Not many years ago, every gadget had its own unique charger, resulting in a confusing mess of separate wall chargers.  This is an issue we still we have to deal with to some extent, but mobile devices have taken a fortunate turn for the universal in the last couple of years, at least when it comes to sync and charge. 

Today, it’s very likely that most of your gadgets – smartphones, MP3 players, eReaders, handheld GPS, tablets, etc. – can be charged over USB, which is a convenience it itself; but a further convenience is having an independent charging station where you can easily power-up all of your mobile devices in one central location.

Let’s take a look at two of the best choices in USB Charging Stations:

Belkin Conserve Valet USB Charging Station (Model F7C008q)

This simple solution uses a single power cord to get wall power and includes four USB charging ports to charge your devices.  There’s an angled display platform with room for a primary device or two.

The Belkin Conserve Valet includes mini and micro USB cables – the latter is great for late-gen Android phones and other mobile devices -  or you can use your own cables to charge.  The station shuts off after 4.5 hours of charging to save energy.

iHome Charging Station (Model IB969G)

Similar in function to the Belkin Conserve Valet, the iHome Charging Station is designed for users of Apple products who also need to charge other device types. 

There are two Dock Connector cradles for iPods, iPod touches and iPhones, along with two USB ports that can be used to charge other gadgets like non-Apple smartphones, eReaders and MP3 players.

As you can see, there’s enough power to charge the Apple iPad as well.

Own a USB charging station that you use and love?  Let us know in the comments section.