Twelve South offers a new way to connect everything Apple needs to one charging station with the just-released HiRise 3. Featuring 7.5W MagSafe support, plus built-in space for AirPods and Apple Watch, it’s a 3-in-1 device. the charger delivers one of the best values on the market if you already own a 20W USB-C wall charger.
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Twelve South Climb 3
Earlier this month, Twelve South launched its most powerful charging solution ever with the new HiRise 3. True to its name, the new powerhouse features a 3-in-1 design that supports Apple’s magnetic charging technology. While not a full MagSafe, the main angled charging stand provides 7.5W of wireless power output for iPhone 12 or 13 series phones.
Then behind the main counter, the HiRise 3 Twelve South offers a built-in Apple Watch charger. Below is the final aspect of the charging cradle, which is a 5W Qi cradle for charging AirPods or any other device for that matter. At $99.99, this will be one of the best value 3-in-1 options on the market. But is that price tag really going to be an attractive docking spot for your everyday Apple carry? We explore below.
Here’s a closer look at the specification:
Charges iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods in 1 cradle Compact design keeps your nightstand or desk clutter-free Holds iPhone upright to display alerts and apps Uses any 20W USB-C power adapter
Taking 9to5Toys
The latest Twelve South charger arrived right before the news broke last week and I’ve been testing it ever since. Don’t want to ruin the experience entirely, but this has easily become one of my favorite multi-device chargers on the market and one of the best value. There’s certainly a catch in that you’ll have to supply your own 20W wall charger, but that’s a slight downgrade on the flashy report card for a $100 charger.
And since I’m going to start with those shortcomings, it’s worth moving on to other small issues I have with Twelve South’s new HiRise 3. For starters – and what’s likely to be the biggest problem many Apple device owners have with the charging station – is that it only has a 7.5W iPhone power output. It might be the standard for now to pair typical Qi charging speeds with magnetic rings and be done, but moving to the official MagSafe spec would go a long way in making it the undisputed multi-device charging champion. However, not a deal breaker.
As an even smaller comment, placing the Apple Watch charger on the back wouldn’t be ideal for nightstand use cases. I’m sure a lot of watch wearers are used to using Nightstand mode for their wearables and this feature is missing, although this setting allows Twelve South to provide one of my favorite things about the new HiRise 3.
Most other 3-in-1 charging stations have a much wider design that extends horizontally from the base. On the other hand, Twelve South takes a vertical approach and makes its HiRise 3 better for it. I love how sleek the design is and how little space it actually takes up on my desk, especially considering the angle your iPhone sits at thanks to its tilted position.
Speaking of design, there are also small rubber pads on the bottom that not only keep it in place from slipping, but also attach it to the table. So when you place your iPhone 13 on the MagSafe charger, or more importantly pick it up, everything stays in place. As for the rest of the form factor, the build is pretty solid, but nothing special. The plastic is also soft to the touch, but not as rubbery as Belkin’s options.
Regardless, I’m a big fan of the overall value that the Twelve Yugas have brought here. If you already own a 20W USB-C charger, and I’m sure most of us do, this will be the best bang for your buck. It’s not as premium as Belkin’s just released new model, but it’s three times cheaper – that alone is enough to forgive some of the shortcomings and makes the HiRise 3 an easy recommendation if you’re looking to optimize your existing setup. Although, if you have to go out and buy a wall adapter, it’s worth considering spending a little more to upgrade to a full MagSafe 3-in-1 charger.
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