Buddi Play 2 CarPlay dongle and more tested by loyal readers: the final verdict (ADV)

Buddi has a wide range of accessories that work well with Apple devices. A few weeks ago we were looking for five readers who would take a maximum of five products of their choice with them in their lives for a while. Here you can read what they thought of it.

This article was created in collaboration with GSMpunt. This means that the article and the tested Buddi products are sponsored by the online store. However, the experiences you read below are completely independent.

Buddi accessories: this is what readers think

At the beginning of November, we were looking for five readers who wanted to test three to five Buddi products. They could choose for themselves which ones these were. We randomly selected five people to get started.

Willem, Sabrina, Ursula, Arda and Martijn tested, among other things, the Buddi Play 2 CarPlay dongle, various power banks and an alternative to the Apple Pencil. You can read their sharp assessment below.

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Buddi Play 2 CarPlay dongle

Ursula, Sabrina and Willem chose the Buddi Play 2 CarPlay dongle, among others. All three testers are enthusiastic. Ursula recommends it for those looking for a simple and reliable solution and Sabrina says it has even changed her driving experience.

They report that the installation was a piece of cake. “You plug the dongle into the USB port of your car, wait a few seconds and everything is ready to use,” says Sabrina. Willem liked that the instructions for use were easy to find via a QR code. It went to YouTube and the video was also in Dutch. According to Ursula, the quick start guide is clear and accurate.

Although all three testers are very enthusiastic, Sabrina still mentions a downside: the battery of her iPhone drained very quickly. Sabrina also tested the dongle with different phones. She had no problems with her newer iPhone, but with older iPhone models and a Xiaomi phone the operation was sometimes variable.

Willem also found it very useful to put the route in Apple Maps at home and as soon as he got into the car, the route was immediately displayed in CarPlay. He no longer takes the dongle out of the car: it’s a keeper. Sabrina indicates that the price is on the high side, but the convenience and functionality you get in return is certainly worth the investment.

Buddi (MagSafe) power banks

Buddi’s power banks were the most popular among testers. There were two variants in the test: the Buddi Connect MagSafe power bank and the Buddi Boost.

Buddi Connect MagSafe power bank

Thanks to the handy MagSafe system, you can conveniently click the Buddi Connect onto the back of your phone and it will then charge your iPhone wirelessly. Arda noticed that the magnets ensured that the power bank stuck firmly to his iPhone. Sabrina agrees: ‘It won’t just fall off, because the magnets are strong enough.’

Willem is still surprised that wireless charging even works through the case. He used the power bank four times to charge his phone before the power bank was empty. Sabrina used a USB-C cable from Buddi to also charge other devices with the Buddi Connect MagSafe power bank, such as her Nintendo Switch. Martijn also tried his iPhone with this power bank on the back in the Buddi Tour phone holder for his bike. Unfortunately that didn’t work, because then he became too fat.

The test panel members above chose 10,000 mAh, but Ursula went for 5,000 mAh. She is somewhat mixed in her assessment. She indicates that the instructions for use are printed a bit small, making it difficult to read for people over 50 years old. She also finds it inconvenient that there is no digital display that tells how much capacity is left. The MagSafe system worked well on the case of her iPhone 11 Pro Max, but not on its own on her device. MagSafe was only introduced from iPhone 12.

Buddi Boost 20,000 mAh power bank

The Buddi Boost power bank was tested with a capacity of 20,000 mAh. Martijn chose this, but Arda and Willem also gave their opinion about this. Martijn didn’t think this was the heaviest, but not the lightest either. Arda also indicates that it is a bit too big to carry without a bag.

Still, they are pleased with the power bank. It is ideal for taking with you on the go and charging devices such as your MacBook or iPad. Arda uses his iPad a lot on the road and it could be fully charged almost twice. Willem also mainly used it for this purpose. His wife’s older iPad runs out of power quickly and he now connected the power bank to it. Martijn charged his iPhone to 100 percent six times.

Furthermore, Arda would have preferred to see more USB-C ports, because he has several devices with this connection. The three testers found the display with the remaining capacity useful. ‘More useful than a number of lights that are still on as an indication,’ Willem said.

Buddi Wave Active Stylus Pen

Two readers were curious about the Buddi Wave Active Stylus Pen. It is an alternative to the Apple Pencil with palm rejection. Arda thought the stylus felt very light and premium and Sabrina agrees. ‘Looks almost as fancy as the expensive Apple Pencil, but for a fraction of the price.’ The quality feels sturdy and Sabrina has even dropped it a few times. He survived without damage and that gives her confidence that he will last a long time.

According to both, it fits comfortably in the hand: “It almost feels like a real pen.” Arda noticed no delay when he wrote quickly and found him very pleasant. Sabrina also liked that you can just pick it up and start writing or drawing. That makes it ideal for quick notes or spontaneous sketches.

If you don’t use the pen for a while, you can click it magnetically to your iPad. It’s a shame, Sabrina thought, that it won’t charge. However, that is not a deal breaker for her. She thinks the palm rejection is cool. She sometimes had some problems with the Apple Pencil, but now she didn’t have to deal with faint lines on her screen when her hand accidentally came into contact with it.

The two thought the battery lasted a long time. You charge it via the USB-C output on the back of the pencil and that’s fast. After half an hour, Sabrina already saw two dots, which is about 60 percent. After that it will last a nice long time again. Even with daily use, Arda only charges it once a week.

Buddi phone holders

There were also two phone holders in the game: Ursula tested the tablet and phone holder for her desk and Martijn opted for the phone holder for his bicycle. Let’s start with that first one. The phone holder is described by Ursula as a ‘complete product’. She thinks the holder feels sturdy and the collapsible model is ideal for taking with you. Because it can be rotated 360 degrees, it is very functional.

‘The rubber on the bottom ensures that it remains sturdy and there is also rubber in the places where your iPhone rests against the holder.’ In her opinion, the legs on which the phone rests could have been a little longer. It just doesn’t fit properly with a card on the back of your iPhone.

Then the phone holder for the bicycle. Martijn is very enthusiastic about that. Installation was easy and the rubber adapters that are included make it fit on almost any bicycle. He thinks it is ideal for when you cycle a lot and long distances: ‘You basically slide your phone into the holder and lock it at the back. This means your phone is really stuck.”

Each corner of his phone was protected by a section of the holder, which gave him peace of mind. He would dare to use it on his motorcycle, but he has not tested that.

Buddi 30W Mini Charger

Martijn and Sabrina were happy with this mini charger. The ability to charge two devices at the same time was especially appreciated. Sabrina finds it useful that it has a USB-C and a USB-A port. This makes it suitable for many different devices.

It is powerful and compact. This makes it easy to put it in your bag or even a pocket. “Ideal for on the road,” said Sabrina. The charger never produces more wattage than your phone can handle and that gave Martijn a safe feeling.

Buddi Flex USB-C to USB-C cable

Sabrina was the only one to test the Buddi Flex USB-C to USB-C cable. It offers support for 8K images and she noticed that well. She connected the cable to her new monitor: “The image is so sharp, you could almost swear you’re looking through a window.” Data transfer is lightning fast at 20 Gbps, she found.

She loves creating photo and video content. This cable is ideal for that: no more searching for the right cable, because this one can do it all. The cable is protected by braided nylon and she has no idea that it will fall apart or tear quickly. It is not a cheap cable, but if you look at what it can do, it is worth the money.

Conclusion: readers are enthusiastic

The testers were enthusiastic about the Buddi accessories, with a number of caveats. The Buddi Play 2 in particular will no longer be missing from the cars of Willem, Ursula and Sabrina. Martijn, Sabrina, Arda, Willem and Ursula are also pleased with the power banks.

As an alternative to – and a fraction of the price of – original Apple products, Buddi accessories are definitely worth considering. They look premium and are also good value for money.

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