Now that Magsafe charging has come to the iPhone, Nomad—known for its cases and chargers—has created a line of Magsafe-compatible chargers. They have the Base One, Base One Max, Stand One, and now the Stand One Max. I already use the Base One Max at my desk to charge my AirPods and Apple Watch. However, I was excited to test theNomad Stand One Maxto take advantage of my iPhone’s StandBy mode on my bedside table.
Nomad Stand One Max
The Nomad Stand One Max is a wireless charger designed to charge the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods/AirPods Pro, all in a minimalist and beautiful single device that can live on a nightstand, desk, or counter for easy access. This charger takes up a mere 3.23 x 5.55 x 5in, weighs a hefty 1.8lbs, and runs off of a single cable, though it does not come with a charging brick in the box.
Design: Beautiful, Minimal, Functional and Powerful
Previously, if I wanted to charge my everyday carry of Apple tech all at once, I would need a handful of cables or a few charging docks. Now, with the Stand One Max, I can wirelessly charge my iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch all at once while only utilizing one cable and one charging brick (though sadly, the charging brick is not included). Nomad has separated itself from other, and sometimes cheaper, competitors by creating gorgeous, elegant, and practical products that look good enough to stay out and visible on just about any nightstand or desk.
The design is simple: Nomad chose to work with metal and glass, with an option between black and white colorways. These are sleek and beautiful, and they continue Apple’s design language as though they were a part of Apple’s product lineup as a first-party charging option.
The Stand One Max requires a 30W adapter to charge all three devices quickly. Nomad can achieve quick charging speeds by putting a 15W official MFi MagSafe-certified charger in for the main iPhone charger; a charger that is only MagSafe-compatible won’t work. Further, Nomad added an Apple Watch Fast Charger (Apple Watch Series 7, 8, 9, Ultra, Ultra 2) and a perfectly sized 5W Qi wireless charging dish for your AirPods or AirPods Pros.
Nomad also ensured that they made the Stand One Max plenty heavy to help add to the elegance and overall premium experience of their chargers—the Stand One Max is no exception. The glass and metal 3-in-1 charger is nearly 2 pounds at 1.8 lbs, has a slimline base of only 3.2 x 5.5 inches, and is 5 inches tall. The base is wrapped in anti-slip rubber and has a dust and scratch-resistant TPU charging pad to enhance its usability.
I’ve used the Nomad Stand One Max as my bedside charger since it was delivered to my house in mid-December 2023. So far, I have loved using it, and it’s just about perfect. I could use this on my desk if I wanted to, but having this in my bedroom on my bedside table has been great for my workflow and how I interact with my devices.
I wear my Apple Watch Series 6 for as long as possible during the day, as well as at night to track my sleep. Depending on the battery, I only take it off to shower and sometimes for an hour or so in the evenings while putting my kids to sleep. I rarely have all three devices on the charger simultaneously. When I do, there is zero frustration in having my iPhone in portrait orientation.
However, it is worth noting that if you have an Apple Watch charging, you cannot charge your iPhone in Landscape mode, which, with the most recent update, would enable StandBy mode. Another element worth mentioning is that if you have a watch charging with a loose watch band, it could bump your AirPods, though thanks to the catch tray that AirPods rest in, the AirPods don’t move.
In the last two months of using the Stand One Max daily, I have been delighted with the overall experience. Taking my iPhone off the MagSafe puck is easy since Nomad chose to elevate the MagSafe Puck away from the glass portion just enough that I can pull my iPhone away at an angle and have the Stand One Max stay still. I also love that this 3-in-1 charger takes up so little space (3.23 x 5.55 x 5in) and only takes a single cable to charge.
The main benefactors of a charging dock like theNomad Stand One Maxwould be those with an entire Apple ecosystem. Technically, if you have a phone other than an iPhone, you’re able to still get a ring or case that would make it work with MagSafe, and you can charge any small Qi-capable device on the Airpods wireless charger. However, no other watches can charge on an Apple Watch charger. Therefore, only if you have at least an iPhone and an Apple Watch would this Stand One Max even be worth it.
If you are trying to decide if this charger is worth it, here are a few more elements worth noting regarding using it. First, it does work through cases, as long as the case does not intentionally block wireless charging (such as a metal plate or a magnet that is not MagSafe, etc). I have tried this with an array of cases from all different brands, as well as without a case, and in every instance so far, my iPhone has mounted and charged without a problem.
Second, you will need a quality brick or not get the speeds mentioned. Yes, you can get away with a cheaper brick and have functionality, but to get the full charging speeds, you’ll need a 30W brick to accompany this charger.
Third, the material used on the soft touch areas collects dust pretty quickly. It’s easy to wipe off, but it does accumulate dust quickly, and at least the black model shows that dust very quickly. Further, depending on the cases you use, the white MagSafe puck can see some discoloration on the high-touch points over time. The MagSafe Puck itself, though, stays dust and scratch-free.
I loved using this charger, even with the few quirks or things that keep it from being perfect. If you’re heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, you’ll likely love it too.
