When iPhone 12 series was launched, it also introduced MagSafe charging which was bound to introduce a whole slew of magnetic related chargers. Acefast also joined in the magnetic charging wave, and recently launched their ACEFAST 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger Station, which you can get from Shopee for S$89.
Tech specs
| Weight | 316g |
| Dimensions | 15.7cm * 11.8cm * 8.5cm |
| Cable type | USB-C |
Unboxing
Inside the box, the receive the following items:
- ACEFAST 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger Station
- USB-C Cable
- User manual
Design and build quality
The ACEFAST 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger Station is mainly from plastic, but it has a nice matte textured finish to it that makes it look modern and clean. There are icons printed on two wireless charging surfaces to let you know that they are charging surfaces. Personally, I felt that the AirPods Pro icon should be replaced by a lighting icon for a cleaner look.
Build wise, the ACEFAST 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger Station feels quite well made. There is very little creaking of the plastic. The base have anti-slip pads attached on the corners which does enough to keep it still on a table surface. It would be great if the base had a greater heft to it to exude more quality build.
On the back, there is a single USC-C port which takes in input power of either 9V/3A or 5V/3A. Of course, it is highly recommended that you use a fast charger in order top get the maximum charging speeds.
Charging and usage
Usually 3-in-1 chargers made for Apple devices will offer you unrestricted view of all 3 Apple devices – iPhone, Watch, AirPods. The ACEFAST 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger Station is designed in a way that the Apple Watch is hidden behind your iPhone. That is not exactly a bad thing if you’re looking for a 3-in-1 charging device which takes up less space on your desk. And also if you don’t put your Apple Watch in Nightstand mode while charging.
Charging each device is also designed to be done on their dedicated areas. Even though you can charge an iPhone on the AirPods area, you’ll only be getting a maximum speed of 5W.
The main iPhone charging area is magnetic and holds any iPhone 12 securely in place. ACEFAST claimed charging speeds of 15W, but as this is not a MagSafe certified charger, it is likely that the charging speeds will be capped at 7.5W. Do note that unless you are using a MagSafe case, your iPhone 12 will likely not be held on well by the magnets. This seems to be something common across most MagSafe chargers, so if you want to use a magnetic charger you have to be invested in the MagSafe ecosystem.
The angle of the iPhone charging pad can be adjusted slightly, which is useful to get an ideal viewing angle. Refer to the video below for a greater explanation.
There is LED strip which actually contains 3 lights strips that will turn green up to signal when it is charging. The brightness of the LED is not too bright such that it is distracting.
The AirPods charging area has a small recessed outline that fits the AirPods Pro case, but it doesn’t exactly hold it comfortably in place such that it does not move about. Perhaps a thin layer of anti-slip rubber would have been a nice addition as it will prevent the earbuds from dislodging when removing the iPhone from charging. If you use other brands of earbuds, you should still be able to charge as long as you position it well.
During my use of the ACEFAST 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger Station, the device did not overheat even when charging all three devices at once. As the base of the charger station isn’t very hefty, you will need to hold on to the device when removing the iPhone.
Conclusion
3-in-1 magnetic chargers for Apple devices aren’t cheap. The Belkin BOOST CHARGE PRO costs S$209, but it is a trusted brand and is ‘MagSafe certified’. ACEFAST on the other hand, isn’t as big of a brand as Belkin, but from my usage so far, the charging works well even if it isn’t supposedly ‘MagSafe certified’. At S$89, the ACEFAST 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger Station isn’t too pricey especially if you want to try out the convenience of the MagSafe ecosytem.