5 of the Best iPhone Docks

Most men and women have a favourite place to keep their wallet or purse as they sleep; it could be on the bedside table, (standard), in the pocket of the trousers that they are going to wear the next day, (sensible, if a little on the OCD side), or under their pillow on a chain tied to their wrist, (secure, however they probably didn’t send or receive many Christmas presents this year.) Wherever you decide to keep your important possessions, it makes sense for you to have a certain place where you are always going to find them. So, that’s why iPhoneAppCafe has selected and reviewed 5 fantastic iPhone Docks for you to choose from, in order for you to have a place to rest, charge and use your iPhone. (For the people who keep their wallets under their pillows, we’re still waiting on a review for the iPrison Dock…watch this space.)

iClooly Alumistand for iPhone 3G and 3GS
iWorld Price: £19.99
Link: iClooly Alumistand for iPhone 3G and 3GS

If you are living the postmodern lifestyle of owning no television but simply streaming all of your entertainment through your iPhone, then this could be the accessory for you. The iClooy Alumistand offers a great resting place for your iPhone and is small enough to be transported around with the minimum of fuss. You can switch the stand round to either a horizontal or vertical viewpoint, so you can listen to your tunes or watch films without having to clumsily hold it in your hand. A 30-degree tilt on the stand means that you can find the optimum viewing position for you needs and avoid sunlight glare. The downside is that it doesn’t charge your phone, but it does leave a space for a charger to slot in, should you want to watch a film next to a plug socket; the upside is that it’s only twenty quid.

Griffin PowerDock 2 Multiple Charging Base
iWorld Price: £34.99
Link: Griffin PowerDock 2 Multiple Charging Base

So, despite all of those Blackberry ads and promises from CarPhone Warehouse to get you the next best thing to an iPhone, it transpires that you are an Appleaholic. You’ve got the iPhone, the iPod, the iPad and the MacBook, and let’s face it, they are all brilliant. The only trouble is that they all need charging and with everybody’s increasingly hectic lifestyles, sometimes you are forced to make the gut-wrenching decision over which of these vital implements of everyday life you are going to charge…well not anymore! The Griffin PowerDock 2 Multiple Charging Base allows you to charge anywhere between one and eight devices that have an iPhone/iPod charging slot. It’s sleek design boasts a rubber-grip base that will stick to any work surface, so that you can know where the charging dock is at all times. This really is a great tool, if only for diffusing family fights over who gets to charge their iPhone and at £34.99, you can now officially put a price on family happiness.

Logic3 Universal Dock Pro for iPod and iPhone
iWorld Price: £44.99
Link: Logic3 Universal Dock Pro for iPod and iPhone

Towards the middle of the price spectrum lies the Logic3 Universal Dock Pro which can be used for both your iPhone and your iPod; it’s cool design may seem like a bit of a gimmick, but considering that the dock actually allows you to watch videos and photos on your iPhone, then it is also a great backdrop to surround your screen. Oh yeah, here’s the kicker; the Universal Dock Pro comes with a remote control so that you can control your iPhone from anywhere in the room! To be fair, the fact that your screen is so small that you will no doubt be within arm’s reach of the iPhone when you are watching a film anyway, this may seem a little redundant, however it can be a funky little prop when you are just lounging around listening to tunes.

Altec Lansing T612 iPhone Dock
Amazon Price: £86.67
Link: Altec Lansing T612 iPhone Dock

Everybody loves a party and we all know that the most important element of a party is a great soundtrack; however, no one wants to hear even the greatest playlist if it is through tinny speakers that crackle on every chorus and cut out once it starts to get going. The Altec Lansing T612 iPhone Dock’s claim to fame is that it is said to be the first docking speaker designed especially for the iPhone. To back this up, one of its unique features is that it allows you to dial and receive calls while the iPhone is docked, putting your music on pause as you make your call…just make sure you don’t take any private calls at the party, or your private gossip could be broadcast over the speakers in impeccable sound quality! A remote control is included through which you can control the iPhone’s iPod functions and you can even connect your headphones through the jack while your iPhone is still docked…this is not recommended, however, whilst at a party.

B&W Zeppelin iPhone Docking Station
Amazon Price: £499.99
Link: B&W Zeppelin iPhone Docking Station

Ok, this is the rock star of the bunch. I’m not expecting many of you to fork out £500 on a docking station, however it’s always good to glimpse at what we could have should we get that elusive pay rise or save up for a really, really long time. More of a style icon’s accessory than an actual docking station, the Zeppelin’s innovative design means that the perfect sound quality provided by the twin-mid range drive units and sub-woofer will mean that your music can fill a room at 100W RMS…(jargon transcribed: ‘It rocks.’) Although not specifically designed for the iPhone, it does contain GSM shielding so that when the iPhone is not in flight mode, you should be able to use it as you would an iPod. SO, if you have any rich aunts who are looking a little peaky of late, planning on robbing a Post Office or are just so downright wealthy that £500 is a drop in the ocean to you, then by all means, be my guest. If you fancy spending your money on other of life’s essentials, (like food and heating), then go for a dock at a tenth of the price, which, will probably work out to more than a tenth of the quality…then you’re sort of making money. Sort of.