Native Union’s DOCK for Apple Watch ($60) is an attractive, minimalist charging dock for Apple Watch. Made of two pieces — a weighted block covered by gray matte silicone, and a rotating arm — DOCK can be positioned with the Apple Watch on the left or right side, or in Nightstand mode. The rotating cylindrical aluminum-and-plastic arm contains some space inside for cable management, as an Apple Watch charging cable can be wrapped around an inner circle inside the arm, and out the back of the “arm.” The charging puck, of course, is installed on the “front” of the arm. DOCK is compatible with both Apple Watch sizes and all bands.
We also received the DOCK for Apple Watch Marble Edition ($120), which is just like the regular DOCK, except instead of a weighted silicone block, you get a polished marble block. (The marble block is actually lighter than the weighted rubber base — 11.3 ounces to 13.9 ounces.) The marble edition has the same rotating arm.
We’ve seen a lot of different Apple Watch dock designs, but Native Union’s DOCK is near the top of the heap. It has an interesting look, and its functionality is also pretty good — the weighted base ensures your docked Watch won’t be sliding around. The rotating arm attaches magnetically to the base with ease, and a small degree of satisfaction.
Though DOCK does work in Nightstand mode, it does looks a bit awkward in that orientation — unless you plan on buckling your watch loop while charging. Another possible issue is how low the arm is to the surface under the base, whether it be a desk, table, or nightstand — it seems like a minor thing, but it might be enough to annoy a few users. The silicone base is also a bit of a lint and pet hair magnet.
Native Union’s DOCK for Apple Watch is held back a bit by its price — to say nothing of the $120 Marble Edition — $60 isn’t the most expensive “regular” dock we’ve seen, but it’s on the high end. It all depends on how much DOCK’s materials and design matter to a consumer.
