For iPhone users seeking effortless hands-free video calls and content creation, or just a stand that stands out, theBelkin Auto-Tracking Stand Prooffers a game-changing solution. It is a 360-degree rotating Phone mount that uses the iOS feature DockKit. It connects to the camera, allowing it to track your movement, keeping your face front and center, ensuring that you are always in frame. While it boasts impressive features, compatibility limitations and a hefty price tag may not be for everyone.
Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro with DockKit
The Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro is a great solution for anyone who works with video on an iPhone and wants to track their movement.
Price and Availability
The Belkin Auto Stand Pro retails for $179.99, and is available direct via Belkin as well as from traditional retailers. It’s only available in black, so you’re out of luck if you’re hoping for a model that perfectly matches the titanium finish of youriPhone 15 Pro Max.
Setup: Intuitive and Easy To Use
The Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro streamlines tasks with its auto-tracking feature, ensuring your iPhone stays centered on you during video calls or recordings. Setup is a breeze, but occasional glitches might frustrate some users. Pairing is simple and support for the iPhone camera and a variety of apps makes this stand well worth it for those who are glued to their iPhone, especially content creators.
Setup is super easy. You don’t need any third party apps, install any updates or take any extraneous steps of any sort. Power it up, then, hold your phone against the pairing symbol to pair it. A few taps later and you are good to go. After that, you open a video app with your face visible to the camera. It really is that easy and that’s always a big win with video devices. We love easy things.
Your phone will now follow you as you move around. Two LEDs on the front and back will flash green, letting you know that your iPhone is connected. These will be solid green when tracking is enabled. After setup, I did my best to confuse it, moving around my face and zig-zagging as fast as I could without hurting my neck. It tracked me flawlessly at this point, and I was pretty impressed.
I also soon found out that you can easily switch between the rear or front camera without any problems. It just works. Even when making TikTok videos, you want to verify you stay in the frame and this just does the job.
Decent Battery Life
Equipped with wireless charging capabilities, this stand keeps your iPhone juiced up throughout the day while you use it. However, it doesn’t provide additional battery life on its own. The internal battery will give you about 5 hours of runtime before you need a recharge. For most users, that should be more than enough for your video needs.
Given the expensive price of this device, this is one area where I would have expected more, but as I said, 5 hours should make most users happy. And most likely, battery life will depend on how much you move around. If it needs to track you more, the motors will work harder.
Limited Compatibility: iPhone-Only
If you have anything below an iPhone 12, this stand is not for you. This is because it is designed specifically for iPhones with MagSafe technology, so this stand is only compatible with select models. Users with non-MagSafe devices will need to look elsewhere. That will leave many iPhone users out in the cold, but for those who are up-to-date, this device has a lot to offer.
You can use the stand with FaceTime, and even TikTok, Zoom, Google Meet, Instagram and many more. It may not work with every single app out there, but the important ones are all covered, including more business-focused apps like Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
Fairly Portable, But Best Kept At Home
While sturdy, its bulkiness may not make it ideal for on-the-go use. It’s more suited for stationary setups like a home desk. That said, it is still fairly easy to take with you anywhere. You just can’t put it in a pocket or a purse as easily as you would with a mini tripod or other accessory. I can see myself packing this in the car for a trip, but I would not want to take it on a flight. It measures 4.3 inches x 8.5 inches, so not super huge, but large enough that it won’t go everywhere with you.
While by no means a dealbreaker, I do hope that they cut it down in size whenever they launch a new version. I’m actually surprised that Belkin didn’t slim it down just a tad so that portability was more of a selling point, because again, this stand is expensive. But to be fair, they had to fit motors in the base, so maybe I’m being too harsh. It is also a bit heavy so that it’s not prone to fall over. This makes it stable, but is another mark against taking it with you while traveling.
Should You Buy the Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro?
Make no mistake, this is no mere iPhone stand and charger. If you prioritize effortless video calls and content creation and own a MagSafe-compatible iPhone, theBelkin Auto-Tracking Stand Procould revolutionize your setup. However, if you’re seeking a more affordable or portable option, you might want to explore other alternatives. There are plenty to choose from on the market today.
At first glance, this is the kind of accessory that seems limited to people like content creators, but it actually comes in handy for a variety of uses and users. It is true, it’s not for everyone, but you can use it for FaceTime calls, and meetings, for instance. Or even for making silly TikTok videos. If face tracking is important to the task you are performing, this Belkin device is a very solid choice. Maybe even the best one out there.
The real question comes down to whether or not you feel that the expensive cost is justified. That’s going to be answered by how much content you create or how much face time you are doing and how important it is to you to have your mug always front and center. After all, there are far cheaper charging stands out there.
However, the Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro is all about convenience. Plain and simple. That is the main selling point for those who are willing to pay a premium. There are no third party apps, no updates to install, and it has an easy setup process. It just works and instantly streamlines your daily video routines. That is the beauty of this stand. You can even control the camera from certain Apple Watch models like the Apple Watch Ultra 2. If you have a video-heavy lifestyle, this will up your game and make life a bit easier.
