by Juli Clover
Today, Satechi announced the release of two new Qi2 charging stands: the Qi2 3-in-1 Foldable Wireless Charging Stand and the Qi2 2-in-1 Foldable Wireless Charging Stand. Qi2 is the latest version of the Qi standard, comparable to MagSafe.
Qi2 uses magnets to ensures smartphones are properly aligned with charging coils, and is capable of charging compatible iPhones at up to 15W. Faster Qi2 charging speeds are available on the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and all iPhone 15 models. Future iPhones, such as the upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, will also work with Qi2.
Although Qi2 is essentially the same &zwnj ;MagSafe, its advantage is that Apple does not control it, so Qi2 accessories may be a little cheaper than MagSafe technologies that manufacturers must license from Apple.
Both Satechi wireless charging pads have the same design and include a square wireless charging pad for AirPods, a hinge-attached bracket, and a round magnetic wireless charger for iPhone. The 3-in-1 model adds a foldable Apple Watch charger to the back of the arm.
These chargers fold flat so they're easy to throw in a bag or backpack, but the aluminum body is made of heavy material. The ability to fold them is a plus, but due to the weight they may not be a better option than something like the Mophie 3-in-1 Travel Charger.
However, the folding design is not the best option. A significant improvement over most chargers, so if you want something that works well both at the desk and on the go, Satechi's Qi2 options are worth a look. Compared to a flat charger, the ability to unfold the bracket and use a vertical charger is useful because it provides features such as standby mode on the iPhone and Night Stand mode on Apple Watch.
The base of each charger is made of soft-touch genuine leather material and has a small indentation designed to accommodate AirPods. iPhone The charging puck also features soft-touch silicone to prevent scratches on your iPhone, and the Apple Watch charger is made of standard white plastic.
With aluminum body. The design of the chargers looks like quality products and fits well with most desktop systems. It's worth noting that Satechi only sells them in space gray, so if you prefer silver aluminum or shades of white, this isn't an option.
The best thing about the Satechi charging pads is the Qi2 charging puck. It attaches to the device bracket using a hinge, so the charger can be installed at different angles. It can be positioned straight up to provide a flat surface for charging, or tilted all the way down to take up minimal space. There are angles in between that are perfect for watching videos or FaceTiming. Like most vertical magnetic chargers, the charging stands can be used with iPhone located in landscape or portrait orientation. Satechi says the stand's hinges won't loosen over time and feel durable yet easy to manipulate.
In testing, Satechi's Qi2 charging pads performed as MagSafe charging stands. iPhone can be attached using a magnet, and the charging speed is about the same as MagSafe. iPhone got a little warm a few times, but that happens with MagSafe charging device. In 30 minutes, the iPhone 15 Pro Max was able to charge from 22 percent to 52 percent, which is 30 percent of the total charge.
The AirPods charging space charges the AirPods at 5W. , and the Apple Watch 3-in-1 Charger is a fast charger, so it can charge Apple Watch Series 7 and later, as well as Ultra models, at the fastest speeds. There's a small light on the front of the charger when it's in use, but it's not too bright.
There's a USB-C port on the back to power the charging pads, which is very convenient. because the cable can be replaced if it gets damaged or you need a different length of cable. The more expensive 3-in-1 charger includes a 45W power adapter and replacement plugs for international travel. Both models come with a simple black USB-C cable.
One of the benefits of Qi2 is its lower prices, but Satechi's wireless charging pads are still expensive. The 3-in-1 model costs $130, likely because Satechi still licenses Apple Watch charging technology from Apple, and the 2-in-1 wireless charging pad costs $80. Considering the build quality and versatility provided by the hinge design, the price doesn't seem unfair: the Satechi 3-in-1 device is $20 cheaper than the MagSafe-based 3-in-1 charging options sold by Apple.
Foldable the Qi2 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand costs $130, and the Qi2 2-in-1 Foldable Wireless Charging Stand costs $80. Both products are available for purchase today on the Satechi website.
Note: For the purposes of this review, Satechi provided MacRumors with 3-in-1 and 2-in-1 Qi2 wireless charging pads. No other compensation was received.
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