In the ever-expanding world of wireless chargers, I’ve come across a fun new entry worth talking about — the Ugreen Uno 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station. The nifty device, designed to make charging our Apple gadgets a breeze, offering an option for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods users tired of dealing with multiple chargers. Oh, and it’s kind of like a cheerful little robot, too. Its screen offers a digital smile indicating charging status.
Ugreen Uno 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station 15W
We’ll dive into what makes this charging station, part of a whole lineup of Ugreen Uno charging products, stand out from the crowd. I’ll cover its design and build quality and its charging capabilities for iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods. I’ll also look at the user experience, highlighting its 15-watt fast-charging feature, and weigh the charger’s pros and cons to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your charging needs.
Compact design in robotic form
The charging station’s compact design makes it one of the smaller MagSafe-compatible docks I’ve seen that supports 15W fast charging. Measuring just 3.07 x 2.36 x 2.36 inches, it’s small enough for travel if you have space in your bag, or for keeping your workspace tidy because it doesn’t take up much space. The charger’s build quality is top-notch, featuring a tilting top charging panel for MagSafe iPhones that adjusts up to 70 degrees for a better viewing angle. This flexibility allows me to easily see notifications or watch videos while my device charges. It’s great for Standby mode, too.
What really sets this charger apart is its unique robot-like appearance. The front panel sports a TFT screen that displays emoji-style charging indicators. It’s a fun touch that adds personality to the charging experience. However, I can’t help but feel it’s a missed opportunity to provide more valuable charging information. And if you place your iPhone in portrait (vertical) mode, you can’t see the screen.
The magnetic connection is strong and secure, ensuring your phone stays in place while charging. This feature, combined with its compact size and adjustable angle, makes the Ugreen Uno 2-in-1 a standout choice for those seeking a reliable and fun charging solution.
Qi2 charging capabilities
The Ugreen Uno 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station features solid charging capabilities. It boasts Qi2 certification, delivering an impressive 15W charging speed for iPhones (or Androids), which is double the speed of non-certified chargers. In my tests, I found it can charge an iPhone from 0% to 40% in just under 30 minutes. That’s handy to have on busy days.
The charger’s versatility is another plus. In fact, it probably should be called a 3-in-1, not a 2-in-1. When I lift up the tilting iPhone charging pad, there’s a surface underneath that Ugreen has cleverly made into a second charging surface. It fits an AirPods (or other earbuds) wireless charging case, delivering 5W. So I can charge those two devices at the same time. But there’s also third option. There’s a USB-C port (USB-C to USB-C cable included) on the side for charging other devices, also at 5W. If you have a charging fob for Apple Watch, you can insert it there. Or it would be a handy spot to juice up a wireless mouse or keyboard.
And safety is a top priority with this charger. It’s equipped with overvoltage, overcurrent, overheat and short circuit protection, giving me peace of mind while charging my devices. And I’m always glad when a charger never gets hot to the touch while in use, and this one didn’t (just slightly warm).
Easy and fun to use (‘fun’ for a charger, that is)
User-friendly features are another win for the Ugreen Uno 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station. The charger’s TFT screen displays smart status emojis, adding a fun element to the charging experience. And it’s perfect for StandBy mode, letting you view widgets on your desk or nightstand.
If I have a quibble about the whole smiling bot thing with this charger, it’s that the emoji indicators on the screen don’t say much. You bet the eyebrows powered on and standby status, or you get the same with an added sideways “v” for a mouth to indicate charging or fully charged status. That’s it.
Ugreen Uno 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station: Pros and cons
Pros:
- The tilting Qi2 charging spot offers flexibility in viewing angles. Even better, the surface under the tilting pad is perfect for charging AirPods.
- The charger supports StandBy mode, which is great for using widgets on your desk or nightstand.
- The side USB-C port is handy for charging additional devices.
- Who doesn’t like smiling robots? (Er, unless they’re smiling because they know the “rise of the machines” has begun …)
Cons:
- A phone placed on the pad in portrait orientation (vertically) can obstruct the digital face, limiting its usefulness.
- The side USB-C port’s output is relatively low, at 5W. (This charger is only for small devices.)
- Considering its total power output of 25W, the price point is somewhat high (thankfully the launch sale knocks it down a bit).
- A watch charging fob can insert into the USB port, but no such charger is included.
But despite the cons appearing to at least equal the pros, I’ve found the charger to be a welcome addition to my desk setup. It’s convenient for charging my iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously in a tight space, like on a messy desk like mine.
Bottom line: A bit pricey for 25W max output, but worthwhile at sale price
So the Ugreen Uno 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station has an impact on the charging game with its blend of style and function. Its compact design, fast charging capabilities and multi-device support make it a strong contender to consider for Apple users looking to streamline their charging setup. The charger’s unique robot-like appearance and emoji-style indicators add a fun touch, even if they don’t provide detailed charging info.
While the Ugreen Uno 2-in-1 has its drawbacks, like not a whole lot of output power for the price and a potentially obstructed digital face, it still stands out as a handy desk companion. Its ability to charge multiple devices simultaneously and support for StandBy mode enhances its usefulness.
With a list price of $69.99 currently marked down to $48.99, you can check it out at Ugreen.com or on Amazon to see if it fits your charging needs. It costs a bit more than other chargers with a 25-watt maximum output. But it gets the job(s) done in style and with a smile.
Buy from: Amazon
Ugreen provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out other in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.
★★★★☆