Cameron Summerson
Remember that time Apple announced AirPower, then canceled it? Well, that opened the door for third-party manufacturers to create products to take on what AirPower could’ve been. Among those manufacturers is Mophie, with not one, but two AirPower-like multi-device charging pads.
These two charging pads, super interestingly named the Dual Wireless Charging Pad and 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad (seriously, where do they come up with this stuff?!), are designed explicitly with Apple products in mind. They can be used with anything that uses wireless charging, of course, but the whole idea I think is to do what AirPower promised. Especially with the 3-in1 unit.
Why that one? Because it has a specific area for a phone, a little indented area for AirPods (it also works fine with AirPods Pro), and even a cradle for the Apple Watch. That’s about as Apple-centric as it gets.
The other charger, however, is a bit more non-specific—it’s just a wireless charger with triple coils and two charging areas. So you charge a couple of Qi-compatible things at once, like a pair of phones, or a phone and AirPods (or other earbuds with wireless charging).
I’ve been testing the fabric-covered models for the last few weeks and have collected some thoughts on them. So yeah, let’s talk about it.
If You’re All-In on Apple Stuff, the 3-in-1 is Hard to Beat
I want to start with the 3-in-1 for two reasons: for starters, it’s the more interesting of the pair; secondly, it’s my favorite of the two. Why? Because man, I’m a sucker for products with this sort of organization. The Watch cradle—which holds the watch horizontally, making it great on a bedside table—and the little indention for the AirPods is my shit. Like, that’s the type of nifty little crap that I just love.
And in practice, it’s just as useful as it looks. I’ll admit that I was a bit concerned when Apple announced AirPods Pro because the wider case wouldn’t fit the AirPods cutout area as well. But you know what? It works. It’s not as clean-looking as the regular AirPods case, but it charges the Pro, and that’s all that really matters, right?
On the other side of the charger, there is a big ol’ phone charging area. You just plop your phone down and it, you know, charges it. It works. It worked well with my iPhone XR, though it was pretty hit and miss with the Pixel 4 XL. But I’ll be real with you: I think that’s a Pixel issue. I’ve had problems with that phone on other flat wireless chargers, too. It’s weird.
But I digress. The 3-in-1 is a killer charger, but there’s also a clear downside: it’s pricey. At $139, it’s easily one of the most expensive multi-device wireless chargers on the market today. Of course, it’s also one of the cleanest options out there, too. Considering some more basic chargers can go for $40, you have to ask yourself if that sleek layout is worth the extra hundred bucks for similar functionality.
But if you have an Apple Watch, AirPods, and an iPhone capable of wireless charging, Mophie’s 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad is probably the best one out there right now, assuming you can stomach the price tag.
The Dual Wireless Charging Pad is Nice, But a Harder Sell
If you’re into the idea of a multi-device wireless charger but need something with a bit more versatility, then the Dual Wireless Charging Pad might be precisely what you’re looking for. It’s a pretty simple design: an oversized charging area capable of juicing up two devices at once.
The open wireless charging pad design allows you to charge two phones, a phone, and AirPods, two sets of AirPods, or any other combination of wireless charging devices you can think of. It’s capable of outputting 10 watts to each device, which should be fast enough to juice up pretty much any device out there at a reasonable clip. Just keep in mind it won’t hit peak speed for devices like the Google Pixel 4.
Speaking of the Pixel 4, I had the same issues with this charger as I did the 3-in1—the Pixel 4’s wireless charging is just so damn finicky it’s hard to get it just right on any of these flat-style wireless chargers. I’d recommend going with a stand-style for the Pixel 4. Since I had no issues with my iPhone XR or AirPods on either charger, though, I can’t blame Mophie here—this is a Pixel issue.
But anyway, I’m getting off-topic again—we’re talking about chargers here, not Pixel issues.
Another nice thing about the Mophie Dual Wireless Charging Pad is that it’s not just a wireless charger—it also has a USB-A port on the back for charging other stuff. It works well with the Apple Watch’s charging puck, so if you want to get in on the Watch/AirPods/iPhone charging action without shelling out $140 for the 3-in-1, this is an okay way to do it.
Speaking of the cost, the Dual Wireless Charging Pad goes for $80. Again, that’s pretty steep for what it is, especially when you can get comparable products on Amazon for half the price (or less!). Are those inferior products, though? Hard to say, to be honest. I haven’t tested any of those, so I can’t speak for the quality. Mophie’s options are nice, though.
And really, when you compare it to other products in the more premium market—like the Nomad Base Station, for example—it starts to look a little more competitive. The Base Station is $99, but it also has a smaller footprint, a svelte leather charging surface, and USB-C and USB-A ports on the back for external devices. Maybe that makes it worth the extra $20 to you. Or perhaps it makes the Mophie Dual Wireless Charging Pad seem like a better deal. It all depends on perspective, I guess.
If you’re looking for a bottom line, this is it: both the 3-in-1 and Dual Charging Pad are nice looking, they work well, and they offer thoughtful features like good organization or an extra USB port. But you also pay a premium for that elegance and thoughtfulness.
Here’s What We Like
- Sleek and clean looking
- 3-in-1 is perfect for Apple products
- The Dual Charging Pad has an extra USB-A port on the back
And What We Don't
- More expensive than most of the competition
