If you only want one charger for your smaller gadgets, Alogic’s new Matrix Ultimate is nearly ideal. You can use the 3-in-1 charger for iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch at home or easily take it with you on trips.
That’s because the solidly built folding portable charger has a removable power bank and Apple Watch charging puck, plus a very nice felt carrying case. And it comes with a power adapter and USB-C cable. It’s not cheap, but it’s quite useful.
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Alogic Matrix Ultimate Fold 3-in-1 Stand with MagSafe Power Bank
Alogic rolled out the Alogic Matrix Ultimate Fold 3-in-1 Stand with MagSafe Power Bank at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. The company sent me one to try out. To me the white plastic stand with a chome hinge felt solid and well-built, and it worked as advertised.
As the long name implies, Matrix Ultimate is a 3-in-1 folding stand that integrates a MagSafe power bank (5000mAh battery, that is). Assembled as a stand, it holds and charges a MagSafe iPhone at 15 watts of power and Apple Watch (up to 3W) and AirPods wireless charging case (up to 5W). That counts as fast charging for iPhone Series 12 through 15 handsets and Apple Watch 7 and newer.
Fold it up or take it apart
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
You can fold up the stand for storage or disassemble it by removing the MagSafe power bank to charge your iPhone separately (still at 15W). Adding still more flexibility, Matrix Ultimate also lets you pop out the magnetic Apple Watch charging puck and plug it into a USB-C port somewhere else, like on a laptop.
When you use Matrix Ultimate as a stand, you have a spot on the base where you can zap some power into an AirPods Pro charging case and the earbuds inside it (or another Qi device). That part isn’t magnetic, so you just need to place the case carefully to ensure it charges. Look for the light on the side of the case to come on.
Quick and easy power
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
In my tests, I used Matrix Ultimate as a stand with three gadgets charging at once and also charged my iPhone 13 Pro separately with the MagSafe power bank alone. As expected, iPhone charging performed the same both ways.
The charger took my iPhone from 26% full to 44% full in 15 minutes, to 57% full after 30 minutes and to 79% full after 50 minutes.
The charging puck juiced up my Apple Watch 6 from 7% to 32% full in 15 minutes, to 49% full in 30 minutes and to 77% full in 50 minutes.
Thanks to my not being careful enough to place the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) charging case just so, my AirPods charging results were more mixed, but the charging area, delineated by an indented rectangular shape, certainly worked.
And if you’re using the power bank and it runs out of juice, you can charge it in the stand along with gadgets via the 30W adapter (with folding prongs) and USB-C to USB-C cable.
A little bit bulky
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
My one slight hesitation over recommending Matrix Ultimate to absolutely everyone has to do with bulk. It’s a little chunky in two ways.
First, the 5000mAh MagSafe charger is a bit thick. It’s circular charging platform for iPhone rises up from the bank’s body by 5 millimeters or so. Not everyone would want to carry their iPhone on a power bank in their pocket anyway, but with this one you probably wouldn’t even try. And that raised platform probably wouldn’t stay fixed to the handset in unstable spot like that, either.
Second, when you pack up Matrix Ultimate in its soft and, frankly, adorable felt case, the package isn’t exactly small. It’s a dense and somewhat heavy little brick, at 20.5cm x 10.5cm x6.5cm (8in x 4.1.in x 2.6in). Packed into a tight space — computer bag, knapsack, large coat pocket — it would scrunch up a bit, however. The flap over the top, held in place when closed by an elastic loop over a button, can be compressed a bit.
Matrix Ultimate specifications:
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
- Dimensions of assembled stand: 150mm x 80mm x 50mm (LxWxH)
- Weight: 421g (14.9oz)
- Output: USB-C PD 30W
- MagSafe Power Bank: Up to 15W
- Fold Stand Qi-Wireless Charging: Up to 5W
- Fold Stand USB-C Output: Up to 7.5W
- Apple Watch Fast Charger: Up to 3W
- Power Bank Battery Capacity: 5,000mAh
In the box:
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
- Matrix Ultimate Fold Stand
- Matrix Ultimate 5,000mAh MagSafe Power Bank
- Matrix Ultimate USB-C Apple Watch Fast Charger
- USB-C Silicone Charging Cable
- 35W Mini USB-C GaN Charger
- Carry Case
- Quick Start Guide
You can pick up the Alogic Matrix Ultimate Fold 3-in-1 Stand with MagSafe Power Bank for $169.99 at Alogic or Amazon. As I said, it’s not cheap. But it’s worth it if it keeps you from buying separate chargers for home and away use.
Where to buy: Amazon
Alogic 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.
★★★★☆
This portable folding 3-in-1 charging stand for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods comes with a removable 5000mAh power bank, a removable Apple Watch fast charger, a carrying case, a power adapter and a USB-C cable.
