It’s not surprising that people who own an iPhone tend to also own other Apple gadgets including an Apple Watch and AirPods. That can make for a lot of cable clutter when it comes to charging. It can also take up a lot of physical space, especially now that so many products charge wirelessly — those charge pads may be more convenient but they have a far larger footprint than a cable. Combination chargers that feature both a Qi wireless charge pad and an Apple Watch charger have become popular as a way to minimize the mess. In 2018, I reviewed one of these in the Nomad Base Station Apple Watch Edition, a luxurious slab of aluminum and leather. Just over a year ago, Apple finally released its own combo charger in the $129 Apple MagSafe Duo.
How does the Apple MagSafe Duo stand up? Is it worth paying the $129?
Unboxing the MagSafe Duo: You May Have to Spend Some More...
Opening the MagSafe Duo box reveals the wireless dual charger and a USB-C to Lightning cable. However, there’s no power adapter included. If you already own an Apple USB-C charger — and there’s a good chance you do if you’re buying this charger — you can probably just use that. If you don’t have the charger available, you’ll need to buy one, adding to the MagSafe Duo’s $129 cost.
If you plug into a 20W Apple USB-C charger, the Qi wireless pad will charge devices at up to 11W. If you go with an Apple USB-C charger rated at 27W or higher, the Qi pad will charge at up to 14W. The actual charge rate also depends on the capabilities of the device being charged.
Either way, the MagSafe Duo can charge devices more quickly than many Q1 wireless charge pads, which tend to standardize on 7.5W charge output.
A Very Compact and Flexible Charger
One of the selling points of the MagSafe Duo is its compact form factor. Deployed on your desktop, it measures just 3.0-inches by 6.5-inches. That is a very small footprint for a dual-charger.
One side of the white plastic device is an Apple MagSafe charge ring. That means iPhone 12 models and up will snap right to the charger, but it also works with any device that uses Qi wireless charging. You may have to move the device around slightly to align with the charge coil, though — be aware that unlike many Qi charge pads, this one lacks an LED charge indicator so you’ll need to rely on your device’s onboard charge indicator.
The other half of the MagSafe Duo is an Apple Watch charger that pivots from a flat position to 90-degrees. It will work with any Apple Watch, but it does not support the Apple Watch 7’s fast-charge capability.
Fold it up for carrying, and the MagSafe Duo is just about 3-inches square and only 1/2 an inch thick. Plus your power adapter and cable, of course. This makes it very easy to fold up and toss in a bag or luggage if you’re travelling.
The one thing I missed with the Apple MagSafe Duo was a USB charge port. Other wireless chargers in my collection include this feature, which is really handy if you want to plug in something that doesn’t support wireless charging — my headphones and eReader, for example. A charge port is not a must have (and skipping one helps to keep the MagSafe Duo slimmed down), but it does mean I still have to rely on another external charger for my bedside table.
Apple MagSafe Duo Charger Recommendation
Apple’s MagSafe Duo charger does the job of charging an iPhone (or AirPods) and an Apple Watch simultaneously. It does so with a typical minimalist Apple style, saves some space, and adds convenient portability to the mix. Making the actual power adapter an extra-cost add-on and lacking any wired power output options are slightly annoying.
However, if you’re looking for a charger for your Apple devices that includes an Apple Watch charger, this one is a pretty solid pick.
