ESR 3-in-1 MagSafe Charger with CryoBoost review: wireless charging, but cool

Who doesn't love wireless charging? It's a super-convenient way to power up your Apple kit without the hassle of cables. However, one of the biggest drawbacks of wireless is the heat generated, which can slow down charging speeds and potentially damage your battery over time. 

The ESR 3-in-1 MagSafe Charger with CryoBoost aims to address this issue with a proprietary cooling system that keeps your devices at optimal temperatures during charging. This might sound like snake oil from other brands, but ESR is a well-established player in the mobile accessories market, with a strong reputation for quality, affordable products, so we definitely thought it was worth giving a go.

Designed solely for Apple users, this charging station caters to those who own an iPhone, AirPods, and an Apple Watch, providing a convenient way to charge all three devices simultaneously. But how well does it actually work in practice? Read on to find out.

ESR Cryoboost charger: Specifications

ESR Cryoboost charger: Price and availability

The ESR 3-in-1 MagSafe Charger with CryoBoost retails for $54.99 on Amazon (£65 in the UK), making it a relatively affordable option compared to similar products on the market. It is available through both ESR's website and Amazon in a wide range of countries.

ESR Cryoboost charger: Build and handling

The ESR 3-in-1 MagSafe Charger with CryoBoost comes as one complete unit, so there's no setup needed, other than connecting the USB lead and plug to connect it to a power supply. Its combination of aluminum alloy construction and white plastic makes it solid and sturdy, and it feels like a premium product. 

While this isn't an official Apple product, its sleek, minimalist design means it blends seamlessly with your Apple kit and doesn't look out of place at all. It also feels sturdy and non-wobbly in use.

The main charging area, which works with iPhones series 12-15, features a cooling fan that lowers the temperature of the charger as well as your phone. There are cooling vents (around the back) and a status light that indicates when your device is charging or fully charged. 

Below, there's an AirPods charging area, which is simply a recessed rectangle, that also features magnetic alignment. Finally, while the charging station doesn't include an Apple Watch charging cable, it does provide a dedicated mount for your Apple Watch charger. 

Overall, the ESR 3-in-1 MagSafe Charger with CryoBoost offers a well-built and user-friendly design, with a focus on both functionality and aesthetics.

ESR Cryoboost charger: Performance

The standout feature of this charger is its CryoBoost technology. By incorporating a fan and heat-dissipating components, the charging station actively cools your devices during wireless charging, allowing for faster and more efficient charge times. But does this actually make a difference?

Quite simply, yes. In my real-world tests, the CryoBoost technology lived up to its promise. My iPhone 13 charged noticeably faster compared to other wireless chargers, going from 0 to 50 percent in just 39 minutes on one occasion. This is faster than I've ever seen an iPhone power up on a MagSafe wireless charger. And my phone remained consistently cool to the touch throughout the charging process. 

This not only ensures a safer charging experience but also helps to prolong the lifespan of your device's battery. So really, it's not just about saving you time charging your phone. It's also about protecting the value of your $1K+ investment in it. It's a similar principle to putting premium gas into your car to protect your engine, except, unlike that example, you only pay extra once, not every time you top up. 

More fundamentally, the MagSafe connectivity worked flawlessly, providing a strong and secure hold on my iPhone, and the adjustable viewing angle allowed me to comfortably watch videos, take video calls, or simply check notifications while my device was charging.

The AirPods and Apple Watch charging areas also performed well, providing a convenient way to top up all my devices simultaneously. The 25W of power it provides means that it can apportion 15W to fast-charge your iPhone while still having 10W left over for your other Apple bits and pieces.

ESR Cryoboost charger: Verdict

If you have lots of Apple devices to charge, this 3-in-1 device is an absolute slam dunk. And even if you only have an iPhone to charge, (assuming it's between a 12 and 15) we'd still recommend it, as the Cryoboost tech means you'll get faster and safer charging while keeping your phone cool and protecting its battery over time. Even better, it's cheaper than rivals; much cheaper, in fact.

The adjustable viewing angle and premium build quality further enhance the overall experience. With a sleek, premium design it doubles as an iPhone stand, allowing you to use it both vertically and horizontally while charging it magnetically. And the price is reasonable too. So unless you are militant about buying only Apple-made or officially Apple-approved kit, we can't really think of any reason not to buy this.

ESR Cryoboost charger: Alternatives

The Belkin Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand with MagSafe is Apple-approved and sold on the Apple website. Like the ESR charger above, it offers fast charging speeds for iPhones (25W) and AirPods, and Apple Watch (5W). However, there's no Cryoboost tech and it's also more expensive. So the only possible reasons to buy it are that you care about it being Apple-approved, or you prefer the look of the design.