ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) review

The ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) costs a reasonable $39.99 / £35.99 / AU$59.99 and is available direct from ESR, or at Amazon. This is cheaper than many alternatives I've tested, which may give it an edge over other models.

As per many other in-car chargers, the ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) is available in black on the ESR website, but at Amazon (US only) it also comes in grey and titanium colors, curiously. The front face of the charger is 3.1 x 3.1 inches / 80 x 80mm, which felt a little oversized considering I've tested slimmer alternatives that held just as well. Even so, it's not visible past the edges of an iPhone 12 Pro, or an iPhone 13 Pro; it's perhaps just personal preference that I'd rather have something smaller that isn't so obvious when a phone isn't in situ. I wasn't a fan of the shiny circular MagSafe charging area either; I didn't like that it could reflect light, plus it gathers dust.

The ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) comes with two attachment options. It has a sticky pad to apply it to the dashboard, and a separate clip-on attachment so it can be fixed onto the air vents. I found this to work well; the clip is stiff to open but I managed to open it enough to slide it on. It has a handy little stability arm that folds down, stopping it from bouncing about while I drive, which even some of the best iPhone chargers for in-car usage don't offer. The charger comes with a USB-C cable, which I powered through an adapter in my car's cigarette lighter.

As was the case with the Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2 I tested, the hanging cable proved a bit obtrusive as it comes from the bottom of the charging pad, meaning it hung in front of the dash controls and proved an occasional irritation as I shifted gear. As I already had the Pitaka in place, I simply hoiked the ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) over that to get it out of the way, but in the long term, I would look to use some stick-on cable tidy clips.

Something I noticed – which I also encountered with the similarly designed ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set – is that the phone gets warm while it charges. This may explain why ESR has released another of these charging sets with CryoBoost, for an additional cost.

Speaking of warm things: my commute to work is a bit of a trial by fire for the in-car accessories I review, with an obstacle course of potholes and some aggressive speed bumps to contend with. The ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) proved a worthy adversary to these challengers, however, keeping a tight hold on my phone and holding its position valiantly.

The ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) charged an iPhone 13 Pro from 0% to 40% in half an hour, meaning that in that time frame it charged the phone an extra 10% compared to the Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2.

Overall, despite the dustiness and the fact it warms the phone while charging, this is a fast-charging and reliable in-car charger. If you're looking for recommendations on other variants of MagSafe chargers to use at home or on the go, why not check out our pick of the best wireless chargers.

ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) review: Price & specs

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Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station review

The Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station is a budget-priced iPhone and AirPods charger, with a list price of $39.99 / £29.99 / AU$59.99 at Amazon. This is the cheapest MagSafe charging stand I've tested to date, albeit the majority of these wireless chargers have charged three devices rather than two. It's certainly nice to have a 2-in-1 option available though, if you're yet to be tempted by an Apple Watch.

In terms of design, the Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station is simple but has some attractive little details. Aside from the charging pad and the top of the base, it has a slightly metallic charcoal grey finish, with dark mirrored sections at either end of the pencil-thin post. The only thing that lets it down aesthetically is the cheaper-looking black plastic finish of the top face of the base.

I was pleased that the circular charging pad sits on a robust-feeling hinge, so I could change the viewing angle easily. Some chargers lack this ability, such as the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set (HaloLock), despite it being around double the price – though this extra expense is reasonable enough considering the much faster charging speeds and added Apple Watch charger.

The charger proved suitably heavy and sturdy despite the compact circular base and skinny charging post. The charging pad has a soft matte finish that collects dust, but other than that it looks and feels nice. The base of the charger has a USB-C input for the included USB-C cable, and there's an inset AirPods charging area towards the front. There's also a small indicator light to indicate the charger has been powered on, and to act as a status light for AirPods or other compatible wireless earbud case charging.

The Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station can charge iPhones 12 to 16, and AirPods 2 to 4. Unfortunately, it has been one of the slowest MagSafe chargers I've tested to date, taking three hours to fully charge an iPhone 13 Pro, making it over an hour slower than the average charging speed of the many wireless chargers I've tested. That being said, it's the cheapest charging stand I've reviewed so far, and by some margin, so if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, perhaps slow charging can be forgiven.

Overall, the Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station is an option worth considering if you're keen to get your hands on a MagSafe charging stand without breaking the bank, or if you don't need an Apple Watch charger. If the Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station isn't quite ticking your boxes, we've got a bunch of other recommendations over in our best wireless charger guide, and it's worth checking out our pick of the best iPhone chargers too.

Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station review: price & specs

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Headline 2: Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand review: a speedy and stable 3-in-1 MagSafe charger

Headline 3: Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand review: a speedy and steadfast 3-in-1 MagSafe charger that's perfect for the chronically clumsy

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand review

The Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand has a list price of $99.99 / $89.99 / AU$199.95, making it considerably cheaper than the Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe, which takes over half an hour longer to charge an iPhone 13 Pro. It's available to purchase from the official Anker site in the US, UK, and Australia and is also available at Amazon, but only in the US and UK at the time of writing.

I was very impressed when the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand charged up an iPhone 13 Pro in just 1 hour and 38 minutes thanks to Anker's signature wireless fast charging, Wireless PowerIQ. This makes it the fastest MagSafe charger I've tested, and I've tested a lot of them! It also proved the fastest at charging my Series 9 Apple Watch, taking just 1 hour and 4 minutes to juice it from 0% to 100%, making it a worthy contender to win a spot in our pick of the best iPhone chargers. It also had no problem charging AirPods Pro 2, and Motorola Moto Buds+ cases.

Although I like the black version I tested, in all honesty I prefer the look of the Shell White Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand. Still, it made an attractive addition to my desktop as I like its minimalist yet interesting aesthetic. However, quite quickly the circular base was starting to show dust, which made it somewhat less attractive. This may not be a bother for some but I wouldn't want to have to wipe down my charger regularly, and the silicone-type material of the earbuds charger seemed to become rather attached to the aforementioned dust, and wasn't keen on letting go.

It isn't exactly the most compact 3-in-1 charger you could buy though, with a base size of 5.5 x 5.5 inches / 140 x 140mm, so you'd need the space for it. The charger is available in Shell White and black on the official Anker site for the US and Australia, but it would appear it's only available in black for the UK, however, you can buy it in Shell White at Amazon UK.

Due to its wide base, I had no concerns about accidentally knocking this 3-in-1 stand over, and, even after some provoking, my phone just swiveled on the charger rather than falling off, which scored this charger some brownie points as I'm chronically clumsy. All three devices are easily accessed, unlike some other 3-in-1 chargers, such as the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set, which hides the watch and earbuds chargers behind the MagSafe phone mount. One little niggle I had with it was the firmness of the hold when I tried to use my phone as it charged. It swivels more than other MagSafe chargers I've tried out, not to a ridiculous extent, but at times it proved a little irritating. It does, however, make it super easy to change the phone's orientation from portrait to landscape, so it's not all bad.

In a nutshell, though, the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand had a surprisingly fast charging time and was strong and sturdy enough to withstand my sometimes chaotic desk environment. While the price is higher than alternatives such as the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set, it has a more attractive aesthetic, provides easier access to all three devices, and charges a bit quicker too. If you want to look at other wireless charging options before making a decision, I recommend checking out our selection of the best wireless chargers to see what else is out there.

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand review: Price & specs

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Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI: two-minute review

Smartphone stabilizers, which use a self-levelling gimbal to keep a mounted phone movement’s smooth, steady and shake-free while it captures video, have become an essential part of many content creators’ toolkits. As a result, there are now dozens of options for anyone who wants to transform their smartphone into a cut-price Steadicam – and Zhiyun has as much experience in this sector as any of its rival manufacturers.

The Smooth 5S AI is Zhiyun’s current flagship mobile stabilizer, putting it in direct competition with models like the Insta360 Flow Pro and DJI Osmo Mobile 6. As its name suggests, it’s an upgraded version of the Smooth 5, sporting a very similar design but incorporating a few improvements – most notably an AI-powered tracking module that I think represents its most appealing selling point.

I’ll get into why shortly, but in terms of general design I found the Smooth 5S AI to be pretty impressive. Constructed of lightweight but sturdy black plastic, it sports a professional look that suggests it’s built for serious creative work. The handle is textured to aid grip and I was pleased by the way the control layout puts a remarkable number of buttons and dials within easy, comfortable reach when it was in my hand. While a tripod attachment allows the gimbal to stand on a flat surface, there’s no extension rod to increase its length (something you get with many rival stabilizers), which makes it less useful for self-shooting vlog recording.

When not in use, the Smooth 5S AI’s gimbal arm can be locked in place. Part of me wishes it folded down as well as the Insta360 Flow Pro and DJI OM 6 (which are both verging on pocket-size when not in use) but Zhiyun would doubtless argue that the Smooth 5S AI’s larger, more complex gimbal offers a greater range of movement and stability than these competitors’ equivalents (NB: Zhiyun also offers a smaller folding stabilizer, the Cinepeer CQ5, for those that require something more portable than the Smooth 5S AI).

To use the stabilizer, your phone is placed within the ‘jaws’ of a gripping mechanism; the hold is secure, but mounting and dismounting is much quicker and easier with the magnetic clamp method used by the DJI and Insta360 stabilizers. The Smooth 5S AI’s clamp can hold phones up to 10mm thick and 300g in weight and can be manually rotated 90º to switch between capturing portrait and landscape content. Some balancing is required on the gimbal’s roll axis arm once your phone is in place, to improve stabilization performance, but it takes only a few seconds.

When the gimbal is powered on, it’ll automatically self-balance, holding the phone level with the horizon; it’ll also connect to the phone via Bluetooth, provided it’s already been paired before. If you feel the levelling is slightly off, you can manually adjust it using the ZY Cami companion app (more on this later) or ask the app to recalibrate things automatically. I found that I did need to manually adjust to get it satisfactorily level, but once set up properly I didn’t need to touch it again.

Stabilization works very well – to a point. The 3-axis gimbal succeeded in keeping my iPhone 13 level and followed my movements smoothly, but if I tilted the handle more than around 40 degrees in either direction the gimbal would abruptly give up, and the phone would tilt too. This isn’t too much of an issue as long as you’re aware of it, but I was expecting a little more robustness in the stabilization.

There are several stabilization modes to choose from. I generally found Pan Follow, which follows your movements while preventing the phone from tilting up and down, to be the most useful for standard vlog or b-roll content, but other users might enjoy the more dramatic movements offered by the Point Of View or Vortex modes.

Gimbal movement can also be adjust manually using the on-board thumbstick control, while tapping the trigger on the front of the handle twice resets it to its standard position; tapping it three times flips the phone around to face the opposite direction. Other controls of note include an on/off button for the useful front-facing LED fill light and a chunky wheel which can be used to adjust camera zoom and gimbal tilt.

The app-agnostic tracking is what really sets the Smooth 5S AI aside from its competitors. Thanks to a small magnetic ‘AI’ module with a built-in camera, which sits on the clamp and can be faced either towards or away from the user, the gimbal is able to track human faces when using any app. Some rival models, like the DJI OM 6, will only track people when using their own companion app, while the Insta360 Flow Pro’s DockKit-enabled tracking means it can track while using the native iPhone camera app (and many third-party apps), but the Smooth 5S AI’s tracking is hardware-based, which means it’ll work with any phone or camera app around.

That’s great for anyone who’d rather use third-party apps, of course, but I’d caution that the tracking is noticeably smoother and more responsive when using the ZY Cami app than it is when using with the AI module. With the latter, the gimbal movements are jerkier and more delayed, which does take the shine off the AI module somewhat (interestingly, the same is true of the Insta360 Flow Pro’s DockKit tracking versus its companion app tracking).

The AI module supports gesture controls: make the ‘OK’ sign to start tracking (a green light indicates that it’s locked onto you), hold up your palm to stop tracking and use the ‘victory’ sign to start and stop recording. These all worked well, in my experience.

The ZY Cami app can be used for capturing video and photos, offering several special shooting modes like panorama, dolly zoom and slow motion. It also allows you to adjust image quality, add beauty filters, adjust gimbal settings, share content via social media and more. I found it to be a decent enough camera app, and using it isn’t a huge disadvantage over, say, the iPhone’s built-in camera app.

Finally, a quick word about battery life. It’s impressive, with Zhiyun claiming seven hours of use with the AI tracker and fill light on – and my real-world testing suggests that figure is accurate. You can also use the Smooth 5S AI as a power bank, using a second USB-C port on the gimbal arm to top up your phone’s battery while it’s mounted.

While I find the simpler and more compact likes of the Insta360 Flow Pro and DJI Osmo Mobile 6 more appealing on the usability and portability fronts, the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI is undoubtedly an impressive alternative with solid stabilization and, via its AI tracking module, better built-in subject tracking than either of its rivals.

Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI: price and availability

The Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI costs $249 / £169 / AU$309 and is available now. Do look out for cut prices, as we do see this gimbal on sale from time to time. You can see the live prices in the links above.

Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI: specs

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How I tested the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI

• One week of use
• Tested with iPhone 13
• Used for B-roll and vlogs

I used the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI in and around my home for a week, using it to record footage both on the move and with it sat on a desktop using its tripod. I tested it with my Apple iPhone 13 and a variety of camera apps including Zhiyun’s own ZY Cami and the native iPhone camera app, and used the phone’s front and rear cameras to record b-roll and vlog-style videos.

First reviewed November 2024

Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) review

The Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) has a 10,000mAh capacity and provides 27W of wired charging power and 15W of wireless charging power. Crucially, it supports Apple’s MagSafe standard, gluing to iPhone models from the 12 series onwards while charging.

The adherence is very strong, and you can mount your device vertically or horizontally. The wireless zone is unpadded, which may concern some people, but no blemishes or scratches occurred to either the phone or the power bank during our tests.

Another nice touch is the foldable stand, which is smooth and well-built, and allows you to keep your iPhone upright while charging. If you mount your iPhone in landscape, it also makes for a good content-viewing platform, which isn't always the case for even the best power banks.

The MagGo Power Bank features Anker’s Wireless PowerIQ technology, which employs the Qi2 standard, upgraded to achieve a claimed higher efficiency when charging the best iPhones. In our tests, it charged an iPhone 13 Pro from 50% to 100% in about two hours, which means it'll fully juice your iPhone in roughly four hours. It depleted the bank’s battery to 73% in the process, which should mean you’ll get three to four charges out of it.

The MagGo Power Bank also has a USB-C port for wired charging. It took just over an hour to fully replenish a Google Pixel 7a from 50%, and again reduced the MagGo to a 73% battery level. Charging the bank itself takes around 2 hours and 40 minutes, according to our tests, which isn’t bad considering its 10,000mAh capacity.

The smart display is a useful addition, showing the power bank’s battery level and remaining running time (or, when charging the bank itself, how long it will take to reach 100%). However, this estimation isn’t the most accurate, as it’s prone to oscillating wildly to establish a time, so it’s not a figure you can fully rely on.

Appearance wise, the MagGo Power Bank looks smart and understated. The construction is sturdy, while the materials feel premium – two aspects that stand it in good stead for its longevity.

While the MagGo Power Bank may be on the thick and heavy side, it should still make a good travel companion thanks to its reliable charging abilities and convenient smart readout. Just don’t expect to carry it around in your pocket with your iPhone attached – for that, you might be better served by the Anker 621 Magnetic Battery (MagGo).

Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) review: price & specs

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Iniu B61 10000mAh power bank

The Iniu B61 is a compact power bank with multiple USB ports and 22W of power, allowing you to charge three devices at once. Thanks to its lean design, it’s also easy to carry, fitting in your pocket comfortably without weighing you down.

For a 10,000mAh power bank, the Iniu B61 is very small and light. It’s only a few grams heavier than the Anker PowerCore 10000 Redux, and that bank only has two USB ports.

Overall, the Iniu B61 cuts a smart and inconspicuous figure. The harshness of the black colorway is softened somewhat by its rounded contours. It may be a little on the thick side, but it’s justified given its capacity, as not even the best power banks can beat it in this regard.

The matte rubberized finish is smooth to the touch. It also seems quite resistant to scratches, which is an auspicious indicator for its long-term prospects. However, the joins aren’t the most solid, as I did notice some play between the front and back parts of the chassis, but this is a minor gripe rather than a serious concern.

The plastic display appears hard-wearing, although it’s unnecessarily large, given it only ever displays the battery percentage. The Anker MagGo 10K for instance, has a much smaller screen, but displays additional information, including estimated charging times.

The Iniu B61 comes with a phone stand that slides out from underneath, allowing you to easily view your device while charging. However, I didn’t find the mechanism is a little on the flimsy side, and I’m not sure it would withstand the rigours of constant travel.

The USB-C port supports the PD 3.0 standard, so fast charging is possible. It managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a from 50-100% in just over two hours. The USB-A ports, on the other hand, support QC 4+. Charging this way is also fast, but inevitably not as quick, topping up the Pixel 7a from half to full in about an hour and a half.

In both cases, the battery of the Iniu B61 drained by about 30%, which means you should be able to get at least a couple of charges out of it. Charging the bank itself takes about two hours from half to full.

This puts it roughly on a par with other 10,000mAh power banks. It pretty much equals the USB-C charging performance of the Anker MagGo 10k, which is considerably more expensive than the Iniu B61.

As the world moves closer to wholesale USB-C adoption, I would’ve preferred to have seen two USB-C ports instead of two USB-A ports, and the lack of wireless charging is also a shame given the Iniu B61 is the ideal size to slot behind your phone.

However, it’s hard to complain at this price point, since power banks from Anker are usually more expensive, and while they tend to provide more features, they don’t offer greater charging speeds. Ultimately, the Iniu B61 is good value for those in the market for a versatile and travel-friendly power bank.

Iniu B61 10000mAh power bank review: price & specs

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Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank review

Anyone on the hunt for a power bank will have likely come across Ugreen, a relatively new Chinese brand looking to wrest Anker’s grip on the sector, with its plentiful offerings at budget-friendly prices.

Just like Anker’s wireless power banks, the Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank is simple and to the point. Two colorways are available: black and white. Every side of the unit is smooth and flat, free from any protrusions or indentations. And the only interface comes in the form of a series of LED lights, indicating battery levels and charging status.

For a wireless power bank with a large capacity, the Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank is pleasingly light and lean like the best power banks, making it relatively easy to carry around. However, with an iPhone attached, I found it was still too bulky to pocket with ease – although I’ve yet to encounter a 10,000mAh wireless power bank that isn’t.

The Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank can wirelessly charge the best iPhones thanks to its MagSafe compatibility, offering 15W of power. During my tests, it was able to charge an iPhone 13 Pro from 50% to 100% in under two hours, draining the bank’s battery by somewhere between 25-50%, as indicated by the loss of one of the four LED dots.

Wired charging via the single USB-C port is more powerful at 20W. I managed to charge a Google Pixel 7a from 50% to 100% in just over an hour, with the Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank again losing one dot in the process. Charging the bank itself from empty to full took about two and a half hours, which is reasonable, roughly equal to the charging time of the Anker MagGo (10K).

The durability of the charging pad material is questionable. During my tests of the 5,000mAh variant, the pad began to show signs of wear. Since this is the same material, I have my concerns about this model's durability as well. It’s also fond of picking up fluff and other debris, which I haven't found with the materials on other MagSafe power banks, such as those offered by Anker.

The Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank costs $49 / £49 (about AU$72), which undercuts the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) by a considerable margin. However, that bank does appear to have greater durability, owing to its hard charging pad material. Some variants also get a useful digital display, with precise battery levels and charging time estimations, making them an all-round better pick than the Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank.

Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank review: Price & specs

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Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe review

The Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe may leave some reeling at its expensive $129.99 / £129.95 / AU$299.95 price tag. However, this brand is a reliable name that’s known for its quality products, so even a penny pincher like myself has come around to this chonky charging companion.

First of all, I loved how secure my phone felt when attached to this stand. The adjustable viewing angle came in very handy, the hinge felt strong and just stiff enough to hold my phone at the angle I wanted. It was really easy to change my phone from portrait to landscape too, making it a delightful desk companion whether I was scrolling through emails or watching YouTube.

This MagSafe charger offers 15W charging power. When tested with an iPhone 13 Pro, the Anker 3-in-1 Cube took two hours and fifteen minutes to charge it from 0%-100%, which is a fairly average charging time compared to the multitude of wireless charging stands I’ve tested.

There’s a satisfying little press-and-pull pop-out platform on the right-hand side of the cube that holds the Apple Watch charger. When in the popped-out position, the platform felt easily movable so I was concerned that the internal attachment may be a little flimsy, although it didn’t pose any problems during testing.

It took the Anker 3-in-1 Cube just an hour and fifteen minutes to charge my Apple Watch Series 9, which was only eleven minutes slower than the fastest Apple Watch charger I’ve tested to date, achieved by the impressive – albeit much larger-sized – Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand. I was really pleased to discover that the rear wireless AirPod charging pad also worked great for juicing up a pair of wireless earbuds that supported the tech.

As fond as I am of this charger, I must disagree with Anker that it’s in any way “travel-ready”. Far from pocket-sized at about 2.4 x 2.4 x 2.5 inches / 60 x 60 x 63mm and weighing in at 14oz / 405g, its weight and sturdy design teamed with the non-slip base make it perfect for leaving on your desk or nightstand. But I wouldn’t say that it’s convenient for travel at all.

Overall, if you’re looking for a sturdy 3-in-1 MagSafe charger and you're happy to part with the cash, the Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe wouldn't be a bad choice. However, there are plenty of options out there if you'd rather have a more travel-friendly alternative that will charge your devices a little faster, then the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set is worth a look. Or, if these Anker or ESR chargers cost more than you'd like to spend, then the Mous MagSafe Compatible 3 In 1 Portable Charger would make a truly transportable alternative.

If you haven't yet made a decision on which charger would suit you best I recommend taking a look at our helpful guides of the best iPhone chargers and best wireless chargers for more ideas.

Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe review: price & specs

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Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2 review

The Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2 is an understated but efficient in-car MagSafe wireless charger. It made a pleasant change from the dashboard-mounted phone cradle I was using, and I soon found myself wondering how I ever managed without a wireless charger in the car.

It costs $59.99 / £59.99 to buy the Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2 on the official Pikaka website and Amazon. It’s currently available to buy in the US and the UK but not in Australia. I road-tested it against another MagSafe car charger, to see if either had what it took to win the crown, so the stakes were high.

The MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2 doesn't stand out when in situ. It's not overly large or shiny like some other car-mounted best iPhone chargers are because it has a slim, ovular-shaped profile. The charger, including the aramid fiber charging plate, measures 3.7 x 1.4 x 1.8 inches / 94 x 36.5 x 45mm. It comes with a USB-C cable, which I don't have a port for in my car, but this was easily resolved by purchasing a multi-port cigarette lighter adapter from Amazon.

The metal hook attachment was something I hadn't encountered before, and I was a little dubious about whether it would fit on my car vents; however, this feeling was fleeting in the end, as the hooks extended out a long way. Once I had used the screw collars at the back to pull the hooks back in and to fix the ball joint in place when I was happy with the position, I placed my phone on, which attached easily. I liked that the mount felt secure, but I was still able to reposition the charging pad easily if required.

My only niggle would be the cable position, as it comes out of the bottom of the charging plate, so I recommend purchasing some little stick-on cable tidy clips to stop it from interfering with access to the controls or shift stick.

I encounter plenty of pot-hole-infested British roads plus some gnarly speed bumps on my commute, so it was somewhat trial by fire for the MagSafe attachment. It did a superb job holding onto my phone, and I recall only one occasion of needing to retighten the collars, which isn't bad going considering the amount of jostling it had put up with.

The charging speed proved to be adequate, charging an iPhone 13 Pro from 0% to 30% in half an hour. This does put it slightly behind the ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger in terms of charging time, as the ESR charged the same phone from 0% to 40% in thirty minutes. That's not to say that the Pitaka did badly, however.

I really enjoyed testing the Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2 and would gladly purchase one for myself. If you happen to be on the hunt for other iterations of MagSafe chargers, then I recommend checking out our selection of the best wireless chargers for some inspiration.

Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2 review: Price & specs

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Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank review

Ugreen is a relative newcomer in the charging scene, offering similar products and designs to those of Anker. Anyone who’s familiar with that brand’s magnetic power banks will notice the similarities here, with the Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank being one example.

It sports a minimal and sleek design, with smooth edges and a smart-looking off-white color (it’s also available in black). As for the interface, there’s a single button and no display – the only readout you get comes in the form of five LEDs that indicate battery level and charging status.

Similar to many of the best power banks for portability, the Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank has a slim profile, which it’s able to achieve thanks to its 5,000mAh capacity. This also means it’s light, tipping the scales at just 5.11oz (145g) – although its chief rival, the Anker 621, is slightly leaner at 4.56oz (129g).

The MagSafe charging area is designed to wirelessly charge the best iPhones. It uses the Qi standard and has an output of 7.5W. During my tests, it managed to charge an iPhone 13 Pro from 50% to 100% in about an hour and forty-five minutes, losing about half of its own battery charge in the process. This puts it on a par with the aforementioned Anker 621.

However, what fails to impress is the silicone pad, as it already began showing signs of wear during my time with it. This occurred in just over a week, so this rate of deterioration doesn’t bode well. It could be argued that any rubberized pad will be susceptible to damage like this, but all I can say is that I didn’t experience the same with the PU leather material on the Anker 621. It also picks up dust and debris very easily – again, not something I witnessed with the 621.

There’s only one USB-C port on the Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank, which delivers 15W of power. This managed to charge a half-full Google Pixel 7a in just over an hour, depleting about half of its battery once more. Charging the bank itself from empty to full took just over two hours, which is reasonable.

The Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank costs $29 / £29 / $AU49, making it cheaper than the Anker 621, which costs $39 / £44 (about $AU57). However, the 621 comes in multiple colorways, whereas the Ugreen only comes in black or white, and the overall build quality does seem to be better, which is why we prefer the Anker model over Ugreen’s.

Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank review: price & specs

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