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4W Product Review: TYLT VU Wireless Charging Car Mount

The Tylt samsung galaxy s5 holder on a white background.
The Tylt samsung galaxy s5 holder on a white background.

What is it?

The TYLT VU is a wireless charging car dock that utilizes the Qi wireless charging standard.

What does it do?

The Tylt Vu allows compatible mobile devices to be charged wirelessly. Operation is a simple as placing your mobile device in the mount to activate charging.

What's wrong with it?

The main issue which I touch on in the review for the VU Solo is that your phone either needs to have wireless charging built in or you'll be forced to either buy an insert either from TYLT or from a third party (or as in my case you'll need the special wireless charging battery door). This increases the cost of entry which some may not want to deal with. The second item of note is that while this mount has great suction for placement on the dashboard or windshield, it lacks an install option for a car vent – which even the cheapest of mounts offers.  While mounting to your dashboard or windshield is ideal, there are some of us who prefer the more subtle vent mount option.

Why do you/don't you need it?

If you have embraced Qi charging in you home or office and want to add the capability to your vehicle then it is a no-brainer to pick up this mount. I also feel that due to the placement of this mount, you will eliminate the need to mess with your phone while driving, which if it's plugged into a charger you will be more inclined to do. While I have been using it for this review it became a great addition when using the GPS function on my phone as I could see the maps while driving instead of relying on the verbal prompts while my phone was either in my pocket or in the cubby under my stereo. I will say that if you are looking at this device as your first entry into wireless charging, you should shift your attention to a home based solution first (unless of course you spend an insane amount of time in your car).

My Take:

The fact that wireless charging is not a standard on most phones is one of the first things to consider when looking at integrating wireless charging into your daily life. As I mentioned, there is a pretty sizable investment in making wireless charging the standard at this time. If your phone is not enabled out of the box then you need to spend between $20-$40 to make your device compatible plus the cost of the home charger and/or the car mount. It would roughly cost $75-$100 just to take the wireless charging plunge. I am not trying to dissuade you, but I want to be honest when it comes to embracing this new tech. If you are a techie like me and have the funds and want to embrace the standard then TYLT is a company you can definitely get behind.

Product Photos

Product Unboxing Video