Nomad has a new MagSafe charger for those who don’t mind splurging for aesthetics. The Stand One Charger is an upright magnetic iPhone stand with true 15W MagSafe charging. But unlike the $149.95 Base One Max, which can also hold an Apple Watch, the $109.95 Stand One, currently available in black or silver, only charges your phone.
MagSafe is MagSafe, and aside from holding your iPhone upright at a 21-degree angle, the Stand One doesn’t do much more than the $40 Apple MagSafe pack or Belkin’s $60 pack. (Like those two chargers, at least real It’s a MagSafe, not a magnetic ring Qi charger like most MagSafes.compatibility charger. )
There’s nothing wrong with spending more money on something that looks and feels good, but $110 really makes you want 1.35 pounds of beautiful glass and CNC-machined aluminum.
I admit the cheap charging packs won’t let you stand your iPhone upright at a 21 degree angle on your desk or table, but how? again Charge your Apple Watch and AirPods for just $40 more. Or, for just $20 more than the Nomad Stand One, you can get the MagSafe power bank that doubles as a stand and holds 10,000mAh of battery power.
The difference between them and the Stand One is that Anker’s 3-in-1 Cube, Belkin’s 3-in-1 BoostCharge Pro, and Mophie’s Powerstation wireless stand with MagSafe are less sophisticated. Same hardcore level as Nomad.
Stand One isn’t Nomad’s first upright MagSafe charging stand. Also on sale is his $59.95 MagSafe Mounting Stand for Apple MagSafe packs. The new Stand One is basically his MagSafe pack built in, but you’ll still need to bring your own 30W USB-C power adapter. Considering that Apple’s MagSafe charger usually costs $40, you start to see the price difference between his two Nomad stands. Also, one of the great advantages of Stand One is the 2m / 6.6ft non-detachable USB-C cable. That’s twice as long as the Apple pack the old MagSafe mounting stand was designed for.
But a vacuum comparison between Nomad’s own existing and new stands overlooks the many options floating around this price point. As much as I admire the Stand One’s build and finish, having actually tested it, I looked at it and didn’t feel like even Apple’s $129 MagSafe Duo charger was a better value. I can’t stay. Its a floppy, overpriced one. I would generally recommend other chargers over the Duo, but it makes sense compared to the Stand One.
The new Nomad certainly has a nice fit and finish, similar to the larger Nomad Base One Max. It has a fair amount of weight to it so it stays firmly in place so you can remove the phone with one hand and it holds securely in landscape orientation for watching videos. I wish there was a secondary Qi pad on the flat part of the inner bend to charge a pair of earbuds. everything other than that.
The current price for a 3-in-1 charger with official MagSafe support appears to be $150. A proper MagSafe is therefore an expensive issue in the world of charging accessories.I’m just struggling with why you choose one in one Instead of spending a few extra Jacksons on something much more versatile, use a charger. Most people can do better for their money. But if Stand One looks striking and you’re into all-caps AESTHETIC, or if you’re making a TikTok of him for your desk setup, that’s fine.
Photo by Antonio G. Di Benedetto/The Verge
