The MagSafe iPhone charger can angle and tilt by 35-degrees, and hold the device in either landscape or portrait—so works well in iOS 17’s StandBy mode. If you don’t own an Apple Watch, the cheaper 3-in-1 Modular Charging Station charges iPhone, AirPods and iPad. Also available from Apple. A 3-in-1 charger that can re-power iPhone, AirPods and Watch is a boon for Apple fans, but most of the products we’ve tested take up quite a lot of desk space. The stylish HiRise 3 Deluxe, as its name suggests, goes more vertical and so has a smaller footprint—handy for bedside tables and other places where a giant charging stand is less welcome. The Zens 4-in-1 Modular Charging Station for iPhone with MagSafe, AirPods, Apple Watch and iPad is a MagSafe-certified charging stand that can handle not just four Apple devices but more if you buy extra charging modules to connect.

The most basic form of MagSafe or magnetic charger is the simple pad that latches on to the compatible iPhone. Some pads feature a pop-out arm so the iPhone can be propped up while charging.

Apple Clear Case

The Journey SWIV 3-in-1 reviewed above is a little larger but noticeably lighter, and also can fast-charge the Apple Watch. Any MagSafe iPhone (12/13/14/15) can be wirelessly charged at up to 15W, faster than non-certified MagSafe-compatible chargers. AirPods and Apple Watch will each charge wirelessly at 5W. Apple certifies MagSafe accessories with its Made for iPhone (MFi) badge. This ensures that the output charging is 15W, compared to non-certified but MagSafe-compatible Qi chargers that are usually just 7.5W. Certified MagSafe chargers also have a single-wire NFC antenna that allows the iPhone to identify the device, a built-in magnetometer, and a compass to prevent interference while you are using your iPhone while it’s charging. Don’t forget that it still requires a USB-C wall charger (at least 20W recommended if you want the full 15W potential). Up to three modules can be added, and different modules are available separately. Aside from extra Watch modules, the Single Wireless Charger Extension is a 10W wireless charging pad, and the Modular USB-hub Extension lets you recharge a USB-A powered device.

While super-cheap charging cables should be avoided as they can be unsafe, compatible wireless charging is inherently safer due to the technology. But we’d still stay clear from something that looks too cheap. The detachable power bank is powered up while in the stand, via the connected 1.5m USB-C cable that requires a decent (at least 20W) wall charger. You can swap out the cable for a longer or shorter one if that’s what you require. The Watch charging part is separate but plugs in once the stand is unfolded. When folded it can be used as a wireless charging pad. The iPhone can be set in either landscape or portrait orientation when the charger is doubling up as a stand. The pad format is better for travel portability than a charging stand, and it comes with its own wall power supply unit, so you don’t need to add your own USB-C charger.It’s quite a large mat, measuring 780 x 70 x 4mm. The Light gray color is actually more of a warm stone tone. When Tim Cook unveiled the iPhone 12 last October he detailed all the shiny new features: he lauded over 5G connectivity, waxed lyrical about the cameras and gushed about the flat-edged design. But one thing that received less attention than it deserved was the revival of Apple’s magnetic charging system MagSafe. Although on the heavy side, it’s super-compact and great for travel. The Watch charging part is hidden in the cube until you need it. It comes with a 30W USB-C wall charger with switchable UK and EU plug fittings that slide onto the US plug prongs.

It is fully Apple certified, so can fast-charge any MagSafe iPhone (iPhone 12, 13, 14 or 15 models but not SE) at 15W as well as fast-charge an Apple Watch (Series 7, 8, 9, SE and Ultra) at 5W and Apple AirPods (2nd and 3rd generation AirPods, and all AirPods Pro) at 7.5W. The Watch module that ships with the 4-in-1 charger can handily be situated on either the right- or left-hand side depending on your preference. Modules attach magnetically. The stand works in landscape and portrait orientations but isn’t high. It does have adjustable viewing angles up to 60°. Alogic has created a modular system that transforms what is often a static charging station into something more dynamic and portable. It’s called Matrix and features several products, some of which can be used with each other depending on your charging needs. Don’t rule out mere MagSafe-compatible chargers as they are often high quality and nearly always noticeably cheaper. “MagSafe compatible” is used widely to mean any accessory that includes a bunch of magnets.Its main advantage over the non-certified competition is its 15W charging power. It’s still half as fast as using a Lightning cable, however, and if you are going to the bother of connecting this to a USB-C charger, why not just use a Lightning (iPhone 12/13/14) or USB-C (iPhone 15) cable? You can fast-charge an iPhone to 50% battery in around 30 minutes using a cable, while it takes around 50 minutes to wirelessly charge iPhone from 0 to 50% using even 15W MagSafe. Fully certified by Apple, it can wirelessly charge an iPhone at 15W and can also fast-charge an Apple Watch at the same time. You need to attach at least a 20W USB-C charger. Use your iPhone for satnav directions or to have easy access to your playlists in the car with this MagSafe-certified wireless charger and car vent mount, which works in both landscape and portrait modes. After its introduction in 2006, MagSafe was inexplicably removed, without reason, from subsequent MacBook laptops a decade later. But unlike the original MacBook MagSafe, which was simply a magnetic charging connector that plugged into your laptop, ensuring it didn’t fall onto the floor if you accidentally tripped over the cord, MagSafe for iPhone is a completely wireless charging ecosystem that does more than just charge your device.