Typically a desk mat isn’t a technology product. It’s something that complements your keyboard and mouse at your workstation. Most are just fancy pieces of material stitched together. Journey’s Alti Wireless Charging Desk Mat flips the script and adds a magnetically attached charger for your phone and earbuds.
At its heart, the Alti desk mat is trying to do three things: protect the desk surface, keep loose papers out of sight and combine your charging needs into a single spot. At first glance and with my initial use, it managed to do all those things as promised. I was pleasantly surprised.
Even better was this product’s ability to be so versatile. Journey managed to walk a fine line with Alti’s size so it could work on either a small desk or a larger one. The mat is reversible so you can charge your phone on either side. The magnetic charger also doesn’t need to be attached if you don’t want it to be.
TL;DR
Pros:
- Charger can be oriented on the left or right
- Reversible for felt or vegan leather on the top
- Two charging spots
Cons:
- Felt on the bottom can slide occasionally
- No wired charging port
Buy at Journey.
What is the Alti Desk Mat?
I started using a vegan leather desk mat full-time when I got a new desk. I didn’t want my keyboard sliding around and scratching the surface. But even beyond protection for any gadgets coming across my desk, having a mat can add a dash of style. Journey’s Alti Wireless Charging Desk Mat immediately caught my eye because not only can it keep scratches away, but it adds an integrated charging station.
There are two charging spots on the detachable side panel: one at the top meant for AirPods and one in the middle that can deliver speeds up to 15 watts. Only one side of the mat is magnetic if you do want to keep both pieces connected together. The mat can be flipped around to position the magnetic side on either the left or right.
The space between the vegan leather and felt surfaces can be used to hide loose papers. The mat comes in either black or light gray and measures 14.56 inches by 30.7 inches and is 4 millimeters thick.
Using the Alti Desk Mat
The most interesting part of the Alti desk mat is its technology integration. Sure, the felt side was plush and provided a little cushion under my wrists while typing. I also enjoyed the look and feel of the vegan leather side, too. But the detachable charging panel is a clever way to keep clutter off your workspace.
This desk mat was exactly in line with how I already had been using my desk space. I had been setting my phone down on a wireless charger and didn’t use any cables. If you do use your phone differently during the day, this mat won’t be as helpful.
For example, if you have your phone propped up in a stand and use it for FaceTime calls, the flat charger won’t be convenient. If you already have a wired cable routed for 20-watt-plus speeds then, again, the Alti won’t really address your needs.
Although it might have made sense to add a USB-C output port to turn the side panel into more of a dock, that’s not what this is. I think adding anything else to this product would have complicated it more than it needed to. A big reason I’ve enjoyed using this at my workstation is because of its clean and minimal appearance.
Should You Buy Journey’s Alti Wireless Charging Desk Mat?
This desk mat, even with its included wireless charger, will either seem like a steal for its price or else a little crazy. Ultimately it’s a sheet of vegan leather with an equal-size piece of felt paired with a simple charger. It’s a bit of a luxury item at its core.
But if you’ve ever shopped for a desk mat, you’ll discover pretty quickly that most are fairly expensive or they don’t last very long. Based on its quality and functionality, Journey’s Alti Wireless Charging Desk Mat is a uniquely great product. It won’t solve your organizational problems if you don’t use your devices the way it wants you to, but if you do, you’ll love it.
Buy at Journey for $129.99.
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