Smartphones have become a way of life in this day and age and with them, a mountain of accessories to choose from. The market for cell phone stands, however, has always been quite bare in the way of quality offerings with only a few of the more popular phones getting stands specifically designed for them. Thermaltake aims to change that with a single stand capable of supporting any device you may have now or in the future. Today I take a look at the Luxa2 H1 Premium Mobile Holder to see if the quality Thermaltake is known for in their coolers and cases has transferred over into the mobile market.
Product Name: Luxa2 H1 Premium Mobile Holder
Review Sample Provided by: Thermaltake
Written by: Debo
Pictures by: Debo
|
Specifications |
|
|
Product Name |
Luxa2 H1 Premium Holder |
|
Dimensions |
110 x 93 x 167 mm (4.33 x 3.66 x 6.57 inch) |
|
Weight |
205 g / 0.45 lb |
|
Material |
Aluminum |
|
Colors |
Brushed Silver, Red, Black |
|
Compatibility |
Smart devices with 3.2” – 4.8” display Maximum device dimensions: 140 x 80 x 15 mm |
|
Adjustable Angles |
360o (Rotated) 300o (Vertical) |
Packaging
The first thing you notice right off is the sheer size of the box the H1 Premium comes packed in. With the size of phones growing it is only natural to expect the stand to have to accommodate this growth. Still the box is sturdy enough to protect its contents with a simple, no nonsense design.
The branding, product name and a small picture of the stand jump right out at you from the front along with a small blurb telling us that the H1 can accommodate any device with a display size between 3.2” to 4.8” (140 x 80 x 10mm maximum dimension) which covers just about every smart phone in use today excluding the Galaxy Note and Optimus G lines.
Unfortunately the packaging doesn’t tell us much more than that, instead directing us towards the brand’s website for more information. This does make the packaging appear sleek and direct.
Cracking open the outer shell, we find a second open-faced box designed specifically to hold the H1’s unique boomerang shape in safety along with a quick user’s guide giving us a quick rundown on the product specifications and abilities.
Overview and Features
The H1 Premium is primarily made from aluminum giving it a feeling of strength while keeping the overall weight of the product light and probably less than any device it may find itself hold. While our review sample was the silver brushed aluminum version it should be noted the H1 also comes in red and black varieties to fit your fancy.
The only two pieces of the device not made of aluminum are meant to hold up your device and keep it safe. The faceplate is made of a high-friction rubberized material that will stick to the back of the phone without leaving a residue when you remove it. Six rubber nodes are attached to adjustable arms and serve to grip the sides of your device, holding it in place while mounted on the stand and giving you free access to your touch screen.
The entire holder mount sits on a swivel head permitting you to rotate the displayed device 360o allowing for standard viewing as well as a landscape orientation for wider pages or even videos. Viewing angle is also adjustable along a separate 300o axis providing nearly infinite display angles.
Performance
First things first, the H1 is a mobile stand meant to hold a wide arrange of devices. To this end it does not disappoint as I took it through its range of motion first with my own Droid 4 complete with an Otterbox case and then with a Nexus 4 fitted with the previously reviewed Poetic Palette. The stand hung on tight and motion stayed fluid throughout even when minor tweaking to the viewing angle was needed.
I can also confirm the H1 will fit models such as the HTC One, Lumia 820 and the iPhone 4S with ease. To my surprise, despite being larger than the listed range, the H1 was also able to get a grasp on the Samsung Galaxy S4 though the case did have to be removed to fit. Still in all these cases the viewing angle remained fully adjustable and perfect for showing off a video or two with friends or even serving as a stable camera stand based on device orientation.
Overall and Final Verdict
The Thermaltake many PC owners have known and loved is alive and well with its Luxa2 brand. The H1 doesn’t disappoint and succeeds at its intended purpose. Being able to hold a wide array of mobile models and even upgrade with you is a pleasant thing to see in an age of custom tailored accessories. Though the Luxa2 brand seems to be primarily aimed at the Apple side of things the H1’s versatility makes it a great choice for anyone with a mobile device and a need to hold it in place.
The price point is a bit on the high side and cell phone holders go and I am sure the fact that it can upgrade with you is a reason why along with the fully aluminum design. Still without any extra functionality such as a charger port or dock the H1 does seem to wear its ‘Premium’ tag a bit too well.
This downside doesn’t take away from the fact that the Luxa2 H1 is a solidly constructed, sleekly designed holder that you can keep around for at least a few upgrades. If you are looking for a lightweight, eye-catching mobile device holder that will last then most should have to look no further than the Luax2 H1.
