May 11, 2024
ESR 6-in-1 charging stand on table in front of a Christmas tree with iPhone 14 Pro Max docked in StandBy mode with Apple Watch Series 8 and AirPods Pro charging.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Traits

For those who’re like most Apple followers, you in all probability have a number of units you’ll want to maintain powered up on a near-daily foundation. Out of your iPhone 15 Professional, Apple Watch Collection 9, and AirPods Professional to a MacBook Professional, there’s at all times one thing calling for some further juice.

At one time, retaining your whole system’s energy necessities happy required an octopus-like assortment of cables at your desk. Fortunately, wired charging has modified the sport, serving to to scale back a few of that by letting you dock your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods extra conveniently to charging pads and stands.

Nonetheless, some issues nonetheless want wires, and Apple’s higher-end MacBooks crave extra energy. The excellent news is that firms have created distinctive methods to supply every little thing your Apple units want in a single easy and stylish package deal, akin to ESR’s new 6-in-1 Charging Station.

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ESR’s 100W 6-in-1 charger started its life as a Kickstarter undertaking throughout the summer time. The corporate despatched me an early-release unit in August, which I’ve used every day since then. Right here’s what I’ve discovered over the previous 4 months.

Energy to spare for six units

ESR's 6-in-1 charging stand on table in front of a Christmas tree.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Traits

Due to trendy gallium nitride (GaN) know-how, ESR has created a MagSafe charging stand that may ship a staggering quantity of energy in a package deal compact sufficient to suit comfortably in your desk or bedside desk.

ESR’s new charger seems to be remarkably just like most 3-in-1 charging stands you’ll discover available on the market, and it has the same old spots for a MagSafe-capable iPhone, an Apple Watch, and a set of AirPods or different wireless-charge succesful earbuds. Nonetheless, because the identify implies, ESR’s 6-in-1 charger is designed to deal with as much as three extra units, and it could ship as much as 100 watts of juice to take action.

That’s considerably greater than you’ll get from most different multi-device Apple chargers, that are usually constructed to ship round 20 to 30 watts. That’s greater than sufficient to satisfy the wants of an iPhone (15W), Apple Watch (5W), and AirPods (lower than 5W), however even when these chargers supply an additional USB port, there’s not often sufficient there to cost even the smallest MacBook Air.

Probably the most noticeable visible distinction between ESR’s 100W 6-in-1 charger and its much less highly effective fashions is the extra distinguished bump beneath the Apple Watch charging stand. That is the place the GaN know-how lives, which supplies sufficient energy to ship as much as 100W to a MacBook or different USB-powered system. As a bonus, since all of the circuitry is within the stand, there’s no blocky energy brick to take care of; ESR’s charger makes use of a typical AC energy cable with an IEC 320 C7 connector on the stand and a typical two-prong plug on the opposite finish that ought to simply match into any outlet.

Closeup of power connector on back of ESR 6-in-1 charging stand.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Traits

On the aspect, a pair of USB-C Energy Supply (USB-PD) ports can every ship as much as 100 watts. A 3rd USB-A port can provide customary 5-watt USB charging to a different lower-power wired system, akin to a Magic Trackpad or a set of earbuds that don’t assist wi-fi charging.

Closeup of USB-C and USB-A ports on ESR 6-in-1 charging stand.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Traits

As with most chargers, this 100W of energy is shared between all of the units you join, however ESR has designed its charger to intelligently distribute energy to the place it’s wanted.

For instance, after I plugged in a 14-inch MacBook Professional whereas charging my iPhone, the charger delivered the utmost 15W of MagSafe energy to the telephone, with the remaining 85W going to the MacBook Professional by way of the USB-C port. Because the iPhone moved towards a full cost and now not required 15W of energy, ESR’s circuitry shifted the additional over to the USB-C port. By the point my iPhone was above an 80% cost, the MacBook Professional was getting 95W of energy, because the iPhone usually slows down its charging above that stage to protect battery well being, solely drawing 5W for the ultimate 20%.

The identical applies when including an Apple Watch or set of AirPods to the combination. ESR’s stand is able to fast-charging the newest Apple Watch fashions (Collection 7 or later), which meant my Apple Watch Collection 8 might draw a full 5 watts throughout its preliminary cost, slowing right down to round 1.5 watts for its closing top-up. Once more, ESR’s energy administration circuitry sends the juice the place it must go, guaranteeing each system can get the spare energy.

ESR 6-in-1 charging stand with iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 8, and AirPods Pro showing charging status.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Traits

To be clear, there may be some prioritization at work. Principally, the USB-C ports get no matter energy is left over from the wi-fi coils. Plug in a 16-inch MacBook Professional, which might draw a full 100W from a typical USB-C port, and it gained’t choke out the iPhone, Apple Watch, or AirPods chargers; as an alternative, the MacBook will merely get round 70 to 75W when all three of these units are charging at full capability.

Equally, plug in two 16-inch MacBook Execs, and also you’ll share that energy equally between them till one now not wants it when it’s totally charged. Nonetheless, it’s truthful to say that’s an edge case for most people. It’s additionally solely for many who want the quickest doable charging. Even the 16-inch MacBook Professional will cost high-quality from 70W of energy; it simply gained’t do it as rapidly. The newest M2 MacBook Air tops out at 67W charging however solely ships with a 30W or 35W adapter, relying on which configuration you go for.

Which means for most people, ESR’s charger offers you greater than sufficient energy to maintain every little thing at your desk powered up on the similar time. Nonetheless, it additionally has one other actually helpful trick up its sleeve.

Preserving it cool with CryoBoost

Closeup view of rear side of CryoBoost MagSafe dock on ESR 6-in-1 charging stand.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Traits

Whereas magnetic charging is handy, it’s additionally woefully inefficient in comparison with wired charging. A wired 20W charger can high up an iPhone twice as quick as a 15W MagSafe charger since some power is misplaced within the wi-fi switch.

That misplaced power takes the type of warmth, which is why your smartphone can get a lot hotter when charging wirelessly. Since this further warmth can take its toll in your battery’s well being, Apple has designed the iPhone to decelerate its charging pace when it will get too heat. It’s additionally why Apple requires a magnetic attachment (MagSafe or Qi2) for full 15W charging; misaligned coils on a typical Qi charger will generate much more warmth; 7.5W charging helps maintain that from getting out of hand.

Nonetheless, ESR has provide you with an excellent cooler answer — actually — to this downside, due to its CryoBoost know-how. It is a core function of most of ESR’s different MagSafe chargers — even their automotive chargers have it — so it’s naturally obtainable on their new flagship 6-in-1 charging stand.

Combining a fan and a few heat-dissipating elements within the MagSafe charger, CryoBoost retains the telephone cool, which preserves battery well being and permits it to cost extra quickly. ESR says it reduces temperatures by as much as 5.5 levels Fahrenheit (14.7° C). I didn’t put a thermometer on it to examine that, however I didn’t must, because the outcomes have been very noticeable.

ESR has provide you with an excellent cooler answer — actually — to this downside.

I’ve been utilizing MagSafe stands every day for the reason that iPhone 12 Professional Max, typically with no case on my iPhone. It’s typical for my iPhone to be heat to the contact each time I pull it off the stand, whether or not it’s been there for only some minutes or a number of hours in a single day. Once I first started utilizing the ESR stand, it took me some time to regulate to the truth that the glass again of my iPhone 14 Professional Max was truly cool to the contact each time I picked it up off the stand; it felt odd sufficient that I double-checked the primary few occasions to substantiate that it had truly charged.

It’s additionally measurable by way of charging energy. Because the iPhone will decelerate wi-fi charging when it will get too heat, it’s not unusual to see charging energy drop to 10-12W on many MagSafe stands, even when it’s beneath 50 %, which is the vary the place it usually runs on the full 15W each time it could. With CryoBoost, ESR’s stand persistently equipped 15W to my iPhone 14 Professional Max all through the whole decrease half of the charging cycle.

That is additionally mirrored within the battery well being monitoring on my iPhone. A number of stories recommend many iPhone 14 Professional fashions have been suffering from poorer battery well being, and mine is not any exception. My iPhone 14 Professional Max went right down to 85% within the first 10 months; nevertheless, since I began utilizing the ESR stand rather more often in August, it’s solely misplaced one other 3%. Whereas ESR’s 6-in-1 isn’t the one MagSafe charger I exploit, it’s the one on my bedside desk, which implies it’s the place my iPhone spends most of its time charging.

A splendidly overkill iPhone charger

Closeup view of CryoBoost MagSafe on ESR 6-in-1 charging stand with iPhone 14 Pro Max docked and showing blue light.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Traits

For all its advantages, I ought to add that ESR’s CryoBoost does have one doubtlessly annoying “function.” Because it includes a fan, it’s not silent, and ESR has determined to promote its presence with a blue gentle. The fan is unavoidable however not notably loud; nevertheless, the blue gentle is only beauty. Neither bothers me whereas I’m sleeping — I form of just like the “night time gentle,” in actual fact — however your mileage could range.

ESR does present a button on the entrance of the stand to show this off, nevertheless it disables CryoBoost completely reasonably than merely turning off the sunshine. This implies you gained’t have to listen to the fan, however you’ll additionally lose the cooling benefit. It’s a private factor, however in the event you’re a lightweight sleeper with delicate listening to, it could be sufficient to trouble you in the event you place the stand in your bed room.

Closeup of AirPods Pro charging on ESR 6-in-1 charging stand and button to turn off CryoBoost.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Traits

This leads me to a different level. For all of its energy and flexibility, ESR’s 6-in-1 charging station may be an ungainly — and even pointless — answer for a lot of people. In any case, you’ll want to ask your self how typically you’ll want to cost every little thing the stand helps on the similar time, in the identical place.

For instance, ESR’s stand looks as if a super answer at my desk for plugging in my MacBook Professional, iPhone, and iPad, however I not often take my Apple Watch off throughout the day, a lot much less cost it. Equally, whereas the USB ports are helpful for plugging in my AirPods Max and Kindle within the bed room, neither requires the ability that ESR’s stand can ship. I not often cost my MacBook there, though it’s actually good to have the choice for these occasions after I must work in mattress.

After all, a lot of people have completely different wants, and I believe it’s improbable that ESR now supplies a 6-in-1 stand for many who need a one-size-charges-all answer of their residence or workplace. It does precisely what it’s designed to do — and retains your iPhone cool whereas doing it.

ESR 6-in-1 charging stand with iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 8, and AirPods Pro docked.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Traits

ESR’s 6-in-1 GaN Charging Station with CryoBoost is accessible now on Amazon for $180.

It’s appropriate with all iPhones with MagSafe, all Apple Watch fashions, any set of AirPods with a magnetic charging case, and any USB-C or USB-A units. It comes with an influence cable, however you’ll want to provide your personal USB cables for any wired units you need to cost.

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