It’s been close to 2 years since MagSafe was first introduced. Ever since, we’ve seen varying takes on magnetic charging from different companies. The new Benks InvisiBoost brings additional features and innovation to MagSafe charging. Benks InvisiBoost will be crowdfunding on Indiegogo, and will be priced at USD$39.
Unboxing
Inside the box, you will receive the following items:
- Benks InvisiBoost 15W Wireless Charger
- User manual
Design and build quality
The Benks InvisiBoost is constructed from plastic that has a nice matte space grey finish which resembles Apple’s Space Grey colour used on their MacBooks. The design resembles an exhaust of a fan, and it is rightfully so as one of the key feature of the Benks InvisiBoost is to help manage heat.
As for build quality, the plastic used feels high quality and the overall product has some heft to it as well. The cable that comes attached to the charging puck is braided for greater durability and helps prevent tangling. Lastly, there is actually a kickstand on the puck which has the ‘Benks’ branding on it. The kickstand is quite stiff and kind of creaks once it is locked in place.
Charging and usage
The Benks InvisiBoost has a cable length of 1.8m, which provides more than enough length for usage on your desk or bringing it around for travel. Given it is branded as MagSafe charger, one of the main concerns would be the strength of the magnets. It’s safe to say that the strength of the magnet used in the Benks InvisiBoost is very strong. It holds on well to the iPhone, and even withstand shakes. However, do note that as with all MagSafe chargers, the magnet in the Benks InvisiBoost is not strong enough to use on a case that is not MagSafe compatible.
ACEFAST 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger Station which is only “MagSafe Compatible” can only deliver up to 7.5W of wireless charging. Thankfully, the Benks InvisiBoost is officially certified by Apple to be “Made for MagSafe” which means it is able to deliver the full 15W of fast wireless charging.
One of the key selling points of the Benks InvisiBoost is its ability to dissipate heat while charging. Heat dissipation is helpful as it improves charging efficiency and protect the overall battery health. Benks is able to do this because of its patented FreezeMat technology, which is a special material made from a temperature-sensitive hydrogel which apparently dissipates heat by evaporation.
There are two main benefits for heat dissipation – (1) charging faster, and (2) keep the battery in good condition. AppleInsider did a great piece on charging speeds, and while the MagSafe charging did deliver 15W as promised, the charger wasn’t able to sustain that speed due to heat generated. Having the heat dissipation on the Benks InvisiBoost will surely help to keep temperature charging speeds consistent. While charging up the iPhone 12 Mini, I noticed that the temperature of the phone is not too warm.
When your phone heats up from strenuous task such as gaming, the performance of the phone can start to suffer. And if you are an avid gamer on your iPhone, then heat is something that you’d likely be concern about. Benks InvisiBoost does help to keep my phone noticeably cooler when I’m charging while playing Call of Duty. It is probably worth to note that since the Benks InvisiBoost does has some weight to it, you may have to get used to the extra weight if you are intending to use this with your gaming sessions.
One last trick the Benks InvisiBoost has up its sleeve is the little kickstand aforementioned. The kickstand allows you to let the iPhone stand in either portrait or landscape mode, as though you own a wireless charging stand. The angle and suitability will really depend on your iPhone model as the size of the phone will affect the pivot point of the kickstand. Portrait mode doesn’t have any issue, but I did find that you cannot set the iPhone 12 Mini in landscape mode as the phone is too small for the sides to rest on the table.
Conclusion
I think the Benks InvisiBoost is a great MagSafe charger to have especially if you charge your iPhone regularly whether it is because of heavy usage or gaming. Having the ability to dissipate heat while charging is certainly a benefit in terms of battery health and consistent charging speeds.
The build quality is fantastic and the added kickstand helps to offer added functionality than juts being a MagSafe wireless charger. For USD$39, the Benks InvisiBoost is cheaper than Apple’s very own MagSafe charger, and it even has benefits gained from better heat management and a quality braided cable. No doubt the charger a tad thicker, but if you don’t mind it, the Benks InvisiBoost can be something to consider.