Twelve South HiRise 3 review: Great design but not MFi-approved

Twelve South HiRise 3

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The Twelve South HiRise 3 is a three-device charger that solves a selected drawback with most MagSafe chargers however does not bear Apple’s MFi approval.

After we have been first launched to the third-generation HiRise from Twelve South, we did not count on to love it. The HiRise household has proud legacy, and we weren’t positive this newest incarnation would maintain up.

Our first response from the PR photographs painted an image of a plastic charger that lacked any MFi certifications. By all appearances, it did not have the Apple backing and premium supplies we sometimes see from Twelve South.

After utilizing the gadget for a bit, we have come round on the HiRise 3. Whereas it is not the quickest charger on the market, it is a terrific desktop or nightstand companion with useful design selections.

Glossy Apple-like design

With the HiRise 3 in our arms, we have been smitten with its very clear design with purposeful traces. On our white mannequin, it seems like a tray on the Apple Retailer, with matte-white edges, a soft-touch end, and a lightweight gray prime.

Twelve South HiRise 3 can power up three devices — Twelve South HiRise 3 can energy three units

That mild gray floor appears to be like unassuming, however it acts as one of many three chargers. It’s a charging pad for powering up your AirPods, a second telephone, or one other Qi-enabled accent.

A steel pole holds the iPhone and Apple Watch chargers within the air with minimal seams. The entire gadget appears to be like polished and like one thing you’d discover sitting as at an Apple gadget demo station.

Top down view — High down view of the HiRise 3

One massive differentiator between the HiRise and different MagSafe chargers is the charging floor. Twelve South opted for a really giant, flat floor to carry your iPhone.

The concept is that as you attempt to work together along with your telephone, it’s extra secure. Suppose alongside the traces of a 6am alarm going off and also you’re attempting to smack that snooze button for a number of extra minutes of shut-eye.

Charging three devices — Charging three units

Most MagSafe chargers have a small contact floor, so while you press on the underside or edges, it could come freed from the magnet. Our nightstand has a glass prime, and since we regularly use our telephone with a case, a tumble will wake you up in a short time — belief us.

The flat floor holds the telephone properly, even with the a number of instances we tried, and supplies extra assist irrespective of the place you press in your telephone.

On prime is the Apple Watch puck which blends neatly into the floor. It has only a small bump and the identical matte end as the remainder.

Charging energy for 3 units

Twelve South says you want a 20W charger to adequately energy all three units on the HiRise 3. You’ll be able to provide your personal, however Twelve South would like it when you thought of the PlugBug Slim.

The decrease charging pad is able to 5W of energy, whether or not used with a set of AirPods or one other iPhone. The Apple Watch puck can cost at as much as 3W, and the iPhone charger is able to 10W.

This feels a bit disingenuous although. We understand Qi chargers come at normal charges, however not like different Qi chargers that would additionally cost Android units, the HiRise 3 is restricted simply to iPhones. And iPhones can solely cost at as much as 7.5W by way of Qi.

By promoting the Qi charger as a 10W charger when it’s bodily solely able to charging iPhones, unassuming customers could also be anticipating a a lot quicker charger than they’re getting.

It is not a one hundred pc fabrication, however Twelve South does not acknowledge wherever on the product web page that iPhones are presently restricted to 7.5W.

Our largest gripe with the HiRise 3 is that as a result of it is not MFi-certified, it lacks superior charging speeds. It does not assist quick charging on the Apple Watch Sequence 7, and it does not assist 15W of charging by way of MagSafe.

Do you have to purchase the Twelve South HiRise 3?

Neither the Apple Watch nor the iPhone charger are Apple-certified and might’t supply the quickest speeds doable. That does not imply they’re unsafe although.

Qi chargers are nonetheless commonplace and completely positive to make use of along with your iPhone. Apple enforces inflexible requirements on MagSafe and Apple Watch chargers, and Twelve South needed to skip certification to get the design it was on the lookout for.

Actual MagSafe and Apple Watch units want to make use of Apple’s equipped pucks and it a number of limits the design selections you make. We love the flat, almost seamless look of the HiRise 3 and it would not be that manner if Apple had its say.

We additionally recognize how sturdy the charger is whereas nonetheless supporting the MagSafe magnets on the most recent iPhones. So long as you are pleased with the restricted charging speeds in your watch and telephone, this gadget will look nice in your house or workplace.

Twelve South did one thing totally different, and we applaud it for that. This charger is not going to be for everybody, however it’s distinctive, trendy, and efficient at charging your day by day units.