When you constantly use your phone, smartwatch and wireless headphones, staving off “low battery” warnings with a hydra of charging cables can get messy and frustrating. This is why MagSafe iPhone charging stands that also replenish other devices’ power exist. There’s something admittedly neat and novel about snapping your phone onto a puck for a bite-size bit of fuel, with that added bonus of being able to quickly and gracefully pry your phone from it when you need it.
Since I love 3-in-1 Apple device charging stands so much, I was excited to test the new Nomad Stand One Max for the last two weeks. This metal-and-glass stand is a hefty and luxe take on wireless charging that lets you refuel an iPhone, an Apple Watch and AirPods at the same time. The only questions I had, though, were if it could be worth its relatively high price and if it could topple my current favorite, the Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe.
Nomad’s hefty 3-in-1 Apple charger keeps your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods charging in style.
What we liked about it
Everything about the Nomad Stand One Max looks and feels substantial, from the metallic arm that the Apple Watch rests on to the glossy glass panel that’s behind the MagSafe charger. Yes, I know it’s kind of weird to call out something that’s often covered, but you won’t spend every second of your day charging your phone on it. So, for all the moments when your phone is in your hand or pocket, it’s nice to have something that looks good on your desk. I point this out because I’m sure anyone who’s spending $180 on a 3-in-1 charger probably values aesthetic to some degree.
Additionally, it gets the charging right, with both fast charging for the Apple Watch, official MFi (Made for iPhone, an Apple blessing) MagSafe charging up to 15W and a slightly beveled groove for knowing where to place your Qi-compatible AirPods case. The physical space for the AirPods is crucial, because a lot of other wireless charging pads and stations I’ve tested put you in more of a trial-and-error situation. My beloved HiRise 3 Deluxe from Twelve South? Its spot for charging AirPods (or other Qi-capable devices) is a squarish space that’s about 3 inches by 3.25 inches. It’s never been an annoyance, but I wish it had some indentation like the Stand One Max.
During my two weeks with the Nomad Stand One Max, I noticed that it worked exactly as expected, refueling my iPhone 15 Pro Max and keeping my Apple Watch charged. It’s also been nice to use the Nomad Stand One Max as a charging tray so my devices never get lost at home.
The Stand One Max’s 1.8-pound heft is more of a positive than I expected. If you like a little heaviness in your tech, you’ll appreciate how durable the Stand One Max feels. Oh, and while I tested the black model, it’s also available in silver, which the HiRise 3 Deluxe is not. For those who have matching iPhones and MacBooks? I could see that being a point in its favor.
What we didn’t like about it
The Stand One Max has up to three strikes against it, depending on your needs. First off, the placement of the Apple Watch charger puck means you can’t charge the wearable while your iPhone is charging in the horizontal position. If you try to force it, you’ll wind up knocking one of the two off the stand. Were the Apple Watch’s charging arm farther back, this wouldn’t be the case.
If you don’t know why that’s an issue, well, you should know about iOS 17’s StandBy mode. When an iPhone is charging and horizontal, a smart display-like mode activates that will present either photos, widgets or the time in an elegant view. StandBy is so good that it helped me finally ditch my ad-riddled Echo Show.
The other thing I don’t like is the price: $180. That’s $30 more than the Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe, which doesn’t have the same issue with using StandBy while you charge an Apple Watch. I wasn’t keen on the HiRise 3 Deluxe price either, but to go 20% higher without adding something of similar value? It’s conflicting. Oh, and if you don’t need to charge this many devices at once, check out the Nomad Stand, which is similarly luxe and $100 less.
Lastly, there’s one thing arguably missing in the Stand One Max’s box: a power adapter. Unlike the HiRise 3 Deluxe, which uses a proprietary AC adapter, you’ll need to bring your own 30W USB-C charger. Some of y’all probably have one already, so this might not be an issue. Heck, the fact that the Stand One Max allows you to reuse tech you already own might be a plus for some. But when it costs more than the HiRise 3 Deluxe? It’s difficult not to see this as a negative.
Bottom line
The Stand One Max is a pretty good iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods charging stand, but it’s also pretty pricey. While it might get my recommendation to select folks I know who will appreciate its style, its price and StandBy asterisk will require me to ask some questions before providing an endorsement.
It will take a spot on my desk, or on a living room counter, wherever I am least likely to want StandBy. That’s because easy Apple Watch, iPhone and AirPods charging convenience is still a neat luxury.
