Accessory makers have been adopting the new Qi2 standard in recent months because it offers the benefits of MagSafe without the need to license MagSafe technology from Apple. Mophie launched its first Qi2 devices in May, debuting a car charger, a 3-in-1 charger, and a battery pack.
All of Mophie's new accessories charge an iPhone at up to 15W, the same as MagSafe. The first version of Qi limited wireless charging to 7.5W, but Qi2 supports 15W, and it also includes the same magnetic connection that Apple uses for MagSafe. For context, Apple contributed to Qi2's development, providing insight into the Magnetic Power Profile that's included in the Qi2 standard.
iPhones that support MagSafe also work with Qi2, so you can use Mophie's chargers with the iPhone 12 models, iPhone 13 models, iPhone 14 models, and iPhone 15 models. With the exception of the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini (which are limited to 12W charging), iPhones will charge at up to 15W with Qi2.
Snap+ Powerstation Mini with Stand
Priced at $70, the Snap+ Powerstation Mini is a battery pack that's designed to charge the iPhone while on the go. It has a 5,000mAh battery inside, and it snaps right on to the back of an iPhone like Apple's now-discontinued MagSafe Battery Pack.
At about 4 inches long and 2.75 inches wide, the Powerstation Mini fits well on the back of an iPhone 15 Pro Max. With the magnetic ring, it pops on to the iPhone and stays in place. The Powerstation Mini is 0.25 inches thick and it weighs close to half a pound, so I didn't find this to be the most svelte charging option available. It adds a good amount of bulk to the back of the iPhone, but it's still small enough to tuck into a bag so you have an extra battery when needed.
At the back of the Powerstation Mini, there's a fold-out stand that you can use to prop the iPhone upright for FaceTime calls, gaming, watching videos, and more. It works in either landscape or portrait mode, so you can use it with StandBy.
The Powerstation Mini's body is made from a black plastic, but the stand component is made from aluminum. The front of the device has a soft silicone material that won't scratch an iPhone when it's charging, and the overall design is what you might expect from a battery pack. There are four LED lights so you can see the charge level and monitor charging, and a USB-C port that's used for recharging.
During my testing, I had one of the PowerStation Mini battery packs outright fail after a few days of use. I couldn't get it to charge no matter what I tried, and I ultimately sent it back to Mophie and they sent me another one for testing. Mophie says that this isn't a problem that it's seen before, and the new Powerstation Mini has been working as expected with no failure.
In my testing, the Powerstation Mini was able to charge my iPhone 15 Pro Max to 38 percent in an hour, and that's about the same charging speed I get from a MagSafe charger. It charged to 59 percent in two hours, but it maxed out at a 61 percent charge, which was starting from a dead iPhone.
That means it adds 61 percent battery life to an iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is what I'd expect from a 5,000mAh battery pack. Depending on which iPhone you have, you could get more out of it, but it's not a full charge on Apple's largest iPhone.
When my iPhone's battery was low, the Powerstation Mini did feel warm to the touch, but it didn't get hot.
For the price, I don't think the Powerstation Mini is a good option for the larger iPhone models. It's not going to provide a full charge, and I'd rather spend that money on a bigger battery pack with charging over USB-C (Mophie has a 10,000mAh battery pack for $60, and there are options from other brands that are even cheaper). You're definitely paying a premium for the stand, so I'd avoid that unless you need that functionality.
For iPhones that have smaller battery capacities, I think the Powerstation Mini makes more sense because you can get more out of it.
Snap+ Wireless Charging Vent Mount
Mophie's Snap+ Wireless Charging Vent Mount is available for $70 as well, and it's a good option for charging in the car. There's a magnetic charging pad where the iPhone attaches, a rotating pivot point for changing the angle, and a ring that attaches to the vents in a vehicle.
The mount attaches to a vent using adjustable clips, and I had a surprisingly hard time getting the charger situated and adjusted properly. You need to slide the metal hook between the vent blades and then tighten it up. It feels more secure than rubber clips, but setup is a little more involved and if you want to take the charger off of your vents, it's difficult.
I don't think that's a dealbreaker, but it's not the one I would get if I wanted to regularly remove the mount from the vent. On the plus side, the hook is adjustable, so it should fit well in just about any vehicle.
There's an optional extension arm on the charger so you can change the angle to be above or below the vent, or position it to the left or the right. It's nice to have the add-on arm to get an ideal viewing angle, plus you can further refine with the ball joint that tilts the phone forward or backward a bit.
Mophie includes a 1.5m USB-C cable and a 30W USB-C car adapter, so this is ready to go right out of the box. You just need to pop it out of the box, decide whether you need the adjustable arm, and then attach it to your vent and it's ready to go. There are even two adhesive cable management clips so you can route the cable neatly from the vent to the car charging port.
The Snap+ Charging Vent Mount charges at up to 15W, and the magnetic attachment is strong enough that the iPhone feels stable and unlikely to come loose while the vehicle is in motion. I had no... Click here to read rest of article
Article Link: Review: Mophie's Qi2 Chargers Offer MagSafe Speeds at Slightly Lower Prices
