A multidevice charger like the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station is a must-have, especially if you own an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods. A 3-in-1 charger removes the hassle of dealing with multiple power bricks and cables, which occupy unwanted desk space and power sockets.
ESR recently launched its Qi2 3-in-1 wireless charging station, which stands out for its Qi2 support and detachable Apple Watch charger. Its small footprint, sturdy design and welcome extras make it a solid contender for a prime spot on your nightstand.
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ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station review
There’s no dearth of MagSafe-based 3-in-1 charging stations. However, ESR is among the first well-known accessory-makers to launch a Qi2-compatible 3-in-1 charger. Since iPhones also support Qi2, the charging station can wirelessly top up your phone at full speed. Plus, it comes with a removable Apple Watch charger that can be used separately.
Table of contents: ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station review
- A sleek 3-in-1 charging station
- Charge your devices at full speed wirelessly
- The lack of an extra USB-C port is a bummer
- A great 3-in-1 for your bedside table
This MagSafe-compatible Qi2 wireless charging stand powers up iPhone, Apple Watch [Certified] and AirPods.
A sleek 3-in-1 charging station
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
The ESR wireless charging station is matte black, with the Apple Watch charging puck featuring a white top. The Qi2 charging base has a glossy finish to help it stand out. The dark shade ensures the 3-in-1 won’t easily get dirty over time, which has been a recurring issue with all my previous charging stations since they were primarily white.
More importantly, the charging station does not use chrome, which is prone to scratches and scuffs over time. The ESR’s understated and stealthy design lacks the bling you might see in similar offerings. But this is a more practical approach that will better withstand daily use. If you want, you can get the charging station in white.
The Qi2 charging stand can hold your iPhone in portrait or landscape orientation. Since Qi2 and MagSafe use magnets for device alignment, you won’t need to worry about placement. Apple added Qi2 compatibility to iPhone 12 and newer models with iOS 17.4, so your iPhone will charge at its peak wireless speed of 15W with ESR’s charging station.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
You also can juice up Android phones wirelessly with ESR’s Qi2 3-in-1 charger. However, they will only pull 15 watts of power, even if they support higher speeds. Plus, a MagSafe or Qi2 wireless ring must be installed on their body. Otherwise, they won’t magnetically stick to the ESR charging station.
Unlike some other charging stations, the iPhone’s charging stand on the ESR 3-in-1 sits at a fixed angle. This makes it ideal for placing the phone in landscape mode for StandBy mode or for video calls. I did not encounter any problems when using the charging station on my bedside table, but it might not work for you if the default angle does not fit your use case. There’s a status light at the bottom, but it is so dim that it is barely noticeable. That’s good, since you will not want a charger on your bedside table with a bright status light. That would become annoying in no time.
A removable Apple Watch charger adds versatility
A unique aspect of ESR’s 3-in-1 charging station is the removable Apple Watch charger. It plugs into the back of the stand through a USB-C port. If you don’t own an Apple Watch, you can decide not to install the charger. Or, if you frequently travel, you can remove the Apple Watch charger from the 3-in-1 charging station and carry it with you in your pocket or backpack. It is more convenient and easy to carry than Apple’s official charger. Plus, since it uses USB-C, you can directly plug it into your laptop or a power brick to charge your Apple Watch or AirPods Pro 2.
Unlike many other charging stations, ESR’s 3-in-1 offering has a relatively small footprint. Given my bedside table is almost always filled with unwanted stuff, I like the compact design. There’s more room for me to put my other crap. As mentioned, you can remove the Apple Watch charger from the rear to reduce the charging station’s footprint even further.
Charge your devices at full speed wirelessly
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
ESR bundles a 30W power brick and a 5-foot USB-C to USB-C cable in the box. So, you won’t need to source your own charger or cable. You get everything in the box needed to use the 3-in-1 charging station. The lengthy cable can come in quite handy, depending on where your power outlets are located.
The Qi2 stand provides 15W of power output, the maximum supported by the standard’s current implementation. The portable Apple Watch and the AirPods charging slot provide 5W of juice individually, which is enough to fast charge these devices. ESR says its Apple Watch charger is an Apple-certified second-gen model. So, it can fast charge your smartwatch at up to 5W speeds, the same as Apple’s official charging puck. My Apple Watch Series 7 topped up its battery from 10% to 80% in around 30 minutes, which is close to Apple’s claim.
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- Place your AirPods or other wireless accessories at the bottom of the ESR charging station to top up its battery.
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- The detachable Apple Watch charger of the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 charging station.
The charging spot at the base of the charger has a recessed area, so you know where to place your AirPods or other wireless earbuds. You can even charge other wireless accessories from here. I tried placing an Android smartphone in place of AirPods, and it charged just fine, albeit slowly, since the power output tops out at 5W.
The lack of an extra USB-C port is a bummer
My only complaint with the ESR 3-in-1 charging station is the lack of an additional USB-C port. This would have allowed me to connect my iPad or other USB-C accessories directly to the charger for topping up their batteries. Admittedly, this is not a problem that should affect most users.
A great 3-in-1 for your bedside table
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
I like ESR’s Qi2 3-in-1 charging station a lot. It works with iPhone 12 and newer and can fast charge your AirPods or Apple Watch. And Qi2 support means it will work with all future Android smartphones that support the wireless charging standard.
The charging station’s compact dimension ensures it does not occupy a lot of space on your bedside table. The portable Apple Watch charger is also a thoughtful addition, as you can carry it with you when needed.
The official MSRP of the ESR 3-in-1 charging station is $89.99. That’s pretty expensive, but it is frequently discounted to as low as $60 or less, making it a stellar deal, especially since it comes with its own power supply and lengthy USB-C cable.
★★★★☆
Buy from: Amazon
This MagSafe-compatible Qi2 wireless charging stand powers up iPhone, Apple Watch [Certified] and AirPods.
ESR provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out more in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.
