This $100 charging station is my new favorite travel accessory

I often work on the go and and charging all my devices at maximum speed can be can challenging when they’re all running out of juice after a long trip. This is because I usually have a single cable and can’t charge my smartphone, Apple Watch, and AirPods in the limited time I have before catching the next flight.

ESR’s new CryoBoost Foldable 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station promises to solve this issue by simultaneously topping up all my devices while being compact enough to fit in my pocket.

I was impressed with the brand’s magnetic car charger and wireless charging stand and had high hopes for this device. I spent a week with this charging station and here’s why it’s my new favorite travel accessory.

4/5

Brand

ESR

Qi-Certified

Qi 2.2

Color

Black

Input Voltage

15 Volts

The ESR CryoBoost Foldable 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station is a portable wireless charger for topping up your smartphone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously when travelling.

Pros & Cons

• Compact, foldable design
• Can charge three devices simultaneosly
• Fast charging speeds

• Won’t work with thick cases
• Requires a charging block and can’t work of a USB-C port

Price, availability, and specs

Portable and practical design

The ESR CryoBoost Foldable 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station features an all-black folding design with built-in charging pads to accomodate a smartphone, Apple Watch, and AirPods.

Its slimline profile measuring 4.33 x 2.44 inches and just 0.62 inches thick when closed, makes it the perfect carry option that can fit in most bags. To me, it was heavier than expected at around 4.12 ounces, but I put it down to the dual cooling fans and solid build quality.

The charger comes with a charging block and matching USB-C cable and was ready to go as soon as I connected them. After that, I placed my phone on huge magnetic pad which instantly locked it in place and it began charging.

The pad includes ESR’s CryoBoost system, a cooling fan built into the charging pad that reduces the temperature by around ten degrees Fahrenheit. It ran automatically when I attached my phone, but isn’t noticeable because of its silent operation.

There’s a second charging pad for AirPods integrated into the base with its own cooling fan underneath to keep the temperature down. The third charging pad is for Apple watches and flips out of the base when needed and folds back in again when I want to take the charger on the road with me.

This magnetic charging station is Qi 2.2 Certified and supports a maximum wireless charging speed of 25W for phones and 5W for watches. I also removed the cable from it and plugged it directly into my phone when I was in a hurry and wanted wired fast-charging.

What I liked about the ESR CryoBoost Foldable 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station

Portable and practical design

I liked the folding charger’s practical design and compact footprint. I’d previously tested the full-size charging stand and think the folding version is a better option because it costs the same and offers similar features in a smaller package.

I’m usually skeptical about folding devices because the hinge is usually a weak point that eventually breaks with regular use. I didn’t get this feeling with this folding charging station because of how all the parts have a tight fit with no play between them.

At the end of the day, the Foldable 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station works as advertised and provides a fast wireless charging solution for multiple devices in a single compact package.

What I didn’t like about the ESR CryoBoost Foldable 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station

No alternative power source

I felt that this folding charger’s slimline design is hindered by the need to carry the separate charging block. In my testing, I tried plugging the charger directly into my laptop and had no luck getting it to work, despite trying different ports and cables.

I understand that the charging block is required to provide adequate power to the charger, but I’d like it to work with a USB-C cable connected to my laptop when I’m in transit and have limited access to wall sockets.

Should you buy the ESR CryoBoost Foldable 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station

It’s a no-brainer

The compact ESR CryoBoost Foldable 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station is ideal for traveling but works just as well if it’s permanently on a desk. It offers all-in-one wireless charging, so I don’t need to waste time plugging in cables.

I think it’s worth getting whether you’re looking for a mobile or permanent wireless charger, but you should keep in mind that it won’t work with thick cases that have integrated wallets or kickstands.

4/5

Brand

ESR

Qi-Certified

Qi 2.2

Color

Black

Input Voltage

15 Volts

The ESR CryoBoost Foldable 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station is a portable wireless charger for topping up your smartphone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously when travelling.