Some people are satisfied with a simple Lightning cable for charging their iPhone after a long day, but if you’re anything like me, then you might prefer going wireless.
More than that, however, you want your wireless charger to look almost as good as the iPhone you’re putting on it, especially since your wireless charger likely sits on top of your furniture 24/7. For that reason, I like to point my friends in the direction of Nomad.
My colleague Sebastien wrote a review about Nomad’s Base One MagSafe wireless charger just last year with nothing but good things to say about it, but more recently, Nomad launched a stand-oriented version of this charger, known as the Stand One, that keeps your iPhone propped up at a comfortable viewing angle.
A sleek and integrated MagSafe charger
The Stand One couldn’t have come at a better time, as Apple’s imminent iOS 17 firmware update promises an interesting new feature called StandBy Mode that shows the user useful information at a glance while the iPhone charges on a standing MagSafe wireless charger just like this one in landscape orientation.
There are a lot of standing MagSafe chargers on the market, and I’ve been particularly fond of Belkin’s 3-in-1 charging hub because it charges my iPhone, AirPods Pro, and Apple Watch all at their fastest charging speeds at any given time, but that’s more of a bedside charger, whereas Nomad’s Stand One works well for desktops where you’re likely only charging your iPhone and using both your AirPods Pro and Apple Watch.
Nomad made a smart move with the Stand One – they launched two versions. One has an official MFi-certified MagSafe wireless charger integrated into it, while the other has a basic Qi wireless charger with MagSafe-compatible magnets inside of it. You can tell what you’re getting because the official MagSafe one sports a white charging puck, while the Qi one sports a black charging puck.
In this piece, I’ll be showing you the Qi-based Nomad Stand so you can see how it looks and works. The Stand One is same as the ordinary Stand, apart from the white charging puck and the faster wireless charging speed. For my setup, I was more concerned with the appearance of my desktop and black suited it better. Moreover, the Qi wireless charger gets my iPhone’s battery boosted in the time it takes me to write an article, so it’s plenty fast.
Nomad Stand’s wonderful design
As you might have already seen in some of the pictures above, the Nomad Stand has a simple design, but it’s designed particularly well. At first glance, it looks like a basic stand, but when you get it in your hand, the product’s perfectly balanced weight of 604 grams convinces you that when you set it on your desk, it isn’t going anywhere.
For the most part, the design borrows from Nomad’s older MagSafe Mount Stand, which allowed you to insert an official Apple MagSafe charging puck into a similar perfectly weighted stand. The only difference here is that the MagSafe (or Qi) wireless charging tech is built directly into the stand, keeping you from essentially having to build your own charger.
The front of Nomad’s Stand features a sleek glossy appearance that reflects light and makes it look modern. There’s a slight standoff between the glossy surface and the MagSafe charging puck, which not only keeps your iPhone from scuffing the beautiful glossy surface, but also prevents your camera from interfering with it when you rotate the iPhone into landscape or portrait orientation on demand.
The bottom of the Nomad Stand provides a rubber shoe that keeps the stand planted firmly wherever you place it on your desk, ensuring that the only way it moves is when you pick it up and place it somewhere else with intent.
We also particularly like the fact that Nomad has opted for a two-meter braided black power cable, as this material resists abrasion and filth better than typical rubber cables (yes, I’m looking at you Apple, and your white charging cable accessories). On the other end of this cable is a USB-C connector that you can graciously pair with any 20W or higher USB-C-enabled Power Delivery charger.
Is it worth the price?
You have two options from Nomad, a Stand One with full-blown 15W MagSafe charging capabilities offered at an ordinary price of $110, and a Stand with basic magnetic 7.5W Qi wireless charging capabilities offered at an ordinary price of $80. But if you check back often, you might find sales.
If you were to get one of Nomad’s older MagSafe Mount Stands, you’d be shelling out $60 and then investing in $40 more dollars for an Apple-branded MagSafe charger and the basic rubber cable that comes along with it. For $10 extra, Nomad bundles everything together for you in a seamless package with a sleek glassy front and high-end braided nylon black cable. That said, the price is in line with the brand’s other high-quality packages.
For those looking to save some dime, the basic Stand with the magnetic Qi wireless charger built into it will charge an iPhone at 7.5W (and other devices at 15W) for a smaller price tag. The 7.5W version, which I’m showing you today, is more than enough for most people, and you’ll still get all the benefits of seeing the MagSafe animation on your iPhone and using StandBy Mode when it comes out with iOS 17.
The only gripe I might have with the price is that this is a single-device charger, whereas Belkin’s 3-in-1 charger offers full-speed charging for my iPhone, AirPods Pro, and Apple Watch in a slick and aesthetically pleasing package for around $150 comparatively. So if you absolutely need more than just an iPhone charger, especially for the price, then you might look elsewhere for a charger.
My take on the Nomad Stand charger
Below, I’ve compiled a list of pros and cons concerning the Nomad Stand and Stand One based on my experience with the product:
Pros:
- Well-designed product made from quality materials
- Fantastic weight and rubber grip that keeps the stand from sliding around
- Compatible with Apple MagSafe technology
- Options for fast-charging and budget-friendly Qi available
- Available in black or white
- Braided power cable is more robust than rubber
- Works with iPhone and other magnetic charging-capable devices
Cons:
- No USB-C power brick included (sold separately)
- Can’t charge Apple Watches
- Glossy front is a fingerprint magnet
Where to get one
If you’re interested in acquiring a Nomad Stand or Stand One of your own, then you can head over to Nomad’s website to find your ideal charging solution in your favorite color. Even if you don’t want one that stands upright, Nomad’s Base is a great alternative to Apple’s regular MagSafe charging puck, albeit at a higher price.
Don’t forget to also grab a 20W USB-C power adapter if you don’t already have one, as Nomad doesn’t include one in the box with its chargers. You will need this to charge your device with Nomad’s Stand or Stand One!
Conclusion
Overall, I really like the Nomad Stand as a desk-based iPhone charger. The magnetic Qi version is fast enough for most of my charges and offers a fair discount when compared to the MagSafe version, and it even maintains a sleeker appearance with its black rubber charging puck compared to the MagSafe version’s white rubber charging puck.
While it’s not an all-in-one charger, Nomad’s Stand and Stand One are great options for someone who only needs to keep their iPhone charged up throughout the day.