Anker 3-in-1 Cube With MagSafe Review - MacRumors

Last month, Apple began selling a new 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe from Anker, which is simply a compact charging accessory susceptible of charging an iPhone, and Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously. I've spent the past mates of weeks investigating it out, and it's rapidly go my favourite multi-device charger.

The Cube is Anker's archetypal officially certified MagSafe product, which means it supports afloat 15-watt wireless charging connected compatible ‌iPhone‌ models. It besides supports Apple Watch accelerated charging connected Series 7, Series 8, and Ultra, a important betterment implicit modular charging speeds. Combine those features with a charging aboveground for AirPods, and you've got each of your instrumentality charging needs covered with the highest imaginable specs.

Anker has besides included immoderate innovations connected the plan beforehand with the 3-in-1 Cube, arsenic the full happening collapses down to a astir 2.5-inch cube, which is large for a smaller nightstand oregon table country and for portability. This is simply a important betterment implicit immoderate different options similar Belkin's 3-in-1 stand with fixed arms that marque it rather bulky for shipping and mundane use, ne'er caput trying to question with it.

At astir 14.5 ounces, Anker's Cube is reasonably weighty, which does hamper portability a spot if you're looking to flip it successful a question bag, but that tradeoff is indispensable to supply stableness successful counterbalancing a telephone stuck to the ‌MagSafe‌ charging surface.

The ‌MagSafe‌ telephone charging aboveground connected Anker's Cube is simply a level hinged connected the front, and it swings up with capable absorption that you tin presumption it crossed a scope of angles for maximum convenience portion besides revealing the AirPods charging aboveground beneath.

This is besides the archetypal third-party ‌MagSafe‌ charger I've seen that doesn't usage the accepted Apple-style achromatic charging surface, alternatively utilizing a acheronian grey aboveground that blends successful with the remainder of the Cube's assemblage portion including a stylized charging awesome and a ringing of markings to supply a subtle ocular practice of the ‌MagSafe‌ magnets. I rather similar the opposition to the Apple's bold achromatic ‌MagSafe‌ surfaces, and hopefully this is simply a motion of much visually unsocial designs for MagSafe-certified products going forward.

In my investigating with the telephone charger, I recovered coagulated charging speeds connected par with different third-party MagSafe-certified chargers. For immoderate reason, nary of the third-party 15-watt chargers I've tried are capable to complaint rather arsenic rapidly arsenic Apple's ain ‌MagSafe‌ Charger, but they travel reasonably adjacent and are decidedly faster than you tin get with an unofficial "MagSafe-compatible" charger that Apple limits to 7.5 watts.

The Apple Watch charging puck connected the Cube besides features a clever plan that tin retract into the assemblage of the Cube, which is utile portion traveling oregon erstwhile it's different not needed. A speedy property connected the spring-loaded charger pops it successful oregon out, though my portion tends to request an further tug aft deploying it successful bid to guarantee it's afloat extended.

As I noted above, the Apple Watch charger supports accelerated charging, which is truly a must-have for radical similar maine who similar to deterioration their Apple Watch arsenic overmuch arsenic possible. Anker says it tin complaint an Apple Watch Series 7 oregon 8 from bare to 75% successful conscionable 45 minutes, and my acquisition has been successful enactment with those numbers. In fact, my investigating showed it charging my Apple Watch Ultra adjacent somewhat faster than Apple's ain accelerated charging Apple Watch USB-C cable.

One imaginable downside of the compact plan of the Cube and its Apple Watch charger crops up if you're a instrumentality of bulky Apple Watch bands. I usage the ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌'s Ocean Band arsenic my mundane set and I bash person to beryllium a small spot cautious with however I acceptable the ticker connected the charger to guarantee the set doesn't interfere with the positioning arsenic it droops down onto the array oregon table below. It's surely not a deal-breaker and it works conscionable fine, but thinner, much flexible bands are little apt to beryllium finicky.

Another information is that the Apple Watch charging aboveground is oriented horizontally, truthful it's not peculiarly convenient to usage with Nightstand mode connected the Apple Watch compared to immoderate different solutions with angled charging pucks. As a multi-device charger, however, you're astir apt going to besides person your ‌iPhone‌ sitting connected the angled ‌MagSafe‌ charger which you tin usage to cheque the clip during the nighttime if needed.

The AirPods charging aboveground is conscionable a elemental level with the aforesaid stylized charging awesome arsenic connected the ‌MagSafe‌ charger, and it's rather hidden down the telephone charger. The AirPods charger isn't truly usable unless the ‌MagSafe‌ charging aboveground has been rotated arsenic acold upright arsenic possible, but that's not a important contented for maine arsenic I similar my telephone successful that predisposition anyway.

As for the remainder of the plan of Anker's Cube, I similar the azygous acheronian grey integrative that helps it blend successful to astir environments, and the lone disposable branding is simply a somewhat debossed Anker logo connected the beforehand successful the aforesaid acheronian grey color, truthful it's rather subtle. The 1 happening I'm not a immense instrumentality of is that the hinge is simply a shiny, astir mirrored worldly that readily shows fingerprints. The backmost broadside of the ‌MagSafe‌ charging aboveground is made of the aforesaid material, but it's not precise disposable fixed its determination and the maximum space of the charging surface.

The bottommost of the Cube includes a rubber-like worldly that helps guarantee it doesn't descent astir oregon harm the table oregon array it's sitting on, and there's a tiny achromatic powerfulness LED connected the rear of the Cube. It concisely comes connected erstwhile you plug it successful and different shines lone portion AirPods are charging, and its determination means it doesn't radiance disruptively astatine you during the night.

In summation to the Cube itself, Anker includes a basal 30-watt USB-C powerfulness adapter with folding prongs, arsenic good arsenic a 1.5-meter (5-foot) USB-C to USB-C cablegram that I've recovered to beryllium agelong capable for the respective locations wherever I've tested the Cube.

Likely the biggest drawback to the Anker 3-in-1 Cube is its terms tag, coming successful astatine $149.95. That's successful enactment with different premium officially-certified 3-in-1 chargers similar Belkin's, but decidedly a spot of sticker daze for customers utilized to Anker's products being of fantabulous prime but astatine bully value. The precocious terms tag connected the Cube tin astir surely beryllium attributed to the ‌MagSafe‌ and Apple Watch accelerated charging support, with Anker needing to enactment straight with Apple to get premium-priced components and certification for the product.

The 3-in-1 Cube with ‌MagSafe‌ decidedly appears to beryllium proving fashionable with customers, and unluckily it whitethorn already beryllium excessively precocious to bid if you're looking to springiness 1 arsenic a vacation gift. Apple is currently quoting a transportation estimation of December 13 to December 28 adjacent with expedited shipping, portion Anker itself is saying caller orders won't vessel until astatine slightest Christmas and possibly not until aboriginal January.

Note: Anker provided MacRumors with the 3-in-1 Cube for the intent of this review. No different compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate spouse with Anker. When you click a nexus and marque a purchase, we whitethorn person a tiny payment, which helps america support the tract running.