Swivel left, Xtand right

The USBFever 360 Swivel Stand looks a surprising amount like a product I reviewed earlier, the Just Mobile Xtand. Both of them can hold iPhones, but the USBFever version goes a step further by providing support for the BB Bold and Storm. However, since I don’t normally have access to Blackberries (I just borrow them from the folks), this review will focus on how well the iPhone fit and how the Swivel stand compares to the Xtand.

Looks like an Xtand
The Swivel looks like an Xtand for the most part, except for the paint. Both are supposedly made of aluminum, but the Swivel ends up looking cheaper. The aluminum finish is scratched in a few spots on the Swivel, and the back of the stand makes it more obvious that the finish is, in fact, painted on. Along the bottom you can also see that the Swivel Stand only features one rubber strip, whereas the Xtand features two. In practice this didn’t seem to make any noticeable difference. When viewed from the front, it’s really tough to tell the two apart at a glance. That’s good, since this is the angle that counts — you’ll be sitting in front of, not behind, the Swivel.

Doesn’t smell like an Xtand
I’m not normally in the habit of smelling my review products, but I actually couldn’t help but do so when I first took the Swivel out of its packaging. It smelled pretty strongly of paint, and although the smell has faded over the last month of use, it’s still evident on your fingers if you touch the stand. The Xtand has no such smell.
However, once you’ve found the ideal spot on your desk for the Swivel Stand you won’t really ever have to touch it again. You’ll be placing your phone on the plastic nubs of the ‘x’ and so the paint smell will become a moot point.

Works like an Xtand
In terms of functionality, the Swivel and Xtand are almost exactly the same. One thing I like about this design is that the device is actually set at a usable and viewable angle, unlike other docks (Apple included) which are really only good for looking pretty and charging your device.
The Swivel sets your device in place at a greater angle (facing more towards the ceiling) and it doesn’t rotate quite as smoothly as the Xtand for landscape use, but it works. Both docks also support a wire being threaded through the back so you can easily charge an iPhone. However, since the BB Bold charges through a mini-USB port along the left side this really isn’t the ideal dock for charging your Blackberry.

Cheaper, but not that much cheaper
The Xtand isn’t a cheap accessory, but it does have the quality construction to back the cost. The Swivel Stand feels and looks like a cheaper version of JustMobile’s product, but its price is close enough to the Xtand’s that I think potential customers might as well buy JustMobile’s product instead. At $27.99 (compared to the Xtand’s average $40 asking price) a Swivel Stand really makes me really think about whether the $12 price difference between the two products is really much of a barrier.

The advantage of the Swivel Stand, however, is that you can pick it up anywhere in the world for $28.00 + $3.00 shipping and it should fit the Blackberry Bold nicely, too. The Xtand will likely charge more for shipping and handling depending on where you buy it, and only fits the iPhone. However, unless the $12 price difference is a real issue, I’d probably still recommend the Xtand for most users. It looks and feels better overall, and it doesn’t smell of any paint.

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You can pick up your own Swivel Stand for $28 at USBFever.com.

Related posts:

1. Review: Just Mobile Xtand
2. Review: USBFever iPod AV Cables
3. Review: Belkin Swivel USB Hub
4. Dual Review: iSkin Solo for iPhone, iSkin Vibe for Blackberry Bold
5. Fun New iPhone Cases from USBfever