging or not.

Most nights, I have been using the dock, but if I want to ensure a charge or will have the phone plugged in longer than one night, I simply use a 30 pin cord and plug the iPhone into the USB charge port on the back. This works just fine, but it negates the need for having this kind of dock.

Once again, this is a great concept, but the implementation is less than stellar. The device works after a fashion, but because the iPhone can slip out if you are not extra careful, I am giving this only three stars.

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I love this! Almost all of the outlets in my kitchen are used and yet, when I use the RCA Charging Dock I can charge my iPhone, my ipad, and it has an outlet on it which allows me plug in a device if I need to. I travel often, and find that this is a great solution to place beside my bed stand and charge everything at once rather then root all over the room looking for outlets/chargers. And it charges super fast. The cord is of medium length.

I Love Love Love this and I would highly recommend it! It comes with a removable "bumper" pad so you can slide your smart phone in it and it will be tight. It also comes with a thinner bumper pad, but I find with my iPhone (one of the earlier versions)I don't need the bumper pad.

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Just plug it into the wall and set it on your desk, and you've got yourself a nifty little iPhone charging dock. Works well, but I wish the additional USB port was on the front instead of the back, so I didn't have to pick it up and flip it around to plug something into it. Also, the connector seems to be a little tough to plug my iPhone in to, it takes a little bit of force. Otherwise, a perfectly fine charging dock.

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My iPhone is more than just a phone. It is an alarm clock, music device, workout log and so much more. The RCA charging dock is a great accessory for the phone. I keep mine on the nightstand and use it not only for charging the phone overnight but also to use as an alarm clock and the dock has extra space to plug in my lamp and charge my Kindle as well.

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Yes, this device is capable of charging my iPhone or iPad, and for that alone, it's worth three stars.

But the list of what it can't do for me is much longer. I'd picked this up hoping to be able to charge my iPhone and iPad at the same time -which would be doable, with the dock plus the USB charging port on the back -except for the fact hat the dock can't handle the size of my iPhone's case (which is a simple speck case, not even super bulky). I'm not going to bother taking the case on and off every time I charge my phone, which makes the dock essentially useless for me.

The cord that plugs in from the device is also awkwardly short, which really limited where in the room I could use it. And the device was just bulky enough that it wouldn't fit in any of the accessory pockets in my laptop bags, which definitely limits its portability for me.

For $5-10 more, there are much better products on the market -I have both Belkin and Rocketfish ones that I've been really happy with.