Accent makers have been adopting the brand new Qi2 normal in latest months as a result of it provides the advantages of MagSafe with out the necessity to license MagSafe expertise from Apple. Mophie launched its first Qi2 units in Could, debuting a automobile charger, a 3-in-1 charger, and a battery pack.
All of Mophie’s new equipment cost an iPhone at as much as 15W, the identical as MagSafe. The primary model of Qi restricted wi-fi charging to 7.5W, however Qi2 helps 15W, and it additionally consists of the identical magnetic connection that Apple makes use of for MagSafe. For context, Apple contributed to Qi2’s improvement, offering perception into the Magnetic Energy Profile that is included within the Qi2 normal.
iPhones that assist MagSafe additionally work with Qi2, so you should utilize Mophie’s chargers with the iPhone 12 fashions, iPhone 13 fashions, iPhone 14 fashions, and iPhone 15 fashions. Aside from the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini (that are restricted to 12W charging), iPhones will cost at as much as 15W with Qi2.
Snap+ Powerstation Mini with Stand
Priced at $70, the Snap+ Powerstation Mini is a battery pack that is designed to cost the iPhone whereas on the go. It has a 5,000mAh battery inside, and it snaps proper on to the again of an iPhone like Apple’s now-discontinued MagSafe Battery Pack.
At about 4 inches lengthy and a couple of.75 inches extensive, the Powerstation Mini suits effectively on the again of an iPhone 15 Professional Max. With the magnetic ring, it pops on to the iPhone and stays in place. The Powerstation Mini is 0.25 inches thick and it weighs near half a pound, so I did not discover this to be essentially the most svelte charging possibility accessible. It provides a great quantity of bulk to the again of the iPhone, nevertheless it’s nonetheless sufficiently small to tuck right into a bag so you will have an additional battery when wanted.
In the back of the Powerstation Mini, there is a fold-out stand that you should utilize to prop the iPhone upright for FaceTime calls, gaming, watching movies, and extra. It really works in both panorama or portrait mode, so you should utilize it with StandBy.
The Powerstation Mini’s physique is constructed from a black plastic, however the stand element is constructed from aluminum. The entrance of the gadget has a gentle silicone materials that will not scratch an iPhone when it is charging, and the general design is what you would possibly anticipate from a battery pack. There are 4 LED lights so you may see the cost stage and monitor charging, and a USB-C port that is used for recharging.
Throughout my testing, I had one of many PowerStation Mini battery packs outright fail after a couple of days of use. I could not get it to cost it doesn’t matter what I attempted, and I in the end despatched it again to Mophie and so they despatched me one other one for testing. Mophie says that this is not an issue that it is seen earlier than, and the brand new Powerstation Mini has been working as anticipated with no failure.
In my testing, the Powerstation Mini was capable of cost my iPhone 15 Professional Max to 38 p.c in an hour, and that is about the identical charging pace I get from a MagSafe charger. It charged to 59 p.c in two hours, nevertheless it maxed out at a 61 p.c cost, which was ranging from a lifeless iPhone.
Which means it provides 61 p.c battery life to an iPhone 15 Professional Max, which is what I would anticipate from a 5,000mAh battery pack. Relying on which iPhone you will have, you would get extra out of it, nevertheless it’s not a full cost on Apple’s largest iPhone.
When my iPhone’s battery was low, the Powerstation Mini did really feel heat to the contact, nevertheless it did not get sizzling.
For the value, I do not suppose the Powerstation Mini is an efficient possibility for the bigger iPhone fashions. It is not going to supply a full cost, and I would somewhat spend that cash on an even bigger battery pack with charging over USB-C (Mophie has a 10,000mAh battery pack for $60, and there are alternatives from different manufacturers which can be even cheaper). You are undoubtedly paying a premium for the stand, so I would keep away from that until you want that performance.
For iPhones which have smaller battery capacities, I feel the Powerstation Mini makes extra sense as a result of you may get extra out of it.
Snap+ Wi-fi Charging Vent Mount
Mophie’s Snap+ Wi-fi Charging Vent Mount is out there for $70 as effectively, and it is a good possibility for charging within the automobile. There is a magnetic charging pad the place the iPhone attaches, a rotating pivot level for altering the angle, and a hoop that attaches to the vents in a car.
The mount attaches to a vent utilizing adjustable clips, and I had a surprisingly onerous time getting the charger located and adjusted correctly. You want to slide the steel hook between the vent blades after which tighten it up. It feels safer than rubber clips, however setup is a bit more concerned and if you wish to take the charger off of your vents, it is troublesome.
I do not suppose that is a dealbreaker, nevertheless it’s not the one I’d get if I needed to usually take away the mount from the vent. On the plus facet, the hook is adjustable, so it ought to match effectively in nearly any car.
There’s an elective extension arm on the charger so you may change the angle to be above or under the vent, or place it to the left or the correct. It is good to have the add-on arm to get a super viewing angle, plus you may additional refine with the ball joint that tilts the cellphone ahead or backward a bit.
Mophie features a 1.5m USB-C cable and a 30W USB-C automobile adapter, so this is able to go proper out of the field. You simply must pop it out of the field, determine whether or not you want the adjustable arm, after which connect it to your vent and it is able to go. There are even two adhesive cable administration clips so you may route the cable neatly from the vent to the automobile charging port.
The Snap+ Charging Vent Mount fees at as much as 15W, and the magnetic attachment is powerful sufficient that the iPhone feels steady and unlikely to return unfastened whereas the car is in movement. I had no points with Mophie’s vent mount, apart from needing to fuss with it a couple of occasions to ensure it was staying on the correct angle. It charged and labored as anticipated, and I feel it is a good possibility in case you’ve had bother with the match or performance of different in-car mounting choices.
Snap+ 3-in-1 Wi-fi Cost Stand
Mophie’s Snap+ 3-in-1 Wi-fi Cost Stand is priced at $130, and it is my favourite of Mophie’s new Qi2 merchandise. It is constructed from a sturdy white plastic, and it is compact in dimension due to the design.
There is a magnetic iPhone charging pad on the entrance, an Apple Watch charger behind that, and a small AirPods charging floor on the backside. It is one of many extra streamlined 3-in-1 charging designs that I’ve seen, and I admire how little area it takes up on my desk.
The charger measures in at about 4 inches extensive and 6 inches tall, and with the angled design of the arm that holds the iPhone charger, the Apple Watch charger is about flush with the again. The Apple Watch charger is upright somewhat than sideways so you may’t cost an Apple Watch in Nightstand mode, however the iPhone could be charged in both portrait or panorama orientation, so it does assist StandBy.
You’ll be able to change the lean of the iPhone charger, angling it up or downward to get it at a super viewing angle, however the arm itself doesn’t fold so this is not a charger that is nice for journey. On the backside, there is a built-in Qi charger with a shallow despair for the AirPods. You will get a second iPhone to cost there, however the match is just not very best due to the indentation and the charging is gradual.
The Qi2 iPhone charging pad fees an iPhone at as much as 15W, whereas the Apple Watch charger fees at 7.5W, so that you’re getting the quickest wi-fi charging speeds for the iPhone and Apple Watch (that’s quick charging for quick charge-compatible Apple Watch fashions). The AirPods cost at 5W. An influence adapter and charging cable are included.
In my testing, the Snap+ 3-in-1 charged my iPhone from 1 p.c to 39 p.c in an hour interval. The second time round, it charged from 1 p.c to 34 p.c in an hour, which is a little bit of an outlier. The third check was nearer to the primary check at 38 p.c. These are the identical charging speeds that I get with MagSafe.
Backside Line
One of many assumptions about Qi2 was that it will make wi-fi chargers extra reasonably priced as a result of there can be no must pay Apple to license MagSafe expertise, however up to now that hasn’t been mirrored within the pricing of Qi2 equipment.
Perhaps Qi2 costs will go down sooner or later as the usual is extra broadly adopted, however there is not a lot in the way in which of financial savings in comparison with MagSafe, which is disappointing. Mophie’s Qi2 units are strong and Mophie is a reliable model, however I want these merchandise have been extra reasonably priced. On the plus facet, there’s a again to highschool sale proper now, with a 25 p.c low cost accessible web site extensive.
How you can Purchase
The Snap+ PowerStation Mini with Stand, Snap+ Charging Vent Mount, and Snap+ 3-in-1 Wi-fi Cost Stand could be bought from the Mophie web site.
Be aware: Mophie supplied MacRumors with a its Qi2 chargers for the aim of this assessment. No different compensation was acquired.
